3 Saddle to 6 Saddle Bridge.

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TelePaul

TelePaul

J to the R O C
Can it be done? I wanna change the ashtray bridge on my Highway One Tele (which has three saddles and is tough to adjust for intonation) to a more moderen six-saddle one. I'd obviously only do it if it could be done as a straight swap.
 
TelePaul said:
Can it be done? I wanna change the ashtray bridge on my Highway One Tele (which has three saddles and is tough to adjust for intonation) to a more moderen six-saddle one. I'd obviously only do it if it could be done as a straight swap.
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I don't see why not. My '52 RI that had the 3 saddle also came with a modern 6 saddle direct from Fender.

I saw a 6 saddle online somewhere that used brass too.
 
Outlaws said:
I don't see why not. My '52 RI that had the 3 saddle also came with a modern 6 saddle direct from Fender.

I saw a 6 saddle online somewhere that used brass too.
Click to expand...

Cool, it's just a pain in the ass to try and adjust saddle height (I need one of those small screwdrivers you get for repairing glasses). I'd like to be able to set the intonation for one string at a time also.
 
Yes, I replaced the 3 saddle bridge on my '76 tele when I was in Japan.

Just went to the store, bought one in black, unscrewed the old, screwed in the new (same holes, new screws), restrung, set the intonation and presto, a well intonated tele !

Kept the old one (of course) if I ever have to sell it ...

:rolleyes: Right, I've had this since I was 14 ... don't think that will happen.
It has made it a much more playable guitar, for sure.
 
There are a few people (I think Cephus is one?) on record as saying that the traditional 3-saddle tele bridge is responsible for a lot of the Tele's snap and twang. If you swap yours out, let us know if you hear any difference.

My Tele came with a 6-saddle bridge; in fact, that was one of the reasons that I bought it.
 
Yup.... 3 sadle brass is the way to get the true Tele "spank"!
 
It can easily be done, but just to be warned, it will change the sound. Of all of the upgrades I have done to my tele's, the 6 saddle to 3 saddle was the most surprising.

One other possible suggestion is to look into the adjustable compensated bridge peices. I have the standard compensated barrels, but I have a buddy who has the adjustable comps.
 
Most Tele players will tell you the guitar will sound different with a six saddle bridge. You might look at the Joe Barden or Wilkinson Tele bridges, though. They are both 3 saddle bridges, but the Barden has it's saddles angled for better intonation, and the Wilkinson has saddles which can swivel to set the intonation. Both have big massive barrel saddles, so you get the sound, but you also get vastly improved intonation.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
I've heard good things about the Wilkinson bridge. I actually like most of that range of hardware
 
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