How Hardware Affects Tone - Ask Zac 44

[@codyhudman2763]

"I could do a whole episode on pickups." Yes please! 😊 Thanks for another great episode Zac .

[@Jam-m7m]

Cody Hudman yes Alnico 2 and 3, 5, windings strength

[@willdenham]

I'm using the Sire T7. It's my first Tele. It came with brass saddles, flat pole pieces on the bridge and the ashtray. I really like this guitar. It was set high out of the box and I just left it that way because it plays well.

[@chrisspencer5042]

That’s one of my favorite intros ever. You’re correct in that Bill is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.

[@chrisspencer5042]

Zach if you want to come to church sometime I’ll bet Bill would let you touch the Nachocaster. Those Ron Ellis pups in it are sweet.

[@Chrosa]

Ever since I subbed a few months ago and watched your truetone lounge interviews I have started listening to a lot of older country artists. When I enlisted a decade ago, I hated country but my army buddies got me into artists like Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Gary Allan and Eric Church. You have really opened up a rabbit hole for me with Merle Haggard and other classic artists and guitarists. I just wanted to thank you for all the content and I am super happy with my Ask Zac shirt!

[@AskZac]

Glad you are enjoying the Hag, and honored that you supported the show. Thank you!

[@donaldscheer5206]

You have a smooth, purposeful authority with words when sharing your stories! Easy Listening! Easy Learning! being educated while in a Recliner! Fantastic!

[@AskZac]

Thank you! 😃

[@ColasTone82]

Thanks for the shoutout our Offset Compensated saddles. I’ve been a tele player for a long time and put a lot of time in designing those saddles to fix issues I was running into with other saddles on the market. Great video, very informative and thorough!

[@AskZac]

Which saddles did you design?

[@ColasTone82]

Ask Zac The saddles for Advanced Plating which Philadelphia Luthier sells.

[@farmpunk_dan]

I just swapped out my ashtray for the modern 6-saddle. I’ve got an offset tele and the twang-doink is something I want a little less of, so I’m happy.

[@robamaral9089]

Great show. Plink,plonk, doing, flank and flink etc. I have this picture in my mind that the Tele is the child of the banjo.

[@guymansfield-smith1135]

My wife can tell that I’ve changed the hardware on my Tele. The dishes are still dirty when she gets home.😇

[@Leel3ones89]

Omg! are you my biographer or something?

[@calsurflance5598]

🤦🏼‍♂️

[@cilantrokoolhaas7710]

So, that's why I love your show: at 0:50, out of the blue, you mention an artist I had never heard of before, but know I will enjoy listening to, after a first listen on spotify. So often I come to your videos for one thing (hardware/tone) and get a ton of other wonderful information that I wasn't expecting at all. Thank you very much, Zac!

[@AskZac]

Cool!

[@maggieo]

Zac, you gotta make a "Clangy-Doinky" t-shirt, with an ashtray bridge on it!

[@hollandguitars7086]

Good stuff Zac. Everyone is chasing tone and the tone and feel can be the difference between being creative, going to new worlds in music, and playing with inspiration. 😎

[@seamanjive]

My money maker...blonde nitro refin Highway 1 body, Warmoth rosewood compound radius neck (birdseyes, nitro), kluson -style "slotted" tuners, Fender vintage bridge with three brass Wilkinson compensated saddles (no notches), black single ply guard, Earvana compensated nut and....Lace pickups. When we built it this tele had a Wilkinson 6 saddle vintage bridge, soon changed to the Gotoh unit you have there. Then the brass saddles on the Fender vintage bridge...the guitar came alive!

[@mgcnashville6615]

Also, stewmac came out with a heavy steel plate/compensated 3 barrel brass saddle bridge for tele. If you’ve played a suhr tele, they have this bridge on them. Sam ash in Hendersonville has a suhr in stock right now. One of the best guitars I’ve ever played.

[@mgcnashville6615]

The brass saddles have a screw in the middle to lock the saddle in place as well, so your intonation won’t go out.

[@AlexandredeSanti]

I'd love a show on Nashville teles and middle pickup options.

[@warren7949]

I always think Nashville teles miss a 4 pole selector. A 4 pole switch opens up the strat factor, and allows the middle selection to be kept as the tele neck and bridge pickups together

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

See John Fogerty's early-80s Telecaster by Kubicki.

