Solving the Cabronita Bridge Mystery

[kanegon]

A public service for those with post-2012 MIM Cabronitas trying to figure out which bridge to use to correct the string spacing.

Fender made the Cabronitas with 3 different screw/string spacings:

1. 2012 MIM Cabronitas: strings: 2 1/8 screws: vintage (apparently)
- why folks noticed the string holes didn't quite line up with the stock plate holes

2. 2013 Cabronitas + Cab Thinlines: strings: 2 3/16 screws: vintage (1.775", measured w/caliper)
- uses MIM Vintage Hardtail Bridge
- what I have and why I ended up doing this

3. USA Cabronitas: American Standard screws and string spacing.

Anyway, make a long story short, I overlayed all the plate diagrams I could find, scaled them up and color coded them so you can see how they overlap. The GREEN overlay shows Fender's Am Vintage; more or less how the post-2012 Cabronitas are actually drilled; what you're up against.

For my purposes, it appears the Hipshot (YELLOW) is the only one that has both the vintage screw spacing AND 2 1/16" string spacing. This explains why almost everyone says it's a drop-in replacement that corrects the string spacing, be it 2012 or 2013. It uses larger string holes that expose most of the vintage spaced string holes on post 2012 MIM, like the one I have. Next best fit looks to be the Rutters La Buritto V (MAGENTA), which also has vintage mounting but slightly wider string spacing (2 1/8), just shy of Am Std's 2.08". The original Burrito (LT BLUE) appears to use Fender's Am Std. pattern. Finally, the Am Std hardtail (RED) bridge has the narrowest string and screw spacing. Judging from this diagram, it would only expose about 1/3 of the vintage spaced string holes. I'll pass on the Axecaster (DK BLUE) due to the string holes being farther up than they should be.

I have no clue how Callaham manages to work on MIM and USA cabs + thinlines, with AmStd screw spacing and 2 1/16 string spacing. Even with larger string holes, it would be a strain to screw it on. Maybe someone knows... But it says they work on his website.

Marc Rutters sent me his diagram. The others I lifted from Warmoth and respective websites. Happy Trails!

 

[stephenyi]

I think mine is a 2012 and I just used the original bridge and replaced the saddles with a set from Callaham. The strings were aligned much better over the pickup poles after the saddle upgrade.

 

[kanegon]

I think mine is a 2012 and I just used the original bridge and replaced the saddles with a set from Callaham. The strings were aligned much better over the pickup poles after the saddle upgrade.

The narrow vintage (2 1/16) or vintage (2 7/32) saddles? I think the problem with the 2012 bridge was they were grooved, but they’re narrower than the saddles on later Cabs, no?

 

[stephenyi]

They are the narrow vintage saddles for made for the MIM strats -- https://www.callahamguitars.com/strat_trem_216saddleset_catalog.htm

Not familiar with the bridges on later cabs but the Callaham saddles seem to sit in the grooves for the 2012 Cabronita bridge fine.

 

[kanegon]

They are the narrow vintage saddles for made for the MIM strats -- https://www.callahamguitars.com/strat_trem_216saddleset_catalog.htm

Not familiar with the bridges on later cabs but the Callaham saddles seem to sit in the grooves for the 2012 Cabronita bridge fine.

Fender made the spacing even worse in the post 2013 Cabronitas/Cab Thinline. It went from 2 1/8 to 2 3/16, so the saddle swap won't work. I just ordered the Callaham Am Std.; Specialty Guitar assures me it's a drop-in replacement.

 

[J-Lazzz]

Fender made the spacing even worse in the post 2013 Cabronitas/Cab Thinline. It went from 2 1/8 to 2 3/16, so the saddle swap won't work. I just ordered the Callaham Am Std.; Specialty Guitar assures me it's a drop-in replacement.

Just wondering did the Callaham Am Std. wok out for your project.? Looking at getting a callaham for a thinline but want to make sure it fixes this bungled up mess Fender created.

 

[SpringKing]

I put Hipshot hardtail bridge on my 2012 cab and it fit very well ! The alignment with the screw hole is perfect and the string was more closer to the pole piece especialy with bridge pickup [emoji41]

 

[TelePlank]

View attachment 545777

I put Hipshot hardtail bridge on my 2012 cab and it fit very well ! The alignment with the screw hole is perfect and the string was more closer to the pole piece especialy with bridge pickup [emoji41]

I’m not a fan of the CAB Teles ,but that one looks amazing.

 

[kanegon]

Just wondering did the Callaham Am Std. wok out for your project.? Looking at getting a callaham for a thinline but want to make sure it fixes this bungled up mess Fender created.

No, the Cally Am Std mounting screw are spaced closer than the 2013 Cab’s vintage spacing. Was given a refund and apology, cuz I bought it with the assurance it would fit. I got the Rutters Burrito instead, which came in two sizes. Marc sent me a pdf template, and I chose the Burrito V, which had the exact mounting screw spacing and pulled the strings closer together to 2 1/8, (which btw is TV Jones spec, not 2.08, as Fender did with original Cab).

