Telecaster Tremelo

[Ian Wilson]

Hi to all Guitar enthusiasts out there ………
At 74 i’m totally new to this…… but have been playing guitars since the age of 13 and I live for my guitars, I have a wide selection including a butterscotch Squire Tele.
I have installed a Duesenberg on one of my guitars with complete success and so now I want to put a trem on my Tele, that’s where my post really begins……….

Can anyone assist with a guide as to which way to go for the best….?
I have looked at all types of Bigsby trems, Bigsby Vibeomate systems, short and long…. Covers / Plates / different styles of bridges ( ie rollers / saddles on plates / roller bridges, ashtray bridges etc etc. A Bigsby b5 tremelo system seem to be the most popular but I’m not against using a Duesenberg system again if possible ( Duesenberg Diamond Deluxe Tremola looks good )…..cost isn’t really a problem but I don’t want to throw away money on system which doesn’t work well. As I see it, the cost of installing a tremelo will cost around the £300 mark, which to me seems a little pricey…….
could anyone advise on parts which will do a good job ie.…………
System / Arms / kits / plates / saddles / bridge etc.
( my Tele has three screw holes in the chrome ash tray plate not four )
Has anyone out there done the job ?
Please, please, HELP ! It’s a minefield…..
Thanks in anticipation…………. Ian

 

[Stringbanger]

Welcome to the fold!

This sub-forum is where we say hi.
You will get better results by posting your questions here:

Telecaster Discussion Forum

The world's largest Fender Telecaster Discussion Forum. Please keep discussion limited to Telecaster topics here.

www.tdpri.com

 

[FrankJames]

Welcome to the forum !!

 

[Fenderbaum]

Welcome..

Look into https://vegatrem.com/vt2-teletrem-telecaster-tremolo/

 

[Ian Wilson]

Welcome to the fold!

This sub-forum is where we say hi.
You will get better results by posting your questions here:

Telecaster Discussion Forum

The world's largest Fender Telecaster Discussion Forum. Please keep discussion limited to Telecaster topics here.

www.tdpri.com

Sorry…….. new to this , haven’t found my way round yet.

 

[unixfish]

Welcome. @Stringbanger gave you good advice.

 

[Ian Wilson]

Thanks all for your welcoming words…..

 

[arlum]

Welcome to TDPRI. Very glad you've joined us.

 

[Peegoo]

@Ian Wilson

Welcome to the TDPRI.

When I wanted to build a Tele-like beast with a vibrato unit, I went with a two-point Strat-type bridge with a pop-in arm because I already have Bigsby-equipped guitars, and Bigsbys are pretty fiddly things to keep in tune. This bridge action is smooth and the guitar stays perfectly in tune.

This guitar has a swamp ash body with forearm and belly carves, maple neck with rosewood fretboard and stainless steel frets, and pickups with hemispherical mag poles. The only pickups like it in the entire universe. Also a reversed control plate and some custom artwork. Purists will gripe that this isn't a Telecaster. I won't lose any sleep.

 

[gkterry]

Welcome to the telecaster nuthouse! It's a good place to hang out. Lots of collective knowledge floating around.

 

[thunderbyrd]

welcome to tdpri.

 

[Ian Wilson]

just spent a tadge over £300 already today already on guitar parts,
my financial advisor ain’t gonna be amused.
BUT…….. she will reap the benefit as she will be the first to hear the difference they make……..

 

[Rockinvet]

Welcome! Lots of folks here to answer your questions.

 

[Ian Wilson]

Ok, so after a week of torment I have finally made a decision………
as every company / shop / musical outlet seems to be ‘ Out of stock’ of everything Bigsby, ( unless you have money to burn and want to pay important duties )
I have decided to go down the route of mix and match………..
I looked first at which style bridge was best and decided to go for the :-
Fender 0076230049 Classic Player Jaguar-Jazzmaster Bridge Assembly,
as this style seemed to receive a better press than the ashtray design bridge.

So in my wisdom,I purchased the said Fender bridge first ……..( first mistake )
As now committed to the Fender bridge, I decided to go for the separate chrome bridge pickup plate……… BUT it’s , ‘out of stock’ everywhere……Ok, so I will buy the Bigsby kit, comprising of bridge plate and Tremelo arm……. It arrived…… ‘minus the plate’…… after a phone call to a very nice man , I was told to return the kit and that they would replace it with the kit which contained the said plate which would be another £30 ……… BUT, It was ‘out of stock‘……… So, change of plan, as I have already installed a Duesenberg trem on another guitar…….. (and must add, I’m very very pleased with it.) why not go for a Duesenberg Diamond Delux TREMOLO short…? ? Which is the Bigsby b5 equivalent.
Guess what………. OUT OF STOCK EVERYWHERE. So, for now, I’ve given up and will return to the project in the autumn when shop’s stocks are replenished.
WATCH THIS SPACE…………. Ian

 

[ETMusic777]

Hi to all Guitar enthusiasts out there ………
At 74 i’m totally new to this…… but have been playing guitars since the age of 13 and I live for my guitars, I have a wide selection including a butterscotch Squire Tele.
I have installed a Duesenberg on one of my guitars with complete success and so now I want to put a trem on my Tele, that’s where my post really begins……….

Can anyone assist with a guide as to which way to go for the best….?
I have looked at all types of Bigsby trems, Bigsby Vibeomate systems, short and long…. Covers / Plates / different styles of bridges ( ie rollers / saddles on plates / roller bridges, ashtray bridges etc etc. A Bigsby b5 tremelo system seem to be the most popular but I’m not against using a Duesenberg system again if possible ( Duesenberg Diamond Deluxe Tremola looks good )…..cost isn’t really a problem but I don’t want to throw away money on system which doesn’t work well. As I see it, the cost of installing a tremelo will cost around the £300 mark, which to me seems a little pricey…….
could anyone advise on parts which will do a good job ie.…………
System / Arms / kits / plates / saddles / bridge etc.
( my Tele has three screw holes in the chrome ash tray plate not four )
Has anyone out there done the job ?
Please, please, HELP ! It’s a minefield…..
Thanks in anticipation…………. Ian

Telecaster Deluxe Plus from the early 90s had factory trems.

 

[Ian Wilson]

What a beautiful guitar, I’m so envious………….
One of, if not the best I’ve seen.

 

[Chester P Squier]

Welcome to the TDPRI!

Make yourself at home!