[@texanleons]

I'm learning things i didnt know that i didnt know. Very informative.

[@livergen]

Thank you Zac, I've been watching you now for a couple weeks and just subscribed. Honestly I like the way you explain things and your easy-going nature, you bring a good understanding to just exactly what's going on. It all makes sense on the technical level of materials, your way of explaining slowly and thoroughly is very easy to digest and grasp the overall concepts.

[@AskZac]

Awesome, thank you!

[@islander4986]

I remember being shocked by the weight change I felt when I installed some modern style tuners on a neck for a project guitar. I'd been working on and handling the neck without tuners for several days. The heft that tuners like these have could very well be a tone factor.

[@howardskinner4916]

I tried a set of Magnesium bridge saddles and didn't like them. The tone was thin and too bright. Replacing them with brass saddles fixed it. I also tried a set of Tusq saddles. Same as the magnesium, thin and too bright. Brass, compensated, Bensonite saddles are on all my Teles.

[@3GCMusic]

Bill H is a great guy! When I was younger, Dad and I used to meet up with the Hulletts at Guitar Shows in town. We once got to go to his studio and playing his original Nocaster. One of the coolest gear moments that I’ve ever had!

[@hkguitar1984]

Great episode. And yes, your description of hardware and how it effects tone is spot on (from my experience). I'd be very curious to hear your take on different woods and how they affect the Telecaster's tone. I own only a pair of Telecasters, one with a Pine Body and Maple neck/fretboard and another that is 100% Rosewood construction. While each has very different tonal/voicing profile they both are easily recognizable as being Telecasters when listening to them being played. Thanks Zac, great content here.

[@AskZac]

I'll do one on woods soon

[@crubenbauer1]

Zac, I installed a Jay Montrose "Vintique" bridge, many years ago on my main Telecaster. It performs well to this day, with no complaints. If it's good enough for Danny Gatton, it's good enough for me. Keep up the great work!!.

[@paulcowart3174]

I used a shorty ashtray bridge on my current build No pick blocks or metal surround on the pup

[@QuranWatson]

If i wanted to swap to the gotoh bridge from my Fender vintera 60’s tele, would that be a long process? I’m just getting into swapping stuff on my guitar

[@QuranWatson]

I also want to switch to 6 saddles instead of 3

[@AskZac]

Not a long process. Just make sure the mounting bolts are in the right spot. You will have to set string height and intonation.

[@thesjkexperience]

I used the vintage style for many years with brass saddles, but I really like the vintage Rutters bridge! Just what I want to hear. Im a Strat guy so I like Broadcaster saddles (cold rolled steel), Rutters bridge, vintage tuners and A3 flat pole pickups in the bridge (no real preference on 43 or 42 wire) and a5 in the neck with nickel silver cover. 4 way switch. Swamp Ash and Maple!

[@geraldponce8336]

A sound comparison would be nice. Im in the Gotah solid brass bridge and fender locking tuners camp. Grew up playing a 83 telecaster, so I am used to the mass. Like to build what I call vintage ultra parts Teles. Cause I like slightly hot vintage output pups, nitro finish, CTS pots, vintage tone wood and color schemes. No body contours or contoured heel (though that could be a way to compensate for the extra mass) after that it is ultra modern, locking tuners, solid brass bridges, tall narrow frets, compound radius, c shape necks, copper shielding, twisted light gauge modern wire, orange drop capacitors. Suppose your are right. Just a Tele with some umf and a faster feel. But still has some of that Tele twang and vintage sound? Probably in the Keith Richards camp. Maybe a little smoother sounding.

[@tsmberk]

I have the same hardware preferences as you, Zac- lightweight tuning machines and bridges, saddle material to taste. There is a ton of minutiae in saddle metals (as you almost surely know). Fun stuff!

[@amateurism1]

I wish you were my nextdoor neighbor. Thank you for all these videos; they are very well done and it's just you talking to us all sharing what you know and love.

[@AskZac]

Wow, thank you

[@Jamestele1]

I knew I knew that lick at the beginning. I was just playing Just Call Me Lonesome yesterday - one of my favorite tunes!