 

[etype]

I installed the Hipshot on my 2013 MIM thinline Cab. Fit perfectly with the only issue being I needed to remove all but one of the springs (high e) so that I could get the saddles back far enough to set the intonation.

 

[Mr. Lumbergh]

The stock bridge on mine works just fine. I didn’t have a problem with intonation or spacing.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Lefty Addams]

No, the Cally Am Std mounting screw are spaced closer than the 2013 Cab’s vintage spacing. Was given a refund and apology, cuz I bought it with the assurance it would fit. I got the Rutters Burrito instead, which came in two sizes. Marc sent me a pdf template, and I chose the Burrito V, which had the exact mounting screw spacing and pulled the strings closer together to 2 1/8, (which btw is TV Jones spec, not 2.08, as Fender did with original Cab).

Great post! Very informative esp the string spacing. Love your cab man. Looking good in surf green.

Are your TVJones Classic + Classic, or Classic + Classic Plus?

 

[kanegon]

Are your TVJones Classic + Classic, or Classic + Classic Plus?

Just the stock Fidelitrons, which I’m quite okay with. Like the Classics too.

 

[gtrplr]

Any idea on the spacing and what would fit on a Squier Cabronita? Asking for a friend.

 

[kanegon]

Any idea on the spacing and what would fit on a Squier Cabronita? Asking for a friend.

Never played one, but judging from photos and comments online, Squire Cabs appear to be spaced at 2 1/8 (same as MIM Tele Standard) with mounting holes that are compatible with Am Std. So, they’re actually closer to the USA Cabronita! That and real Fidelitrons for half the price of MIM. Go figure...

 

[gsh1968]

The Gotoh GTC101/102 is a direct drop in replacement for the Squier La Cabronita. String spacing is 52.5mm / 2 1/16 inch. Fender actually got the spacing and bridge right on the Squier but managed to get one or the other wrong on both Mexican Fender versions (first run in 2012 and Thinlines/2013 and later versions).
http://www.tdpri.com/threads/squier-cabronita-tele-bridge-swap.434351/#post-5369334

 

[J-Lazzz]

No, the Cally Am Std mounting screw are spaced closer than the 2013 Cab’s vintage spacing. Was given a refund and apology, cuz I bought it with the assurance it would fit. I got the Rutters Burrito instead, which came in two sizes. Marc sent me a pdf template, and I chose the Burrito V, which had the exact mounting screw spacing and pulled the strings closer together to 2 1/8, (which btw is TV Jones spec, not 2.08, as Fender did with original Cab).

Thanks for blazing the trail and sharing, definitely saved me some time and money. I traded away one of the telebration cabs with tv classics many moons ago, and have recently picked up a mexi thinline. I now feel whole again, but it definitely needs a couple adjustments to get up to speed - bridge being the major culprit. Neck pickup maybe next but I think the bridge fidelitron is plenty fine.

I was really hoping the Callaham would fit, I have their bridges on two other guitars and really think they make an excellent product. I emailed them directly and they said they could not guarantee fit - I guess they learned that lesson through your experience.

I saw an earlier post where someone said the stock bridges aren't that bad, and maybe they got a good one, but mine is a real piece of junk. Looks like I will be joining you on the burrito train, those brass barrels really set it off in my opinion. Thanks again for the consult, definitely answered a worthy six dollar question.

 

[po-boy]

confusing string spacing measurements because 2 1/16" = 2.0625" not 2.08" -

hipshot states their hardtail string spacing at 2.08", they never say its 2 1/16" -

butters states his burrito bridge is 2 1/8" = 2.125" and his burrito v is listed at 2.09" -

callaham states his American standard hardtail are 2/16" which again should be 2.0625" -

the gotoh hardtail is listed at 52.5 mm which converts to 2.067" -

thats just the string spacing ... the holes for the mounting screws are another issue -

 

[ruger9]

Tagging onto this thread instead of starting a new one because THIS thread already contains alot of directly relevant information, a good repository for the specific subject matter, when anyone comes looking...

I have a 2013 MIM Thinline Cabronita. The stock bridge was already replaced by the previous owner, he says it's an MIA Std. bridge, and it certainly looks like one.

I just ordered a Bigsby B5 to put on this guitar, but now I need a Bigsby-compatible bridge for it, and Callaham seems to be the only game in town these days for a FLAT bridge replacement? He offers a couple of different models, I'm not sure if the MIA is the one I want, or the one with "vintage" spacing, or what?

The Callaham MIA is 2-1/16" spacing
The Callaham "vintage" is 2-1/8" spacing

My current cabronita bridge (and I recently had a look underneath: the mounting holes are ORIGINAL, they was no filling/re-drilling done by the previous owner...)

 

[ruger9]

BTW, I measured and it looks like 2-3/16" spacing, center-to-center on the E strings. Which agrees with the Fender spec for the Am. Std. Hardtail bridge.