sorry for posting this @the Strat forum but everyone @ tele are asleep

I'm doing some custom work on my
American standard tele. I was wondering If the bridge string
spacing 2-3/16" would work with 2-3/32" or does it really matter?
Would the string go in from the back of the body into the bridge ?

Would this bridge work for my American Std??
It's number TB-0031-003

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/gbri ... egotoh.htm

Thanks

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USA 1989 Clapton Signature Strat in 7up Green
USA Standard Telecaster all Blk w EMG 81/85
ESP Eclipse II w EMG 81/60
Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier & Road king 4x12

Sight unseen and just by doing the math, 2-6/32" vs. 2-3/32: = A total deviation across all six strings of 3/32" = 0.015625" per string. I think it is safe to say that the strings should go through with relatively no difficulty.

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You dig?

Hi frantic: I think it partly depends how accurately the holes are drilled for the existing bridge. Here's a photo of my Tele with the bridge it came with. Not very clear, but can you see that the holes in the body don't exactly fit those on the bridge plate, due to slightly crooked assembly? My picture doesn't show it very well, but the match is actually different for each hole:



If you bought an aftermarket bridge with differently spaced holes, it might by chance actually fit your body better. Or the difference might be in the other direction and the cumulative error could be just enough that things then don't work at all. But that's going to be very hard to say without having the body and new bridge in front of us, isn't it?

Personally, I'd stick to the existing measurements.

Cheers - C

Thanx for all the help so far ...
Yea I'm trying to change the bridge for EMG 81 pickups.
Any ideas where I can find a black Bridge with original spects ??

Thanx

_________________

USA 1989 Clapton Signature Strat in 7up Green
USA Standard Telecaster all Blk w EMG 81/85
ESP Eclipse II w EMG 81/60
Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier & Road king 4x12

Hi again, frantic: well well, what a challenge this is turning out to be. I thought I'd take a quick glance through some of the usual sources and cleverly produce for you the right bridge. But I can't find one. That Gotoh seems to be the only black Tele bridge for humbucker, doesn't it?

Schaller don't make one and nor do Hipshot - just to save you looking.

A minor but tiresome issue with that bridge I pictured is that when you're restringing the string tip sometimes binds on the metal on the way through. A few pokes does it, but it kinda whispers "mid-price guitar" in your ear each time.

I notice that Fender's J5 Tele uses the chrome version of the black Gotoh:

http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0139000306

That either means that it'll work with your Am Std Tele - or that they drill the body specially for that Gotoh bridge on the J5...

I'd carry on looking if I were you, because a perfect fit is really what you want. But if you can't find an alternative to the Gotoh then there is always the possibility of modifying the string holes on the body to improve the fit if it causes problems. You could use a countersink (a hand one, not one mounted in a power tool) to open out the top of the hole beneath the bridge, so that the one leads into the other.

If you have to resort to that then string binding when restringing may just become a fact of life for you - and that'll be the price you have to pay for black hardware...

Sorry: not the answer we wanted, huh?

Course, it might all work fine after all. You can but try.

Cheers - C

Hey thanx alot Ceri.. i think im going to look a little more. but if i dont find
anything with a exact fit ill just go with the Gotoh. if it doesnt fit 100% i guess i can take it to the shop and have them professionally install it

Thanx Again

_________________

USA 1989 Clapton Signature Strat in 7up Green
USA Standard Telecaster all Blk w EMG 81/85
ESP Eclipse II w EMG 81/60
Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier & Road king 4x12

Ceri sight along your high E to the nearest edge of the bridge. It looks to me that the bridge is on slightly crooked. I have the same problem on my baja tele. Would it justify tweaking those saddle screws over a bit?

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No no and no

Hi Ninj: yes, the bridge was definitely installed slightly off, as you can see from the string holes in the bod. Dismayed that I didn't notice it in the shop - or for some time after. But then it doesn't matter much: it just speaks slightly of the price point of the guitar.

Actually, the strings meet the neck in the right place, so it's OK as far as that goes. But I did take the opportunity of a nut change to shift them all across to the bass side by a smidgen of a mil at that end. And it never hurts to post a picture of that particular nut again, does it?



For anyone who doesn't know, that's the compensated bone nut that Mr Nikininja made for me. I believe I'm the proud owner of one of the first such in the world. More info here:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... order=asc&

Cheers - C