[@NathanSink]

Zac, I would greatly appreciate your expertise if you could spare a moment. I’ve got a Black Guard style tele (very similar to the one in your video) that has very harsh high-pitched harmonics/overtones. The overtones are almost as loud as the notes played (although they ring out after the notes). They seem to be coming from the high strings (G, B, E). Below are some details about the guitar and what I’ve done to try to fix the issue. Can you offer any advise, please? - Ash body, maple neck - 6.5 lbs - Nitro finish - Vintage style ash try bridge plate - Vintage 3 saddle bridge - Brass saddles on the D, G, B, E strings - Steel saddle on the E, A strings - Vintage Kluson style tuners - String through body - Keystone (Bill Lawrence) pickups I’ve tried the following: - Changing the saddles - Lowering the pickups - Putting foam behind the nut and saddles - Shimming the neck forward to lower the saddles I’m at a loss. The overtones are there in any pickup combination and even when played acoustic. Any ideas? My next thought is to try a top loader bridge plate.

[@AskZac]

I sent you an email

[@NathanSink]

@@AskZac thank you! I will follow up when I get a chance. 👍🏻

[@herbalbert]

Was it fret buzz

[@NathanSink]

@@herbalbert Zac did contact me, but like a total bum I never got back to him. 😜 What I think it was is some type of frequency that was being emphasized in my signal chain. I typically use a Line 6 Helix & whatever patch I was using made those harmonics pop out. It didn’t happen with other guitars because I guess those frequencies weren’t really there to be boosted (if that makes sense). Anyway, they’re still there, but with a different patch it isn’t a problem. Oh, & it’s definitely not fret buzz. It was happening all over the fretboard.

[@herbalbert]

Never heard of a patch cable doing that glad you figured it out, I almost took a vintage amp to a tech but the weird ringing harmonics were just fret buzz thankfully

[@olly6828]

Thanks

[@AskZac]

THANK YOU!!!

[@caleshtcincredibles]

I put an Australian tiger maple neck on my tele and it greatly changed the tone . It became very creamy tone rather than that trebley twangy tone . I have to say I really like what the new neck did for my tone . I have a modern bridge , Fender locking tuners ( they are quite heavy )and Fender SCN pickups. It's a great sounding guitar that can twang or rock with a Les Paul growl . Cheers Zac

[@curtisfranklin6830]

Great Jac. Im gonna make a bridge out of copper to match my pick guard and control panel. See how that sounds.

[@josephliptak]

3-saddle bridges are my preference when playing Telecasters. I've swapped my 6-saddle bridges on a couple of my newer teles for 3-saddle bridges

[@mikecamps7226]

one thing you might want to add and explore.......and I saw this published a few years back in a guitar magazine......though I can't remember if it was Vintage Guitar or not......BUT it is to take the bridge and plain it on a flat surface and emery cloth. This eliminates any stamping or casting flaws so the surface becomes perfectly flat which couples the material to the body better for transference when its fastened down snug and tight to the wood......no micro voids. I run a Broadcaster/NoCaster clone with a heavy ash body but not set up with the electronics for the "blend" setup peculiar to the early ones. I opt'd for the conventional 3 way with the basic combined in the mid position. AND the baseball bat neck.......

[@AskZac]

Bill Crook does that

[@walterstreet1467]

It would be nice if you listed the hardware you talked about and a source for getting them

[@reverbdeluxe]

It is a great lick! I miss that 90's country sound on the radio these days.

[@producerman10030]

I came up playing a '67 maple cap tele with the steel saddles. Very bright guitar bordering on microphonic. I had a full sized 60s gibson humbucker in the neck. That guitar got me through until I picked up a '55 tele at We Buy on W. 48th st. That guitar had a flat pole piece bridge pickup. Eventually it had Schaller machine heads and a Schecter bridge (and for a little while Schecter pickups and a brass pickguard) and mostly I used that guitar in the pit of Grease, as old tele's were the best guitars for that gig. I used a strat for session work (mostly). In NYC you kind of brought what you could shove in a cab. I also installed a humbucker in that tele, and flattened the neck and put in wide jumbo frets. Used it on fusion gigs and recordings as well. NYC was a real tele town in the 70s.

[@AskZac]

Cornell Dupree and Mike Stern

[@producerman10030]

@@AskZac Joe Beck, Steve Kahn, Jack Cavari, Bob Rose, Cliff Morris, all busy guys in the 70s. A really popular mod was a mini humbucker in the neck.

