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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:40 pm
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stroker vance wrote:
The 68 Tele bass pick guard is smaller than a first gen P bass. I like it better. I think it looks better . I bought my 68 Tele bass on ebay in 2005 for 770 bucks ! It had the blue flower finish stripped off and it had a badass bridge on it and the pick up was dead. Not a problem. I ended up selling it but of course I shouldn't have. Someone kick me. :D


I've never understood why they bother with a pickguard on a bass. My custom Tele-Bass is scratchplate-free. I might use a pick at night now and then unplugged when the kids are asleep but on it no one would notice a few marks.

Also, do you know how many models of Tele-Basses had actual Tele bridges? I saw my first on the forum recently - didn't know there was such a thing or I would have tried to find one for my custom build. Ended up getting a Schaller.


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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:54 pm
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A lot of bass players use a pick. I did when I started, then learned how to use my fingers. I find that depending on the type of music and sound I want sometimes a pick works better, and sometimes fingers work better granted I could go either way and be proficient. Sometimes if I am in a band that already had the music and used a pick, I use one just to get as close as I can to the sound on the recording. I imagine Fender might of had other reasons to use a pickguard but it stands to reason they never would have if a decent percentage of bass players were not using picks. Maybe some players were concerned about premature wear from picks, especially back in the day when they only used nitro finishes. Could even be a chance is was aesthetics or at least that playing a part in the decision to use them to better distinguish them as Fenders. Who knows?

As far as the tele bridges I have no idea. I am sure there is someone here who has researched when they used those. A good thing about this forum is there is usually an expert or at least a knowledgeable hobbyist on the particular instrument you have a question about....even the oddities and rare ones. I just notice what seems to be a tele bridge on the real old ones so perhaps Fender uses them on the reissues.

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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 11:41 pm
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Thanks for the info. I always assumed that a bass player using a pick was a guitar player that taught himself a bit of bass. I've played guitar for a few decades but got first bass recently and now... trying to teach myself a bit of bass... Been trying to learn "the right way" without a pick but practicing at night while the kids are asleep I can't hear what I'm playing when using fingers unplugged. Guess I'll have to try a pick while plugged in and cranked up!


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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2015 2:04 am
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Well it depends on the type of music and technique. In some heavy bands I preferred the sound of a pick (like a growl on a good P-bass) but with funkier and blues I do better with my fingers for fills and feel etc. It could be that many bass players started on guitar and that is why so many use a pick but I feel to get the most out of it you should be able to use your fingers as well which of course all conventional stand up bass players do. But the bottom line for a musician is if you are making music that is all that counts even if you were playing with your feet or a piece of toast lol.

Of course if you would prefer a Tele bass without a pick guard I see no reason why one could not be made if not by yourself by any decent builder. I bet you could probably get a body like that from Warmoth for a few hundred, of course it goes way up if you can not paint it yourself.

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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2015 2:01 pm
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Also, do you know how many models of Tele-Basses had actual Tele bridges? I saw my first on the forum recently - didn't know there was such a thing or I would have tried to find one for my custom build. Ended up getting a Schaller.


Real Fender Tele- basses had bridges with two steel saddles on them. The original Precision bass also had a two piece bridge and I am assuming that this bridge is what you are calling a Tele bridge.

Currently the Sting bass uses a tele bass bridge( 2 PC) but the Squire Classic Vibe Tele bass style P -bass has a 4 pc bridge. The Squire Tele bass with humbucking PU is using a Tele bridge with brass saddles.

I can tell you that a 2 pc bridge can't be intonated perfectly.

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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2015 2:25 pm
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Ah yes come to think of it I do not recall ever seeing a Tele Bass with a tele guitar bridge on it. The closest as you said is the early P and J style...

Image


Whereas the older Tele Bass and P 51s look more like this...

Image

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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 1:52 am
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ebaysux wrote:
Ah yes come to think of it I do not recall ever seeing a Tele Bass with a tele guitar bridge on it. The closest as you said is the early P and J style...

