Dating the So-Called “Ashtray” Bridge Cover

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ivanivanivan

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—and the first person who responds with, “try setting up a wonder-of-me candlelit atmosphere, a nice vintage port wine, and perhaps side 1 of Marvin’s ‘Let’s Get it On’ LP” will go stand in the corner.

I know the covers from the early 1950s had the solder mark in the middle of the underside, but is there a way to discern the genuine 1960s/1970s covers from the repros? Just curious. I have been casually looking for an extra piece of case candy at a decent price for a few years now; just won one purported to be off an early ‘70s Telecaster for $39 on the popular auction site.

Thank you.
 
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Lochry

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Not that it is much help, but these guys tried to figure it out several years ago.

 

Boreas

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If I had to guess, the old ones weighed more. Didn't everything have better steel and chrome back then? I swear the bumpers on our 55 Buick were 1/8" steel with chrome so deep you could swim in it. And those Dagmar bumper guards - oh my!!

Buick porn (not ours...):

1955-Buick-Special.jpg
 
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kris ford

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What was the solder for, used in the chroming process?

My mid 70's Thinline had solder under the cover too..(the strat style)
 

Wally

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What was the solder for, used in the chroming process?

My mid 70's Thinline had solder under the cover too..(the strat style)

It held the bridge cover to a wire that was used to hold that bridge for the electroplating process.
 
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pbenn

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I have looked this up on tdpri before...
and from memory, there are three generations of US covers...
IIRC first gen to '58, second gen to '66 (?), and third gen up to 1980 or sp.
also if IRC only the first gen had the solder drop.

Ed.
Just tried front dooring the question with Google.
The extra 1/16" French curve at the mouth might just be the '58-66 style, from which at least one good aftermarket repro exists?

'58-66s weren't solder jointed because of new clip grounding, according to Ask Zac video on the subject. (But he doesn't delineate the generations beyond that.)
 

ivanivanivan

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I have looked this up on tdpri before...
and from memory, there are three generations of US covers...
IIRC first gen to '58, second gen to '66 (?), and third gen up to 1980 or sp.
also if IRC only the first gen had the solder drop.

Ed.
Just tried front dooring the question with Google.
The extra 1/16" French curve at the mouth might just be the '58-66 style, from which at least one good aftermarket repro exists?

'58-66s weren't solder jointed because of new clip grounding, according to Ask Zac video on the subject. (But he doesn't delineate the generations beyond that.)
Hello Pbenn--

This is exactly the sort of info I'm looking for. I did see that Zac guy's video, but as you mention, he doesn't get into the geekdom of eras. There isn't too much info I'm finding online, and I'm hoping that Slack or someone else here can chime in on the minutiae of the offerings over the years.

Here is a cover I have had since the 1980s. It came with one of the many 1960s Esquires/Telecasters that, like an idiot, I sold long ago. Would this be the extended "French Curve" you speak of?
 

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fernieite

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Here's a couple of other threads on the subject...
 

Grandfunkfan

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If I had to guess, the old ones weighed more. Didn't everything have better steel and chrome back then? I swear the bumpers on our 55 Buick were 1/8" steel with chrome so deep you could swim in it. And those Dagmar bumper guards - oh my!!

Buick porn (not ours...):

View attachment 1257111
Nice. When I was a kid we had a 57 Roadmaster. I named my first band after it.
 

monkeybanana

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Hello Pbenn--

This is exactly the sort of info I'm looking for. I did see that Zac guy's video, but as you mention, he doesn't get into the geekdom of eras. There isn't too much info I'm finding online, and I'm hoping that Slack or someone else here can chime in on the minutiae of the offerings over the years.

Here is a cover I have had since the 1980s. It came with one of the many 1960s Esquires/Telecasters that, like an idiot, I sold long ago. Would this be the extended "French Curve" you speak of?
Same. I have an old one I've wondered about if it's truly the one that came with the guitar or something someone threw in there recently. I didn't even think to compare it with a new one 🤦‍♂️. I'll check tonight.
 

ivanivanivan

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So the early-1970s ashtray cover I bought for $39 on the popular auction site arrived today. It's so immaculately clean that I have serious doubts as to its vintage; literally not one single scuff in the mirror-like finish of the purported 50-year-old chrome.

The one thing that gives me pause is that the proportions on this one are identical to those on an ashtray cover that came from one of the 1960s Esquires I owned in the Reagan era of my late-teen years. Please see the comparisons below (the last two photos show front/back of the one in question that was delivered today).

What say you, my TDPRI brethren?
 

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pbenn

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Hello Pbenn--

This is exactly the sort of info I'm looking for. I did see that Zac guy's video, but as you mention, he doesn't get into the geekdom of eras. There isn't too much info I'm finding online, and I'm hoping that Slack or someone else here can chime in on the minutiae of the offerings over the years.

Here is a cover I have had since the 1980s. It came with one of the many 1960s Esquires/Telecasters that, like an idiot, I sold long ago. Would this be the extended "French Curve" you speak of?
Yes, that curves back in.
 

ivanivanivan

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Yes, that curves back in.
Hello pbenn-- Does the specimen above look to you like it could be a real Fender issue from the 70s? The guy parted out a '72 Telecaster, and messaged me that this ashtray cover was inside the case pocket...which of course doesn't mean anything. Like I said above, even just sitting inside a case for 50+ years untouched would still likely some minor tarnishing I would think. You seem to know more than most about these covers, so I'm curious to know your thoughts on this particular one. Thanks again...
 
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