[@deanallen927]

Some of the Gotoh bridges have the brass plate with steel saddles that look the same, and they sound really nice.

[@andrewpearson1903]

My brass-saddled, flat-bridge poled Tele (Original 50s with stock Pure Vintage 52s) sounds pretty mellow, and the neck pickup gives me something like the rolled-off Jeff Buckley-ish sound that I was looking for. Very surprised to learn about the effect of tuners & general mass on harmonics vs. fundamental - one of the things I like best about mine is its ability to get long, airy sustains, with just enough compression to make it sizzle and gorgeous harmonic feedback that never turns to noise. Maybe reducing my tuner size will bring out even more of that. Great clip, I'll watch the pickup and wood episodes too

[@s9plus20]

I had never thought about tuners affecting tone! It sure does make sense about mass vs harmonics. Another great episode, thanks!

[@AskZac]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@drno2141]

very interresting..i use top load brigde with brass saddles and ashtray cover..and a lefty metal bridge . gonna try the turners with some fender schaller

[@DanielStewart-f6q]

People from Tennessee have the most understated charm...I can't get enough of it.

[@asdaven1]

So what would the difference be between the heavy 6 saddle bridges in brass and steel? They make a heavy steel plate bridge also not just a brass plate. For example, Fender makes it in steel (not the ash tray)

[@AskZac]

Steel would be brighter

[@asdaven1]

@@AskZac Which would be better for sustain?

[@hybridnoisebloom]

As you know, I'm just getting my feet wet with the experience of the Tele--I recently did a partscaster Tele with a Joe Barden bridge (with compensated brass saddles), and I'm in love with it. I feel like I'm at the apex of a possible deep dive into the tonal possibilities of Teles. All of a sudden I want to do a Tele with a rosewood neck, a Fender bridge, and notched steel saddles. It's in fact a sickness, but in a good way.

[@jesseter24]

I use a BABICZ full contact bridge with a tall boy Reo Grand pup, I enjoy it, tried 3 different Bridges and keep going back to the BABICZ. I don't use a tele neck pup but a strat neck pup. Sounds and plays great to my ears. 09 Americano special, ripped out the Texas specials. left the grease pot but added a different cap, don't remember the value. But wow is all I can say. What a great sound

[@AskZac]

Good stuff!

[@atarirob]

A lot of older players have told me that late 50's Les Pauls (i.e., last of the Goldtops, early bursts) sound very very similar to Blackguard Telecasters and I'm inclined to believe that. Blackguards are way more mellow than people give them credit for. They are not bright sounding guitars (not even the bridge is particularly bright imo). I've used a 52 Tele+Princeton setup for a year or so now playing mostly classical and jazz (sometimes blues) and I have to have the Princetons Treble on 7 at the minimum!

[@reynoldjustforfun6347]

Yeah I completely agree with this video. Have you ever tune your tele with tuner pedal?. It said C on the tuner screen when you pluck the thinnest E string. It's gone when you change your vintage bridge into modern bridge. Funny

[@AskZac]

Never had that issue

[@harleylewis5974]

100% agree on Tele hardware. I’ve done the exact same hardware swap with every Tele I’ve had for the past 10 years. Vintage ashtray + Kluson tuner + brass = Love. And I couldn’t agree more on “Just Call Me Lonesome”. Fantastic Zac!

[@AskZac]

Thanks, Harley!

[@jbert7289]

“Telecaster” what a great guitar. I love my tele. It’s a 87 mij squier with Joe Barden pickups. It’s the one that would be with me on a deserted island. Please do a telecaster pickup video. As always, great video.

[@caleshtcincredibles]

I love Joe Barden pickups they make a tele punch above its weight for sure. I have an 87 Squire Strat made in Korea and it's a beast

[@jbert7289]

caleshtcincredibles: those old 80’s squiers are so good. Cheers

[@2000SkyView]

Have you had the opportunity to try a set of Advanced Plating (Philadelphia) Compensated Saddles? They look interesting, the intonation screw looks a little short, maybe having a more "course" intonation adjustment as well. Just curious if you gave them a try. Thanks. I am happy with the intonation and tone with my stock saddles, so far. Can't help myself looking at other options, it's a sickness. 🙂

[@AskZac]

