ABetterTelePlayer
Tele-Meister
I said what I said....
And so it is.
And so it is.
Ashtray bridges are best and most comfortable
- Thread starter ABetterTelePlayer
- Start date
marsh99
Tele-Afflicted
And I'd agree. I'm sure others wouldn't, but I'm so used to them, that other styles always feel a bit odd. Takes me a few minutes to get used to anything that isn't an ashtray style!
hemingway
Poster Extraordinaire
They are . . . once you develop the ashtray callus on the corner of your palm so that you are impervious to the pain sent here from 1950.
Skyhook
Friend of Leo's
I beg to disagree.
However(and it's a big however)... The biggest "Telecaster hurdle" to overcome is the ashtray bridge but
my victory would be hollow if the bridge type was something else. No... for me it needs to be an ashtray bridge
because it most definitely is not comfortable.
TL;DR - I disagree but given a choice, I still wouldn't have any other bridge on a Telecaster!
Matthias
Friend of Leo's
They have never bothered me and I prefer the looks of a three-saddle ash tray, but decent modern six-saddle bridges are I think better for comfort and set-up… But ash trays are cooler.
The covers are cool, but fairly impractical for most, too.
The covers are cool, but fairly impractical for most, too.
ahiddentableau
Tele-Afflicted
I mostly agree. I've never found the ashtray uncomfortable, and sometimes I find the edges useful in their own right because I have a better sense of my right hand position via feel/without having to look.
sloppychops
Friend of Leo's
I vaguely remember when I first tried a Telecaster that the bridge felt "in the way." I'm no longer even aware of it being there.
The Telecaster requires you to be more precise and for me, as a fingers only player, that includes my right hand position and the way my fingers pluck and strum.
The Telecaster requires you to be more precise and for me, as a fingers only player, that includes my right hand position and the way my fingers pluck and strum.
ABetterTelePlayer
Tele-Meister
Thanks everyone for the replies.
I myself have never felt uncomfortable or a "sharp edge" or any pain while playing an ashtray bridge. Perhaps it's a style thing or the way you learned to pick but most big time country artists (classic Country music and MODERN country) prefer ashtray bridges with the prongs sticking out.
I myself have never felt uncomfortable or a "sharp edge" or any pain while playing an ashtray bridge. Perhaps it's a style thing or the way you learned to pick but most big time country artists (classic Country music and MODERN country) prefer ashtray bridges with the prongs sticking out.
mimmo
Poster Extraordinaire
I can adapt to other styles but the ashtray is my favourite. Played with it since day one and never looked back.
It is critical for the sounds you get, playing a Tele (that you won't get with a Les Paul) and it sort of forces me to play fingerstyle and not be making sweeping motions with the right hand. A guitar that incentivizes more tasty playing? Please sign me up - no, wait. I'm already signed up. :^)
72_Custom
Tele-Meister
You're a monster 
Nightclub Dwight
Friend of Leo's
I love the ashtray bridge. It is a selling point for me. Without the cover, of course.
Like others have mentioned, I learned to play on a borrowed Telecaster when I was a kid, so they just seem right to me.
Like others have mentioned, I learned to play on a borrowed Telecaster when I was a kid, so they just seem right to me.
The vintage bridge I have never found to be uncomfortable. I have always preferred it. I like being able to rest my palm on the edge.
DrBeezus
Tele-Meister
I can't stand them and always have it switched to modern.
oatsoda
Tele-Afflicted
The one I started on was actually a 1977 Ibanez challenger tele copy. Beautiful ash with clear poly finish, white pick guard, and of course it had the chrome ash tray on the bridge. Was my dad‘s but he never played electric much.
wish I still had it.
wish I still had it.