Image

Whereas the older Tele Bass and P 51s look more like this...

Image


Was one of several basses in the picture and not much detail but sure looked like a standard telecaster guitar style bridge. Definitely not enough detail to tell if 2 or 4 saddle.


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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 7:44 pm
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fenderfan wrote:

Was one of several basses in the picture and not much detail but sure looked like a standard telecaster guitar style bridge. Definitely not enough detail to tell if 2 or 4 saddle.


Do you recall where the pic is located? A standard tele bridge looks like this.. (although some with humbuckers use what is identical to a strat hardtail bridge)

Image

Was it a plate like that which housed a pickup? Either way a standard tele bridge would have either 3 saddles or 6 saddles unless they made a 4 string tele :lol: However it could have been something that was custom done by the owner. I don't think Fender ever used a bridge like that on a Tele bass from the factory and the pickup was always up by the pickguard.

However if you really wanted one like that I don't see a reason a standard tele bridge could not be adapted with a little "McGyvering"...but not sure a pickup that close to the saddles on a bass is going to be very useful so it would be more or less just for looks or to enhance highs used in conjunction with a pup in the normal spot.

As far as a black one just have it anodized or powder coated.

I can say I have seen some non fender tele style basses that had a plate for a pup above the bridge. In a bad pic it could be mistaken for a one piece and look somewhat similar to a large version of a standard tele guitar bridge at a distance.

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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:48 am
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Have one tele with Fender Vintage Noiseless and another with Lollartron humbuckers. If it has a strat bridge it isn't a tele! :) Both have standard tele bridges except that the Lollartrons poke through a tele bridge cut out for humbuckers. That tele has a tele bass twin that I would like to find a tele bass bridge for. More for the twins thing - better tone would be a bonus.

Been trying to find the thread that looked like it had a picture of one. Maybe if I hook the laptop to the flatscreen it will be big enough to get a good look.

Tele bridge seems like a simple thing. If I take a tele guitar bridge to a machine shop along with the bass saddles they should be able to bend me up a piece of medal, make the cutout for the pickup, and drill the holes.

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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 4:03 am
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BCbassman wrote:
Quote:
Also, do you know how many models of Tele-Basses had actual Tele bridges? I saw my first on the forum recently - didn't know there was such a thing or I would have tried to find one for my custom build. Ended up getting a Schaller.


Currently the Sting bass uses a tele bass bridge( 2 PC) but the Squire Classic Vibe Tele bass style P -bass has a 4 pc bridge. The Squire Tele bass with humbucking PU is using a Tele bridge with brass saddles.

I can tell you that a 2 pc bridge can't be intonated perfectly.


Guess the Squier tele bass bridge cut out for a humbucker and with 4 saddles solves my tele bass problem and the Schaller would be a definite upgrade to my Squier P Bass. Just seems wrong to take the Schaller off a custom build to put in a Squier then put a Squier bridge in the custom!


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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 10:13 am
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I've had some serious GAS rumblings recently for one of those Sting model basses (which are essentially one of these basses,) but it looks like they discontinued it and all they have is the Squier model for this type of offering, from what I've found. I know they had some others awhile back, too. I guess this model isn't popular enough to keep in production? That would be too bad since it is one of those instruments that have been of interest to me at least.

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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:09 pm
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fenderfan wrote:
Have one tele with Fender Vintage Noiseless and another with Lollartron humbuckers. If it has a strat bridge it isn't a tele! :) Both have standard tele bridges except that the Lollartrons poke through a tele bridge cut out for humbuckers. That tele has a tele bass twin that I would like to find a tele bass bridge for. More for the twins thing - better tone would be a bonus.

Been trying to find the thread that looked like it had a picture of one. Maybe if I hook the laptop to the flatscreen it will be big enough to get a good look.

Tele bridge seems like a simple thing. If I take a tele guitar bridge to a machine shop along with the bass saddles they should be able to bend me up a piece of medal, make the cutout for the pickup, and drill the holes.


That is not true. There are many examples of Teles with Humbuckers that used the same exact bridge used for a Hardtail strat. For example a thin line..