I use them

[@dallastoto3189]

I’m one of the PLEASE tell me more about pups. Especially the noise canceling and low output vs high output. Cheers 🍻

[@AskZac]

I did an episode on pickups. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z163iZd-i7eIlbs

[@jackiejtheg]

So much good information in these videos! I'm having a tele built for me right now by Kraig Phillips in Columbus Ohio. His whole goal is light light light keep it light. The body he found for me is -4 lbs

[@jackiejtheg]

I originally wanted 22 frets, locking tuners, he said no trust me you won't be missing the extra fret, and the classic tuners are light and period correct. You're making me really consider the individual saddles tho like Brent mason

[@MrBritrider]

Thanks Zac for your take on Tele tone. Let me ask you this, do you think that the tone that comes out of the Tele you’re playing in this video is what you like and want? To me, it’s the tone that I would want. A lot of players discuss tone but don’t say “this is the tone I want” and here it is and how I achieved it.

[@jaybe813]

This was a very interesting episode! It’s great to be armed with the information of how these parts will change the sound of a guitar, and even how the weight of those parts make a difference, in addition to the design materials they are made from.

[@AskZac]

Thanks Jay!

[@jfinester]

I knew Bill Hullett when we were both playing in the San Jose area in Northern California, before either of us went to Nashville. He’s a great guy and a terrific guitar player. I haven’t seen him in years. If you see him, tell him I said Hey!

[@mrcatfishjohnson]

Great video Zac! I'm in the process of sourcing parts for a tele parts caster. There's a wealth of info here. Thanks!!!!

[@AskZac]

Glad I could help!

[@parismetro2012]

Most interesting and knowledgeable ~ thanks Zac! I’ve often wondered about the resonances in the steel ashtray surrounding the pickup…

[@AskZac]

Glad it was helpful!

[@louderthangod]

I think the concept of choosing the fundamental vs harmonics is a deep well and understanding that balance can help people better make their tonal choices.

[@AskZac]

Yes

[@SoloSi2024]

The Gotoh 'in tune' saddles are nice. They make them in brass and titanium.

[@brett750]

Thanks a bunch Zac, this was the episode I really needed. I have a 1970 Fender Telecaster, with a 1972 Fender Bridge Pickup, and a Fender Custom Shop Neck Pickup. The guitar also has replaced Brass Compensated Saddles. My problem is that the bridge pickup turned all the way up sounds harsh and unmusical. I have played other vintage tele’s with the volume all the way up, and they sounded great. I thought maybe it’s the brass saddles, but, watching this episode leases me to believe I should either have the bridge pick up rewound, or replaced. Cheers

[@mikecamps7226]

Here is food for thought......and I'll be expecting royalties, since the tele bridge pieces are essentially brass cylinders......you can find some steel tubing that they would fit into so you have a steel sheath around the brass for the best of both worlds. You would really only need a piece that fits between the height adjustment screws and drill the hole for the main screw for intonation so there is clearance. If the sleeve happens to be an odd size that is slightly too large/small, you can cut a slot in it and position the slot at the bottom when fixing it over the brass before drilling the hole. This would just be a sleeve over the brass, but if you would want a more solid coupling....you could sweat solder the 2 together like a plumbing joint. As for tubing, you can find it at a hobby shop or you can use brake line for cars

[@pcau]

Extremely informative video. As usual, you capture attention and are very generous with details. Thank you :)

[@AskZac]

Thank you very much!

[@matthewf1979]

I love bigger steel saddles on a tele. Especially with a hotter Broadcaster style bridge pickup.

[@stevekirby7333]

Years ago I was at a clinic with Jerry Donahue where he said that the ferrous steel about the bridge pickup contributed to what he called the "majesty" of the sound. And that brass lost that effect. He went so far as to have Fender route the back on his signature Strat pickguitar to hide a steel plate in there. Swapping the stock brass on my American Standard with the Callaham steel part (since a conventional ashtray won't work) really got rid of the icepick sound while keeping the twang and "majesty" of the bridge pu. Have you noticed this effect?

[@AskZac]

Yes I have

[@martinmartin8871]

I see too much space between the low E and A string. on your Danocaster. Also the narrow nut, wide saddle spacing has the high E too close to the fret edges. I miss my Dano. what a feel!

