Ashtray bridges are best and most comfortable

[Awkirk]

its essential to get rid of the burrs on the corners of the ashtray. I've polished mine up so it feels great

 

[lowatter]

The ashtray bridge is my biggest beef with conventional Teles. There, I said it.
Hurts like hell and it's in my way when pickin' near the bridge.

 

[Jim85IROC]

I need the ashtray to anchor my pinky. Without it I'm a mess.

 

[wildOGpizza]

I swapped the ashtray bridge for a Kluson brass 6 saddle bridge on my Jimmy Page thinking I'd get better intonation, but the change in tone was unacceptable, and I immediately changed it back. I'd only roll with the vintage bridge on a Tele going forward.

 

[msalama]

change in tone was unacceptable

So how did it change?

 

[Dadzmad]

I like an ashtray bridge on my tele but it has it's pros and cons. How about something totally different - this is my recent Kalmazoo made Harmony Juno that has a stock three barrel shorty bridge. I put one of the narrow covers from an American Tele on it. The cover was too wide but I glued on some cut up chair leg felts and it fits really snug. Note that the cover is clear and lower than the saddles so I can play normally with bridge muting or rest my palm on it for finger style. I think it looks good too.

 

[ABetterTelePlayer]

I swapped the ashtray bridge for a Kluson brass 6 saddle bridge on my Jimmy Page thinking I'd get better intonation, but the change in tone was unacceptable, and I immediately changed it back. I'd only roll with the vintage bridge on a Tele going forward.

I'm guessing it sounded more strat than Tele maybe? Took away some of that snappy-ness? I know nothing about it but I looked it up just now and it definitely looks more strat-like than Tele.

 

[Papa Che]

 

[Lonn]

The covers are cool, but fairly impractical for most, too.

After 20 years of playing I finally picked up a used Tele that had an ashtray in the case. I popped it on just to see what it was about and loved it! Very comfortable for my playing style. Mater of fact I need to get one for my current Tele. It's a nitro relic though so I'll have to take that into consideration.

 

[wildOGpizza]

So how did it change?

So to preface, I'd changed the steel saddles previous to the bridge change to Gotoh brass saddles which gave it more warmth. The Kluson bridge, it's hard to describe, but as ABetterTelePlayer says, it lost a lot of the tele twang and snappiness. Trying to remember the perception I had of it, like mellowing the tone, it lost the sort of reed-like raspiness. I guess the density of the cast bridge plate and the saddles being more substantial, it sort of deadened the sound, shifted focus to lower mid range rather than mid to upper. Just a more generic guitar sound, so I guess more like a strat.

 

[StoneFaceGrin]

I’ve never played a Tele with the cover on the classic bridge, so I don’t have an opinion. But I’ve got one each of the classic and modern bridge. I find the classic bridge to be helpful, rather than obstructive, (someone else said it helps them place their hands), though I’m not enough of a player to declare a preference.
So many people have strong opinions on this - I find myself ambivalent. The classic bridge looks better to me and some guitars look great with covers. But my modern Tele with six saddles is my go-to all the time guitar and people always compliment its looks.
Now I have to go play one with a cover and report back. You know, for science.

 

[P Thought]

Like a bridge over troubled waters. . . .

 

[Dukex]

They play good and sound gooder. So...yes, they are the goodest!

 

[boris bubbanov]

They play good and sound gooder. So...yes, they are the goodest!

And with the cover sitting over on the coffee table, they are the gooderest of all!

:^)

 

[itstooloudMike]

View attachment 1057694

Looks like it was designed to inflict pain. I think that’s why Leo said “let’s cover that with something”. He didn’t supply the chrome “ashtray” just because he was a nice guy who liked to give things away. He knew the bridge was a problem, and the cover was his band-aid. I vastly prefer the modern 6-saddle block bridge.

 

[Papa Che]

Can’t stand the 6 Strat style saddles on a Tele. Especially that long ugly metal plate. Ugh! Gives me creeps. Much respect to those who love 6 Strat saddles on a Tele of course. It’s all matter of personal feel and taste.

 

[McGoldTopp]

My player came with the new 6 block saddle, and I thought I’d give it a fair shake…

I had an ashtray bridge on order within hours of opening the box…

 

[Southpaw Tele]

I’ve owned two MIM Teles over the years and changed both out to a 3 saddle bridge. It feels, looks, maybe even sounds better and they’re a nice drop in fit. I also change out tuners to vintage split shaft Kluson style ones.

 

[Matthias]

Having, for a long time, only owned one Tele with an ash tray, it took me many years to register the fact only the front portion is polished on a lot of vintage ash tray bridges. Perhaps because the rest would be hidden by the bridge cover? Once you see it, it's obvious. Along with the rough corners, they were definitely function before beauty.

 

[pbenn]

The rough rippled inner corners are what actually hold the cover on, I believe.
Cheaper vint bridges without ripples won't work with cover.