Image

Look at the bridge compared to a hardtail Strat...no difference. and 100% interchangeable same part number everything. I know this for a fact as I build/buy/sell Strats and Teles and customs every day all day and freaking night since god knows when lol. Granted I still learn something new almost every day with Fenders..they are well steeped in anomalies.

Image


But aside from that, I do imagine there would be several ways to get a standard Tele bridge on a tele bass be it modifying a tele bridge or making one from scratch. Really not much to those at all. But I am still curious to see the pic of the one you did because I love these kinds of oddities and to try to determine if it was factory or custom done.

And which model of Squire Tele bass as a different bridge? I can not find one that has a bridge on a bass that looks anything like one on the tele guitar. The "closest" I have seen any Fender bass bridge be to a "plate" style is the Mustang bridge... Guess with some cutting and anodizing or powder coating you could have what you want which is really all that counts...does not matter if it is Squier because metal is metal granted there certainly are differences between performance of one bridge over another and of course it is implied materials like brass can help with sustain etc.

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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:33 pm
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Still struggling with Photobucket but my Tele is featured on the builder's website at LynnEllsworth.com. The Relic Master with gold humbuckers, second from the right. The matching Tele-Bass he made me is identical except has a standard style bass bridge and N3's. Not expecting better sound, just want the twins to be more identical. Plus the fact that IMO a Tele with a Strat bridge isn't really a Tele. It is a Strat with a different shape. I wouldn't have gone with humbuckers on my custom Tele if I there wasn't a Tele style bridge around to go with it. When I decided to have him build me a matching Tele-Bass I didn't know there was an option so just ordered a good standard style bridge. My first thought was to modify a Tele bridge to accept 4 bass saddles but didn't want to give the builder a questionable DIY bridge to install. Now that its done and I can see them side by side I really want a Tele bridge for the bass. If the sound is as good or better than it is now I'll put the Schallers in my P Bass(is a Squier so would be a definite improvement), If it hurts the tone I can put the Schallers back in.


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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 8:47 pm
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fenderfan wrote:
Still struggling with Photobucket but my Tele is featured on the builder's website at LynnEllsworth.com. The Relic Master with gold humbuckers, second from the right. The matching Tele-Bass he made me is identical except has a standard style bass bridge and N3's. Not expecting better sound, just want the twins to be more identical. Plus the fact that IMO a Tele with a Strat bridge isn't really a Tele. It is a Strat with a different shape. I wouldn't have gone with humbuckers on my custom Tele if I there wasn't a Tele style bridge around to go with it. When I decided to have him build me a matching Tele-Bass I didn't know there was an option so just ordered a good standard style bridge. My first thought was to modify a Tele bridge to accept 4 bass saddles but didn't want to give the builder a questionable DIY bridge to install. Now that its done and I can see them side by side I really want a Tele bridge for the bass. If the sound is as good or better than it is now I'll put the Schallers in my P Bass(is a Squier so would be a definite improvement), If it hurts the tone I can put the Schallers back in.


I hear you but you as far as the teles that are using the strat hardtail bridges, they are NOT at all just a different shaped strat. How can you in good conscious even say that??? They are 100% teles but simply using a bridge that works for them. That is like saying just because they use the same tuners or even paint that it is the only difference. Here are some pic of Teles that are using that bridge. Do you really think just because of the bridge that all these spectacular Teles of various models and vintage years are simply just different shaped strats????? Seriously bro?

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

And to play extra dirty I will even throw this one in :twisted: Hell yes she knows a D chord.

Image

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Post subject: Re: Tele Bass
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:27 pm
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Just a matter of preference - for me, what makes a tele is the bridge. Not the shape of the body. A Tele with a Strat bridge is still technically a Tele and guess a Tele bridge on a Strat would still be a Strat. Just not one that I would like. Some people like to put tele necks on Strats and vice-versa too. Not for me but not going to argue with them - is their preference and they are welcome to it. If they like it that is all that counts.


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