[@brandonfindlay2249]

Really love your channel, and it can't be said enough. Cheers, and thanks!

[@SteveSchuffert]

One word. Callaham. You’re good to go, just ask Joe G.

[@MrDotneck]

Looks like my Tele has all the right parts. Thanks for bringing up Bill Hullett - just listened to his Two Lane Blacktop album the other day. Love your videos btw - always informative and entertaining.

[@AskZac]

Thank you

[@jackiejtheg]

We are trying out titanium saddles on mine. We shall see how they sound

[@FreedomFromSpeech]

Really interesting vid. I have a black guard LsL T Bone. It’s a really resonant guitar, sounds remarkably loud when played unplugged. It’s so lively in fact that I’d like to try and just dampen the harmonic content a bit. I was thinking that adding a bit of weight to headstock may do this and what Zac was saying about heavier tuners accentuating the fundamental over the harmonic confirms what I was thinking. I might have to experiment with a fat finger first to see if that makes a difference, but I was wandering if anyone could recommend a set of tuners that would be weightier than the vintage style kluson’s, but wouldn’t look out of place on a black guard relic. Spertzel were mentioned, I wouldn’t mind trying a locking tuner, is that the way to go? I notice quite a lot of tele’s have this sustained harmonic that rings out from the high e or b string after the fundamental note dies out. I hear it quite often on KZbin videos so it’s not uncommon, but no one ever seems to discuss it.

[@jonathanbrazee3846]

I've got 1 tele and I'm always going back and forth between the Gotoh and the 3 saddle ashtray. I like them both for different reasons.

[@shaunw9270]

My 2011'52 reissue Tele came with a vintage 6 saddle ashtray bridge in with the "case candy" which I've never had the inclination to fit. Anyone had experience of this type of bridge?

[@skillracoonful]

I have a tele with 6 saddle bridge it does ok but I have previously played teles with a three saddle bridge, and that one had more treble (I would refer it to more like a "zing", and a bit more snarl rather than a doink). I noticed it would sound a bit more syrup-y in the middle position too (Though I can still get one with a six saddle). It also sounded more phase-y sounding in the middle position too (now THIS I can't get on my six saddle). Also very bell-like sounding in the middle position. (To some agreed I can get it with the six saddle design but it's still doesn't sound clear enough than the three saddle design). It too also had vintage styled tuners compared to the modern one on my current tele. The pickups were alnico and were lower wounded than the stock pickups in my tele (which I replaced with brighter sounding pickups. The stock pickups had too much low end for me). This change was a night and day difference! So even with updated pickups I still wasn't able to get a satisfying live-y sound from it unlike I got it from the other tele that had the three saddle bridge design and vintage-styled tuners. So you have inspired me to replace the bridge on my current tele with a three saddle one. You have also inspired me to replace the tuners on my current tele with the Kluson tuners! I want my zing, snarl, bell-like, and phase-y sounds back! Thank you for this video. You did a awesome job in explaining the details about how hardware does affect the tone but you also went to further detail about pickups too. Which you also gave great advice on as well! Keep up the great work!!

[@skillracoonful]

Is it worth putting Kluson tuners on a modern neck? I heard for modern necks you need to use "conversion bushings" to fill in the larger holes of the headstock where the modern tuners go to. Wouldn't this add more weight to the tuners than they should?

[@AskZac]

I would leave it alone

[@joseislanio8910]

The bushings weight no more than the threaded inserts and washers on the modern tuners

[@stevesuv]

Zac?I have 3 guitars with P90s in them. I saw a picture of Danny Gattons old 295. he had the screws backed way out on some strings, and others not so much.I knew enough to make shims out of P90 covers to level everyhing out, and they work great, but I was alway afraitd to turn those screws. Its got to ruin the potting ...right. were they built to back out. Love all your stuff.

[@timnewman1172]

I have a "partscaster" Tele with a Fender Telecaster Deluxe 12" radius neck. I wanted flat polepieces because of the flatter fingerboard, definitely a more balanced response... I'd like to hear if you think neck radius has an affect on the tonal qualities as well.

[@timnewman1172]

This guitar has a Wilkinson ashtray bridge with brass compensated saddles and a set of Seymour Duncan Antiquities p-ups, to me it is about as nice a guitar as I have ever played.

