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Post subject: Tele bridges
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 4:58 pm
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Quick question for the tele crowd..I'm looking at an American telecaster.the stock 6 saddle bridge has been "upgraded" to an aftermarket 3 barrel saddle bridge setup.wouldnt the 6 saddle bridge setup be better for intonation? I'd like to know the pros and cons of both. :D


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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 8:35 pm
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In my opinion it would seem in all logic that having the six saddle bridge would allow for more accurate intonation. However the three saddle just has the right vintage look for a Tele and when you consider for how long it has been used and by how many artists who have played live and recorded with it I don't think it is that major of a concern in reality and would just go for the one that looks better to you.

As far as which one is actually an "upgrade" is a matter of opinion. I guess if you are an intonation freak the best would be the 6 saddle.

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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:18 pm
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Not concerned at all,just curious.all my previous guitars have had 6 individual saddles so I guess i just want to know what quirks are accociated with the traditional 3barrel saddle setups. :D

I spent a bit of time learning about "compensated" saddles and what not.seems the upgraded barrels are a little better than the older traditional styles.


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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 2:41 am
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Best and easier intonation with 6 saddles . I own both telecasters


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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 4:18 am
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I wouldnt' say it's an upgrade having the vintage 3 brass saddles, it's just a different way of doing the same thing. Intonation is more challenging imo, but if it's a real problem, you can get compensated saddles to fix, but most of the time, it's not a problem.

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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 4:30 am
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I've owned a few Teles, and I'd say that 6 saddles does allow for better intonation. 3 saddles is a big pain in the butt for intonating, and not as accurate (most people can't really hear the difference).

I will say that 3 brass barrals does add to a more authenric Tele sound. Brass does alter the tone and sustain a bit.

My current Tele (pitured to the left in my avitar), uses 6 saddles made of brass and chromed.

The question is: Does the guitar sound good?


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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:51 am
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paris wrote:
I've owned a few Teles, and I'd say that 6 saddles does allow for better intonation. 3 saddles is a big pain in the butt for intonating, and not as accurate (most people can't really hear the difference).

I will say that 3 brass barrals does add to a more authenric Tele sound. Brass does alter the tone and sustain a bit.

My current Tele (pitured to the left in my avitar), uses 6 saddles made of brass and chromed.

The question is: Does the guitar sound good?


Thanks Paris..your opinion seems to be on par with all the info I've read so far.i guess I was a little suprised or confused when seller stated the new bridge and saddles were an upgrade over the stock setup.i just assumed a 6saddle setup would be a little better for overall playability.guitar is mint with little use from what I can tell and the factory 6saddle setup is included.it has factory pickups so as far as sound goes...I don't know yet..I've been going through a strange transition.i started using this website to gain knowledge about strats before I invested in an American strat but somewhere along the way I kinda ended up wanting a tele so hopefully it's got that sweet tele twang I've currently got stuck in my head.lol..


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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 1:47 pm
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grainslayer wrote:
paris wrote:
I've owned a few Teles, and I'd say that 6 saddles does allow for better intonation. 3 saddles is a big pain in the butt for intonating, and not as accurate (most people can't really hear the difference).

I will say that 3 brass barrals does add to a more authenric Tele sound. Brass does alter the tone and sustain a bit.

My current Tele (pitured to the left in my avitar), uses 6 saddles made of brass and chromed.

The question is: Does the guitar sound good?


Thanks Paris..your opinion seems to be on par with all the info I've read so far.i guess I was a little suprised or confused when seller stated the new bridge and saddles were an upgrade over the stock setup.i just assumed a 6saddle setup would be a little better for overall playability.guitar is mint with little use from what I can tell and the factory 6saddle setup is included.it has factory pickups so as far as sound goes...I don't know yet..I've been going through a strange transition.i started using this website to gain knowledge about strats before I invested in an American strat but somewhere along the way I kinda ended up wanting a tele so hopefully it's got that sweet tele twang I've currently got stuck in my head.lol..


Telecasters are great guitars. Even though I play Stratocasters most of the time, when I just down and play something mean and dirty, I play a Telecaster.

If you want to check out some great Telecaster players, check out Andy Summers, Blind Faith: live in Hyde Park, and Greg Koch.


