It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:55 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Swap vintage bridge to 2-point?
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 2:52 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:07 pm
Posts: 303
I can't find the Strat I want with the things I want on it. So, I'm thinking of getting a new American Special as my starting point and then mod it.

The question: I prefer the saddles of the modern 2-point bridge compared to the vintage bridge saddles.
However, this Strat special comes with the vintage bridge.
Can I install the modern 2-point type saddles onto the vintage bridge?
Or, can I easily swap in a modern 2-point bridge replacing the 6 screw vintage bridge?
By "easily" I mean just swap with no drilling or filling holes.
Trem action is not an issue as I will lock down the bridge.

TIA. :)


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Swap vintage bridge to 2-point?
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 3:45 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
Posts: 14049
Location: Province de Québec, Canada
No, you can't do that job easily.

Look closely those two bridges ,you'll understand


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Swap vintage bridge to 2-point?
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 3:49 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 12:22 pm
Posts: 718
stratele52 wrote:
No, you can't do that job easily.

Look closely those two bridges ,you'll understand


+1....Not easy

8)

_________________
You can't have too many guitars!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Swap vintage bridge to 2-point?
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 5:08 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:57 am
Posts: 2238
Location: UK
If it is just the folded saddles you don't like there are after market block type saddles which will swap. Granted they aren't made by Fender but would be reversable if you decided to sell the guitar.

Alternatively, why not just buy a second hand MiA with a two post bridge?

_________________
John

After all this time I should be better.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Swap vintage bridge to 2-point?
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 5:30 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
Posts: 14049
Location: Province de Québec, Canada
John Sims wrote:
If it is just the folded saddles you don't like there are after market block type saddles which will swap. Granted they aren't made by Fender but would be reversable if you decided to sell the guitar.

Alternatively, why not just buy a second hand MiA with a two post bridge?



First why he don't buy the right guitar first ?
What this guitar have he don't find on other ?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Swap vintage bridge to 2-point?
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 7:19 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:56 am
Posts: 1677
Location: Coastal Bend, Tx.
Get in where ya fit in!!
I have a special and have changed the pups, saddles and tuners.
+2 on the too hard, buy the type you want from the git go.
If you get the special, make sure you get replacement saddles w/ a center screw adjustment and not offset. You all so need to measure the string spacing, E string to E string. I think they come in # 2/16 mostly but check what one you get.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Swap vintage bridge to 2-point?
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 9:17 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:49 am
Posts: 661
Location: Cambridge UK
John Sims wrote:
Alternatively, why not just buy a second hand MiA with a two post bridge?

Agreed - buy a nice 10yr-old MIA. A minter will still be cheaper than a new Special, and I have nothing against the Special as I love mine!

Cheers - Peter.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Swap vintage bridge to 2-point?
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 11:27 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:06 pm
Posts: 534
Location: Northern Virginia
John Sims wrote:
If it is just the folded saddles you don't like there are after market block type saddles which will swap. Granted they aren't made by Fender but would be reversable if you decided to sell the guitar.

Alternatively, why not just buy a second hand MiA with a two post bridge?


I think that in this case, it's just the saddles he wants to replace. It doesn't matter if it's an 2 or 6 point bridge because it will be blocked anyway.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Swap vintage bridge to 2-point?
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 3:10 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:07 pm
Posts: 303
93greenstrat wrote:
John Sims wrote:
If it is just the folded saddles you don't like there are after market block type saddles which will swap. Granted they aren't made by Fender but would be reversable if you decided to sell the guitar.

Alternatively, why not just buy a second hand MiA with a two post bridge?


I think that in this case, it's just the saddles he wants to replace. It doesn't matter if it's an 2 or 6 point bridge because it will be blocked anyway.


Correct.
The American Standard, especially the "Limited Edition" with the 1 piece rosewood neck, would be great for me.
They have the Fat 50's pups, which I love.
However, the Standard doesn't come in the color/s I want.
The limited edition standard comes in daphne blue, but they are not longer available, just in 3-color burst, and I don't want that finish.
I really want something like daphne, sonic blue, or seafoam, surf green, in those shades.

Regarding the question about why I don't just get the guitar I want in the first place?
As I initially wrote, Fender doesn't make Strat that has exactly what I want.
Ideally, the Strat that would be perfect would be the Jeff Beck Strat in surf green with Fat 50's or equivalent pups. That will do nicely.

I don't want a used guitar. If I were shopping for a vintage Strat that would be a different consideration.

Today I just saw the new American Pro Strat. It has regular single coil, non noiseless, pups!
I like the olive green and the sonic gray colors too.
It's a bit pricey at $1400.
I like the idea of the thin and tall frets on the new Pro, but I'm not so sure about the "deep C" neck.
Fender says that neck is as thin at the top of the neck and then gets a bit thicker/rounder towards the body.

I checked with Guitar Center and I can use a 20% coupon on the new Strat Pro.
If I don't like it it's easy to return it to GC.
I'm diggin the sonic gray color.
The bridge is a 2 point, but w/bent steel saddles. That would be an easy fix though if I really hate those saddles.
That could be my next Strat.
Merry Christmas to me! :)


Last edited by Rverb on Thu Dec 08, 2016 3:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Swap vintage bridge to 2-point?
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 3:11 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:07 pm
Posts: 303
stratele52 wrote:
No, you can't do that job easily.

Look closely those two bridges ,you'll understand


Yes, I see.
Thanks.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: