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Post subject: American Pro Bridge Swap
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2018 2:59 pm
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I’m looking to swap out the 3 brass saddle bridge for 6 block saddle bridge. I’ve been having trouble finding a bridge that will fit. Has anyone done this already or found an after market that fits? Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: American Pro Bridge Swap
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 5:06 am
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Why not compensated vintage saddles ?

6 saddles ; check this one with your dimension some guy say it fit ;

https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Pa ... _Tele.html


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Post subject: Re: American Pro Bridge Swap
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 9:59 am
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stratele52 wrote:
Why not compensated vintage saddles ?



I agree. I have found them to be a solid solution.

I swapped my bridge from individual saddles to three compensated saddles and it was much better all round. The main issue I had with the individual saddles is these were the off set intonation screw design and the string tension could mean you might have one of the height screws floating. The centre design as per the link shouldn't create this problem though.

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Post subject: Re: American Pro Bridge Swap
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2018 3:38 am
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Hi, Consideration needs to be given to the 'bridge plate' mounting holes. When I replaced a 6 piece bridge with a 3 piece bridge I was advised to redrill the body mounting holes to suit 4 screws instead of 3 screws. I decided not to do the drilling to the body and drilled the mounting plate to suit the existing body holes. Also found the location of te through body string drillings didn't align, so more drilling to the bridge plate. Bridge plate ended up looking like a piece of Swiss cheese. For you I would suggest drilling the back of the existing bridge plate to accept the 6 bridge piece intonation screws and thereby avoiding the mounting and alignment issues. Anyway I hope it all goes well and you enjoy the result.
Regards, Ross


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Post subject: Re: American Pro Bridge Swap
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2018 3:47 am
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We forget the need to redrill body.... :shock: .I will don't do that.

Buy a compensated saddles or buy a American standard


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Post subject: Re: American Pro Bridge Swap
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2018 7:22 am
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The OP wants installing an American Elite bridge with block saddles.


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Post subject: Re: American Pro Bridge Swap
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2018 8:38 am
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Dang! I know the pain of the three hole bridge. It wasn't the easiest to find a good product to accommodate the three compensated saddles without paying through the nose. Happy I made the change though.

Redrilling would be a bit marginal as the plates are different sizes and the holes are fairly adjacent, which isn't fun.

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Post subject: Re: American Pro Bridge Swap
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2018 1:49 pm
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Maybe you could begin by replacing the ashtray with one designed for six saddles.

Like This

and then replace those six barrel saddles with block style.

I don't know if it would work but it might be worth checking out.




Whatever you decide to try, I advise two things.
1) If you don't know for certain that you are going to own this guitar for the rest of your natural life then I would advise not modifying the wood by drilling any new holes. Modifying the wood will adversely affect resale value.
2) Regardless of whether you plan to keep the guitar for life or sell it down the road, keep the old bridge parts and stash them away for a rainy day should you ever decide to sell it or simply want to change it back to stock.

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Post subject: Re: American Pro Bridge Swap
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 7:56 am
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I have one of the Gotoh 6-saddle modern Tele bridges on my MIJ Squier Tele and it works well. I’m no purist Tele player so I cannot say whether there is a tonal difference or what have you. For me, I could never get the intonation to where it was dead nuts on.......maybe there are tricks or whatever......I just went to the Gotoh and never looked back. I also prefer how it feels when my hand rides the bridge.

Perhaps that has to do with the fact I have always been a Strat player. Note how the plate is flat.

https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Pa ... _Tele.html

Here is a standard type with compensated saddles.

https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Pa ... r_Tele.htm


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Post subject: Re: American Pro Bridge Swap
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 8:37 pm
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Fumbly wrote:
For me, I could never get the intonation to where it was dead nuts on.......maybe there are tricks or whatever.

It is a physical/mathematical impossibility to get perfect intonation on a 3-saddle guitar, or for that matter, an acoustic with a straight bar bridge.
The best we can hope for is the best compromise. Get one string in tune, then see how far the other string is out. Split the difference so they are both equal semitones off.
While you can see it on the tuner scale, and maybe even audible while you are intonating it, but when actually playing, it won't be apparent. The worst pair is going to be the D/G pair... wasn't such an issue back in the day when all that was available was a wound G.

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Post subject: Re: American Pro Bridge Swap
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 9:53 am
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We found something that is great is a a hybird of bent and hard-tail. It is called hardbent Image


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Post subject: Re: American Pro Bridge Swap
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 7:43 pm
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I've never heard the term "hardbent"
Those saddles look very similar to the solid Zamak/Mazac saddles that Fender used on the 70s models in the final days of CBS control.

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