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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 5:31 pm
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Something to consider between the two bridges. The vintage style three barrel bridge is the actual bridge plate they are attached to. I like the lip on the vintage style bridge, gives my hand a resting place. I never liked the flat bridge plate that goes with the "Upgraded" six saddle bridge. Just something to think about.

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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:30 pm
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Best Tele bridge I've ever installed is the Wilkinson with three compensated saddles. Really nice piece of kit, I'm a big fan of Wilkinson hardware in general.

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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:34 pm
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No doubt, the 6 saddles bridge gives much more accuracy in setting the intonation. With 3 saddles - you are a bit stuck for each pair of strings .. :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 1:31 pm
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I've played six saddle bridged Teles since '83 and always thought that intonation would be very difficult with a traditional bridge.
I now have a an American Vintage '52 Tele, which is my main axe, and find it rather easy to get the intonation very close to perfect with a chromatic tuner.

Conceivably you can get intonation to be more exact with a six saddle bridge.
But if the guitar's harmonics work properly when tuned, I doubt that you will be able hear any difference between two guitars with the same pickups, with different style bridges, if tone and volume controls are set the same and played through the same amp.

When "amplified," neither the bridge type, body wood type, or fret-board type (excluding scale length) will effect the sound of the guitar through an amplifier.
Most people think that because two electric guitars sound different when unplugged, that those acoustic differences are "received" by the pickups when plugged in.

Those acoustic differences have no affect on "amplified sound," or on how a magnetic pickup receives metal string vibration within the magnetic field of the pickup and transmits the "magnetic field vibration" to an amplifier.
That is because the things which can affect acoustic sound in an unplugged electric guitar, generally have no affect on the magnetic field vibration of the pickup.


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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 4:08 am
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MickJagger wrote:
I've played six saddle bridged Teles since '83 and always thought that intonation would be very difficult with a traditional bridge.
I now have a an American Vintage '52 Tele, which is my main axe, and find it rather easy to get the intonation very close to perfect with a chromatic tuner.

Conceivably you can get intonation to be more exact with a six saddle bridge.
But if the guitar's harmonics work properly when tuned, I doubt that you will be able hear any difference between two guitars with the same pickups, with different style bridges, if tone and volume controls are set the same and played through the same amp.

When "amplified," neither the bridge type, body wood type, or fret-board type (excluding scale length) will effect the sound of the guitar through an amplifier.
Most people think that because two electric guitars sound different when unplugged, that those acoustic differences are "received" by the pickups when plugged in.

Those acoustic differences have no affect on "amplified sound," or on how a magnetic pickup receives metal string vibration within the magnetic field of the pickup and transmits the "magnetic field vibration" to an amplifier.
That is because the things which can affect acoustic sound in an unplugged electric guitar, generally have no affect on the magnetic field vibration of the pickup.


I'm not sure I underdstand what you are saying. Are you saying that materials used to build a guitar don't alter the tone of an electric guitar when plugged into an amplifier?


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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 4:27 am
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Talk about opening the Pandora's box... :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Tele bridges
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 4:33 pm
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As paris pointed out earlier, the old fashioned 3 saddle system is thought by many to impart a more traditional Tele tone but at the cost of making a compromise with respect to intonation. There are so-called compensated saddles but they are still a compromise because they are still fixed and not individually adjustable. I have heard people comment in the past that they are no closer to accurate intonation than straight saddles because they are not compensated by the right amount. Then there are bent saddle screws and angle drilled saddles, all of which are still fixed (tied together) and not individually adjustable. For most people, one of those schemes will be close enough for their ears and they are happy to live with the slight compromise in intonation.

For people who are particular about the intonation of their guitars and feel close enough is not good enough there is another option. Stainless steel. Typically the stainless steel we see commonly used in Buck knives or kitchen appliances and whatnot is a grade somewhere in the 400 series of stainless steel grades. Knives for example are often spec'd out as 440 grade stainless. The 400 series grades are slightly magnetic and are considered martensitic which means they are more susceptible to rusting and corrosion than the 300 series grades which are non-magnetic. The 400s are approximately as strong and hard as the more common grades of regular carbon steel and sometimes just a little harder. The 300 series are considered austenitic. They are softer and more malleable than the 400 series and also softer than regular carbon steels. Saddles made from 300 series stainless are not as soft as brass but they are a step in the right direction if that is important to you. You can have your complete adjustability and still move just a little closer to that soft brass sound.

Guitar Fetish sells such a thing.

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