I'm Trying to find a replacement bridge for my '79 Strat that has saddles are that have a closer spacing. Reason: The high "E" keeps coming off of the side of the fret board.

I have a '06/'07 Hw1 Strat that has a bridg that looks like it would do the job, but I don't want to canabalize it. Calahan has one, but It's very expensive and I'm already investing a good chunk of change to fix this guitar (It's a long and painful story).

Is there a saddle spacing difference between the Am. bridges and MIM, MIM and the rest? Also would the mounting screws match?

I found this bridge at guitar fetish and wonder if might do the trick.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Vintage-Tre ... p_844.html

It look that your problem is a neck misalignment , neck is not parallel to body .

You high E is too close / out of the fret board you said . I'm shure you low E is too munch inside the fret board .

Just slack the 3 neck screw , pull or push on the neck to align your E strings ( both ) and tightened the 3 neck's screw. That is it.

If it is not that , show us some pictures. Sure it not a bridge you need

Make sure you measure your mounting-hole-spacing carefully before ordering.
Even within MIMs (for example) there are different spacing specs.
I know this because I took a 50-50 chance,... and ordered the wrong part.

Curious thing, though, is that a skinnier-than-normal neck?
Just odd how your e keeps falling off.
Just wondering because (and this is just my puny mind talking),
if that's the factory bridge, I would think it should match the width of the fretboard.
And if you do attempt to go with a narrower bridge, would the existing holes accommodate it?

I wonder, how would you feel about borrowing the bridge off your HWY1 just as a test-fit?
It might be troublesome, but...

Take stratele52's advice first.

The Callaham bridge uses 2 7/32" screw spacing and 2 1/16" string spacing. It is the only bridge that I am familar with that does that. Your 79 is 2 7/32" string and screw spacing. Measure it to be sure. To go to a narrower string and screw spacing would require filling the existing screw holes with dowels and drilling new holes. It can be done if you have the right tools.

_________________
Bill

I've already check the neck alignment. i'm pretty familiar with this problem because the moment I got my EC Strat brand new out of box I had that problem. I fixed it in about 2 minutes with a screw driver and a buddy.

My luthier and I agree that the fret board is pretty worn down on the sides (feels great for playing). It makes the edge of the neck narrower and causes the high "E" to slip off the neck just a little bit if I'm not careful. So like if I'm playing all over the neck, not a problem, but if I try to make a D sus or play on the first 3 or 4 frets it buzzes a little bit when it catches the side of the fret wire.

Now this rounding also makes the neck of guitar very easy to play. Fender started doing this their guitars about 12 years ago to give it that "Broken in" feel that vintage guys and I all love. Play any current Strat next to a Strat from the '90s and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Thanks for your advice. Any help is always welcome.

It's the original Pot metal bridge.

As for the ordering part, I'm a little skeptical about ordering a brige that I can't physically hold in my hands first to make sure I'm getting the right part.

Looking at the Hwy1's adjustment screws and mounting screws, I noticed that the mounting screws are set wider apart than the adjustment screws. I'm thinking that you have the right idea and should use the Hwy1's bridge to see what happens.

Hi paris: yes there is a difference and no they wouldn't match.

I strongly suggest you read the previous posts again carefully, because people are giving good advice.

In short, you MUST have the same mounting screw spacing or you will not be able to swap in a new bridge (without major carpentry surgery, which you definitely should avoid).

You can accurately measure the mounting screw spacing from centre to centre of the outermost of the six screws, and then compare it to the specs given on any decent aftermarket parts website. Strat-type bridges are built to three different screw spacings. As Bill/bluesky636 said, they are:

52.5mm / 2 1/16" - MIM spacing
54mm / 2 1/8"
56.4mm / 2 7/32" - MIA spacing

Normally, string spread is the same as the spacing of the mounting screws beneath (though I know of a two-point bridge with a 56.4mm stud spacing and a 54mm string spread). As far as I am aware Bill is absolutely right that the Callaham V/N model is the only one that has a wide 56.4mm screw spacing but a narrow 52.5mm string spread, so if that is the route you want to go you will have to pay for it.

However, check your six-screw spacing measurement first!

Also:

I'm very surprised to hear that you've worn the edge of your neck so much that the top string is falling off where it used not to. That's a helluvalot of wear! I'd like to see a picture of that - please?

Like the others, I bet it could be solved with a bass-to-treble neck adjustment. But if not, the Callaham is the bridge you need.

Good luck - C

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Thanks for the information.

All the wear came from the previous owner. I've love to meet the person. From look of the guitar the picture in my mind is of a older player, who played every night of his life in a bar, hands like a vice and I'm betting played a lot of hard driving blues till 2 AM.

The guitar looks like it's been played hard and put away wet. The jumbo frets were worn almost flat, the paint had been stripped and refinished in a clear coat, but has since worn away to expose sweat stained wood. The finish on the neck has chipped away and is now sweat stained.

I found it in a second hand music store in Beltsville, MD. I didn't think much of it when I first saw it. I was just going to test drive it to get an idea of what Strats from the '70s sounded like. The moment I tuned it up and plugged it in to a Hot de Ville I was in love.

Unfortunately It's been horrible damaged by a water leak I had and is now in the shop to put her all back together.

Here are some photos. Let me know if this works:

http://s1068.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 5488022246

http://s1068.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 5488022246

http://s1068.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 5488022246

Nice, but really need to see some closeups of the neck edges.

_________________
Bill

+1000

That's the subject of this post ; the fretboard's worn

Sorry, guys, but the guitar is in the shop right now, so no pictures. I mainly put them up to give some idea of how much overall wear is on the guitar.

I might be able to do something in the next few days.

Paris

Nice guitar , photos do not show wear.