Tele Guitar Bridge for Bass?

[TheEmptyCell]

Does anyone know if a Telecaster 3 saddle bridge could be modified to work for a 4 string bass? My thought was to replace the 2 outer saddles with regular bass saddles. Any thoughts?

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Yes it can be modified.

You either redrill the bridge or make new saddles since the holes won't line up.
IME anyway, but only from copies, not with Fender parts.

Regards
Sam

[line6man]

Why on earth would you want to put a Tele bridge on anything other than a Tele? It's a horrible bridge, unless you get one of the modern variants not made of hot rolled steel, with the drawn out edges. (Whatever you call them.) Even then, I wouldn't want to put a pickup quite that close to the saddles, it would be thin, and have very little output.

[johnk_10]

personally, i love the stamped steel tele bridge on a telecaster (i think they sound the best by far), but wouldn't ever use a modified tele guitar bridge on a bass for the reason mentioned above (pickup way too close to the saddles).
why not just get a tele bass bridge instead?

like this one:



Fender 51 Precision / Sting Bass Bridge

[walterw]

right. you you can modify anything if you try hard enough, but what would possibly be the point? are you trying to make a 3-string bass? each tele saddle is about the size of a bass saddle anyway.

if you wanted thin stamped steel and intonation is a greater concern, the wilkinson variation of the above bridge would be the ticket.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

personally, i love the stamped steel tele bridge on a telecaster (i think they sound the best by far)

People always say those bridges have a sound, but Jesus! How can anyone stand a bridge like that?
If I were a Tele player, I would have to have one like this.

[walterw]

no way, dood!

the thinner, bent-steel bridge is key to the tele tone; it affects the magnetic field of the pickup, and along with the steel plate on the bottom of the pickup itself and the 3 brass saddles, is a main ingredient in the twang "recipe".

here's mine:

[line6man]

Originally Posted by walterw

no way, dood!

the thinner, bent-steel bridge is key to the tele tone; it affects the magnetic field of the pickup, and along with the steel plate on the bottom of the pickup itself and the 3 brass saddles, is a main ingredient in the twang "recipe".

here's mine:

I know, but I just can't stand the tallness of the bridge around it's perimeter.

I suppose it would make a good thumbrest on a bass, though.

[walterw]

there are plenty of variations with notched out, reduced, or even absent side walls, but the vintage version has never bothered me (and i think the side walls add structural stiffness). it's far enough back that i'm not hitting it with the guitar pick.

[johnk_10]

Originally Posted by walterw

no way, dood!

the thinner, bent-steel bridge is key to the tele tone; it affects the magnetic field of the pickup, and along with the steel plate on the bottom of the pickup itself and the 3 brass saddles, is a main ingredient in the twang "recipe".

here's mine:

+100. IMO, it's exactly the way that a tele is supposed to sound. i actually prefer the steel saddles (and Leo did too), but the brass ones sound great too.

[johnk_10]

Originally Posted by line6man

People always say those bridges have a sound, but Jesus! How can anyone stand a bridge like that?
If I were a Tele player, I would have to have one like this.

for me, the problem with those is that it makes it not sound like a tele anymore. most of those type are chrome plated brass, and the ferrous steel original ones conduct magnetism all around the pickup, giving it the classic tele tone.

[johnk_10]

BTW, even though i'm a bass player, i've always loved teles. here's the two that i have right now ( an all original '63 that i bought in '85 and a '62 AV RI custom that i bought new in '03)

the '63:


and without the stock type bridge, you can't clip on the cool looking ashtray (BTW, i always take it off when i play it ):



the '03 AV RI:

[PCR]

+1 on Tele's...

[TheEmptyCell]

Thanks for the input, I just had an odd brainstorm for a unique bass. Maybe someday I'll try it out.