Dimensions to route a tele bridge pick up

[Roger L.]

I'm trying to rout out the bridge pick up on a build I'm doing. I found a blueprint for the layout of all the routing locations for the pups and control cavities. The problem is the layout that it shows for the bridge pup is lacking a few dimensions to lay it out properly. Any one got a complete layout for this I would greatly appreciate some help here. I'm just wanting to build this one so I don't want to invest in a template, especially since I can make my own with the right measurements. BTW the build is a 25.5 scale

 

[Roger L.]

I'm trying to rout out the bridge pick up on a build I'm doing. I found a blueprint for the layout of all the routing locations for the pups and control cavities. The problem is the layout that it shows for the bridge pup is lacking a few dimensions to lay it out properly. Any one got a complete layout for this I would greatly appreciate some help here. I'm just wanting to build this one so I don't want to invest in a template, especially since I can make my own with the right measurements. BTW the build is a 25.5 scale

Here is a sketch I made to save the dimensions from the print I found. The places on the lower end wit the green circles are the ones I'm missing. They only show one in stead of the two needed for each location. Thanks in advance

 

[Freeman Keller]

Download the TDowns drawing (sticky at the Home Depot) it has all the dimensions you need for a four screw bridge pickup. You can make your own routing template from that drawing or buy one from the various supply houses (StewMac). The back of Melvyn Hiscocks book has a number of different routing templates.

One thing I like to do is set the neck first, then use actual measurements from the neck to locate the bridge and drill the various holes. Once I've got the holes located I can screw my template on the guitar and do the bridge cavity. That way if the neck is slightly off the bridge will be correct relative to it.

 

[frisco slim]

I have a full-size version of that same drawing in my files. Listed as drawn by "T. Downs," dated "27APR07." The vertical dimensions are missing on my print too, but they scale as being .701" and 1.055". No guarantees those are correct but that's as close as I can come with the sources I have available.

 

[Roger L.]

Thanks I'll see if that looks good . . . I wonder if he is still around to maybe fix the error

 

[jrjrdiablo]

 

[Freeman Keller]

I have a full-size version of that same drawing in my files. Listed as drawn by "T. Downs," dated "27APR07." The vertical dimensions are missing on my print too, but they scale as being .701" and 1.055". No guarantees those are correct but that's as close as I can come with the sources I have available.

Thanks I'll see if that looks good . . . I wonder if he is still around to maybe fix the error

One of the measurements that is the uncompensated scale length which happens to be 10.120 to the end of the body at the neck pocket (the reference for all the other length measurements). As I said earlier I create t hat line once the neck has been set in the pocket (as well as the actual center line of the guitar) so its not really necessary but I find it a bit odd that its not on the drawing.

Otherwise jrjrdibalo gave you the section of the drawing (I still think you should have the whole thing) just print it to scale and you should be good to go.

 

[jrjrdiablo]

https://www.tdpri.com/attachments/tele_body_drawing_reve-pdf.1169709/

Neck pocket is 3.00" long. Whats the distance from the 21st fret to the end of the neck? Ive read some say 5/8"....0.466....

Then according to StewMac fret calculator, to center of forward-most mounting screw of the tele bridge is 25.750"

Fret Position Calculator for Fret Spacing - StewMac

Get precise fret spacing every time with our fret position calculator. Ideal for builders who demand accuracy across every scale length.

www.stewmac.com

Distance of nut to 21st fret is 17.919" (25.5 scale length)

So the distance from 21st fret to the bridge mounting screw line is about 7.831"(to 25.750")
or 7.581" to the 25.5" scale length line.

 

[Freeman Keller]

https://www.tdpri.com/attachments/tele_body_drawing_reve-pdf.1169709/

Neck pocket is 3.00" long. Whats the distance from the 21st fret to the end of the neck? Ive read some say 5/8"....

The distance from the 21st fret to the 22nc is 0.425 inches. If the board is cut off at the fret line that would be it. The end of the neck pocket is usually at the 16th fret so it can all be calculated.

 

[jrjrdiablo]

So the 16th fret is 15.380" from the nut or 10.12" to 25.5" line. (or 10.37" to 25.75 line).
End of neck pocket is at the 16th fret....it is 3" long...so the end of the neck pocket is 7.37" to the 25.75 line.

Which matches T Downs drawing, which has the end of the neck pocket to the center of forward-most mounting screw of the tele bridge as also being 7.370" (25.75 line).

So distance from 21st fret to end of neck or neck pocket is 0.461"... i wonder why they just didnt round it off to the nearest 1/16"

 

[Freeman Keller]

So the 16th fret is 15.380" from the nut or 10.12" to 25.5" line. (or 10.37" to 25.75 line).
End of neck pocket is at the 16th fret....it is 3" long...so the end of the neck pocket is 7.37" to the 25.75 line.

Which matches T Downs drawing, which has the end of the neck pocket to the center of forward-most mounting screw of the tele bridge as also being 7.370" (25.75 line).

So distance from 21st fret to end of neck or neck pocket is 0.461"... i wonder why they just didnt round it off to the nearest 1/16"

Using SM's fret calculator (or any other one for that matter). the 16th fret is 15.380 from the face of the nut. That means its 25.5 minus 15.380 from the uncompensated scale length, which is 10.120 inch. That dimension is missing from the Downs drawing, it is a line about halfway between the pickup cavity and the mounting holes.
It is not a critical measurement as there are work arounds to finding your bridge location, but I like to use it as one of my double checks when I'm locating a bridge (on any guitar, not just a tele). If I use two independent methods and they agree then I have a pretty good feeling that I'm going to be able to compensate the thing when the time comes.