[@AskZac]

Radius certainly affects feel. Not sure about tone

[@kevinreyes970]

Can you also make a video similar to this for stratocaster guitars? Thanks

[@AskZac]

Yes I can

[@kevinreyes970]

@@AskZac thanks for your response. Looking forward to that video soon 🎸🎶

[@brutesmagootes3996]

What are your thoughts on stringing through the body vs bridge? I assume body adds more sustain and warmth?

[@AskZac]

Less stiffness with bridge, stiffer thru body.

[@brutesmagootes3996]

@@AskZac Thanks! And major difference in tone between the two?

[@thornil2231]

I put the Schaller bridge on my 67 tele in the 90's because... that's what Keith was doing so... And because you can adjust each string separately and be more precise. A few months back I put the original bridge back, because I have a few guitars and the tele was becoming a collector item. Now I just love the way it sounds. That guitar is fantastic. The question is" is it in my head? Did the bridge really make a difference? A new guitar is always the best guitar it seems. I play better it sounds better. What would be great would be to hear the same lick with the same amp and the same settings with both bridges... I am not going to do that, but maybe someone should... LOL

[@jvannucc1]

Thanks! Hi Zac, I found the tip jar 😀. I usually watch episodes on my television, where accessing the various links is a bit tricky. Anyway, thanks for the good work. It's entertaining and informative 👍

[@AskZac]

Much thanks!!!!

[@williamjensen7365]

Did I miss any discussion on the nut? Bone, Tusk, Corian, Brass, Plastic would all affect tone. I was recalling the 70's when many of us were changing saddles and nuts to brass on our Fenders. I also recall people putting the new American STD. Bridge on their Teles replacing the ash tray. Now that was bad mojo.

[@AskZac]

Another video

[@WarrenAndrews-w5x]

I really love t styles. Love your programme really helps 😎

[@druwk]

Thinking of building a Tele guitar...? All these conversations are really amazing! Your tip of having the neck not hooked into the tone seems like a good one? Had a ‘66 Tele that could have benefited from that mod. Please cover tone woods!

[@AskZac]

Will do

[@Slovy_]

I have a Wilkinson vintage style bridge on my slim line Tele. It’s thicker and heavier. I think it adds more low end to the guitar and the simi hollows aren’t as heavy sounding as a regular Tele. I think it helps bring some of that back. But it could just be all in my head. And I could be completely wrong.

[@AskZac]

I think you are right

[@gimmeagig]

Great video. I'm a bass player mainly so I just bought a cheap chinese Tele. I'm not good enough on guitar to gig with it but I enjoy playing it. I don't have the ears for all the nuances. This is video is helping me a lot.

[@periloustemple8290]

Such a cool episode. I actually have one of those 1982 Fender STRAT's. It is crazy heavy (but not uncomfortable) and has a big, brass, electroplated gold bridge/trem - with a big brass block.. In fact, all of the hardware is gold plated. It is an unusually great Fender that as from the CBS era. It has a bridge pickup called X-1 which is a bit hot. Anyway, to your point, there is a compression - and a hugeness about this one. While I am at it, it had odd wiring that allows for using bridge and neck together like a tele (in series?) and all 3 in series. There are two parallel settings (bridge/middle & neck middle). These are very humbucker but almost too dark for practical use. I have heard the Isley Brothers had one - and I have seen the Walnut one in old Tears for Fears footage. Last, John Lennon's Imagine has him pictured with the candy apple red one. I have read that it was going to be a Lennon signature guitar, but that was not to be as he was killed soon after. Anyway, that Buck Owens Tele had a similarly made brass bridge.

[@billkallas1762]

If you have a Tele with a relatively flat neck radius (14"), would a staggered pole bridge pickup cause the middle strings sound strange?

[@AskZac]

Perhaps.

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

Love going back to old episodes. Different days really affect my tone.I have a Tele Deluxe with two TV Jones Filtertrons and it really blisters on rainy days .Maybe all in my head but I spent the whole day playing it and it was awesome 👌 Love this channel Like to hear your thoughts on dual humbucker Telecasters. I love mine it really rings out.Also have a Seafoam Green one USA 2003 with a Nashville setup and a Hipshot Bender.Think I'll go Play it now...

[@AskZac]

Going to do a dual hum Tele episode soon.

[@Shaddow-ws3vu]

I use a Joe Barden bridge on one of my telecasters and I completely agree, it does split the difference. I also run a set of lindy frailin’s that same one!

[@watchshowandtell7138]

Cool video for all of us Tone Experimenting Madmen! Greetings from Oregon.

[@robertgandy1519]

Thanks for another great video. Lots of great information. I never knew who played the intro to Just Call Me Lonesome. I love that intro when a pick up a new Tele that’s almost always the first thing I play. There’s just something about it.

[@jimmy5634]

When it comes to bridges, I’ll stick to the old style. If I need more sustain or whatever, I have pedals.

[@grahamt33]

Dear Zac, you mentioned woods. I have a Squire with an Agathis body [Tele Standard ] they have now stopped making it and no other Fender I know of has ever used this wood. Have you ever tried it ?

[@AskZac]

I have not. Do you like it?

[@grahamt33]

@@AskZac I sure do - it is quite resonant with an attractive fine grain- it was a bargain and I am very proud of it !

[@mfohr]

Does a belly cut affect tone on a Tele? I love playing my Tele Deluxe, so much more comfortable than a slab body.

[@nickbenjamin6527]

Very well explained Zac! I agree on the angled unslotted saddles: the strings always slide sideways up hill messing up the string spacing and intonation. Have you tried Gotoh's notched and compensated "In-Tune" saddles?

[@AskZac]

Yes, and AP's originals, that Gotoh copied.

[@nickbenjamin6527]

@@AskZac ain't it always the way: Taylor copied my Scoop cutaway recently and ruined it by drilling a hole in the middle to add insult to injury...

[@markhammer643]

I have a deep-seated hunch that the potential virtues of any particular bridge and bridge materials will depend somewhat on the density of those materials in relation to the density of the wood underneath. If the body is lighter and very resonant, you wouldn't want something too dense/heavy since it would tend to eat up the string energy coming through the body and into the bridge. If the body was rather dense and heavier, though, a heavier bridge would tend to preserve/highlight those tonal qualities the body provided. Changing headstock mass: My take is that will depend on the mass/density/liveliness of the neck itself. Some necks can be a little mismatched for the body, density-wise, with the end result being that string energy is sort of eaten up by a neck. It's a little like those wave pools where a big wave starts out at one end and simply dissipates at the far end. A little more mass on the headstock can tell the wave "You go back where you came from and do your job!!". That assumes the headstock and neck are too light for the body. I find an easy test for whether additional headstock mass can be of use is to stand up with your guitar and, unamplified press the headstock up against a doorframe. The doorframe will mimic what extra headstock mass can do. If you hear a difference in sustain then maybe a little more headstock mass can do you some good. If you can't easily detect any noticeable difference in sustain, then don't bother. Of course, it may be the case that a change in tuners with different mass needs to be complemented by a change in bridge mass, I don't know. I'm just suggesting that maybe the two have to complement each other. Something not really discussed here is what sorts of bridge materials might conceivably be optimal for rear-loaded vs back-loaded (i.e., up through the ferrules) strings. That may have absolutely no bearing, OR might matter. I'm agnostic on the matter, so I look forward to any comments from those with relevant experience.

[@AskZac]

Mark, as always you make great points. All of the ingredients are important in a tone recipe. Yes, heavy parts usually work better on heavier guitars, but I have found the opposite to be true at times also. I keep trying different things until I find what I like.

[@charliet.sanford2495]

Tuners are everything. I build a Warmoth Tele a few years ago and originally put Grovers on it. They never would stay in tune, so I put some vintage style Gotoh tuners on it. It stays in tune now, but it was like I neutered the tone. All the mids and heft disappeared because of the weight difference. Added a 5 ounce brass block to the back of the headstock and we’re back in business.

[@stanwatkins975]

Zac - I thought you discussed "sitar sounding string" in this video about saddles, but didn't see it. I've tried both compensated and plain 3 brass saddle configurations on the Fender bridge and have sitar-type ringing on my B string. It happens at just about any action height, and even when playing the string open. I don't believe it is fret buzz. I know you've discussed this problem on one of the videos, but can't seem to find it. Thoughts?

[@AskZac]

Most of the time it is a burr on the saddle, but it can be the nut.

[@telecasterbear]

The beginning of that just call me Lonesome riff reminded me of Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn's sweet thang.