How to Install a Telecaster Bridge | Fender

[@Secretarian]

The tip about using paraffin/wax is the best part of this vid. Makes fastening the screws so much easier. Also works great when using screws to attach tuners on a maple headstock.

[@JBurtonTenor]

Thanks so much for this. The grounding info was especially helpful and o love seeing all the little tricks and tips from the custom shop masters.

[@iamanovercomer3253]

❤️ my telecaster BUT for replacing the bridge pickup with a modern setup is NOT user friendly for a beginner ‼️

[@ColinStuart]

I've always used three saddle bridges, and wondered if I could change the newer bridges like this. Thank you, from a 55 year player!

[@richardstones6445]

I changed to a six-saddle and didn't like it. May have been all in my head, but it just sounded dull to me. So, I put my three-saddle back in, but I upgraded to compensated saddles (I used Gotoh In-Tune Brass saddles). I'm loving it so far. It gives me better adjustability for intonation, and still retains the original tone.

[@goldcoins9311]

The modern bridge is longer than the vintage bridge. Also notice that the six string holes on the modern bridge are on the opposite side of the screw holes for the body. I was interested to know how to install a vintage bridge to replace the modern bridge.

[@JoshFryer]

Building a Tele. VERY helpful, thanks!

[@glennwilson19]

screw 4 scew's into 4 holes. amazing.

[@jordimateubartroli951]

What we need to know is how to drill the holes in the correct place!

[@dancrowell2933]

I recently put a new bridge on my tele and this is exactly what I needed. I so appreciate these videos. Thank you.

[@CelticsGameOps]

Hi, what do you do if your body doesn’t have the pre-drilled holes?

[@phililpb]

drill some holes in it

[@CelticsGameOps]

@@phililpb yeah, no shit, thanks for that

[@johnnyhansen5091]

Hi Fender. Could you tell me how I can mount the "ash tray" on a new 6 saddle vintage style bridge? I have bought both items as genuine Fender parts, but the ash tray isn't sitting tight and fall off. How can I solve this problem?

[@leonmane1880]

Johnny Hansen I've seen a video of a modder adding wooden pegs inside to make it sit tight. Might want to google it since I don't recall who or how I found that video

[@rickylakemusic]

Okay, I see how when the friction gets the screw and wood hot the wax melts and aids in lubeing the join then solidifies in the hole. . , only after time, would the wax become brittle and crack and break up(oh my) from the vibrations, thus diminishing the sustain, if only maybe in a subtle degree? maybe not even noticable except to an edward van halen type?

[@jake30966]

Can you tell me how to measure for a bridge replacement ? i want to get new bridge for my Yamaha ERG121 and don't know what the right size would be .

[@Xilophonso]

I still see the border of the cavity under the three saddle ashtray bridge, is it normal? Does it mean that the hole is too big or that the bridge is not aligned?

[@HeirWulf]

Hi, Possible to put this bridge on a Squier Classic Vibe '60s Telecaster Thinline? Thank you

[@TheHungryGnome]

Yes! thank you guys for this tutorial.

[@seanpkeegan]

power tools are not needed here, but what if I have to pre drill the surface screws for the bridge from scratch?? should I use a bit by hand??

[@darrelloxford7101]

Are all fender telecaster vintage 4 screws ashtray bridge are same sizes

[@wainphillips2733]

My problem is compressing the springs that surround the machine screws that attach the pick-up to the bridge plate. How do I do that?

[@TheVatonaught]

Just what I need. Thanks a lot !

[@MascisMan1]

Can you also ground the bridge to the cavity (instead of the tone pot) if you have copper-shielded your cavity and have continuity between the pickup cavities and control cavity?

[@yumadapaka]

I learned absolutely nothing. Thank you so much!

[@townside_woodcraft]

@PoofDuddy , what does brass being non-magnetic have to do with anything?

[@JustinHallPlus]

well if it's ferromagnetic the pickup will pick up it's vibrations, which basically means you're picking up the sound of the body vibrating since it's attached directly to it. Not necessarily good or bad.

[@Philc231]

Need to know how to position the holes . Easy when the holes are already drilled .

[@hunterfagan6272]

for a fender Mexican tele, would I be able to put a vintage bridge on it?

[@jebimetal]

i have the same question right now, did you get an answer about it? im getting the "3-saddle american vintage hot rod telecaster® bridge assembly" for my telecaster MIM and i dont know if it fits.

[@mattc6924]

Anyone have any experience putting a 3 saddle bridge on a Player Series Tele? If so, which one do you recommend? Thanks

[@rickvredenburg7776]

Same question here. However the modern bridge is better for intonation, i really like the looks and the brighter sound of the vintage bridge

[@johngammuto2557]

Hand sop works as well your preferance indicated.

[@juancruzeiriz5901]

buenas!, como hago para separar un poco las cuerdas del diapason con el puente wilkinson? porque la 1era cuerda se me rompe siempre y quisiera sacarle la tension?

[@kbschulze]

So basically put it on and screw it down, add a ground wire if a modern. Got it!

[@Jammoko]

These guys are probably on $30,000 pa... employed by Cheif Execs. that know nothing about guitars and think this is hi tech stuff. Money for old rope... don't knock it (unless your buying a new strat for mega amounts of $ lol)

[@rossiej70]

and then take it off again and do it all again with the pickup installed...

[@glennlane6599]

Is it just me or does the first bridge not cover the pickup routing completely?

[@CoreyWBaker]

3:53 Or just dont do it on the body... oh what a great idea that would have been...

[@youflatbro7498]

LOL I thought the same thing. Don't use your guitar body as a workbench.

[@mgrisham71]

YouFlatBro ? Yeah, I’ve watched these videos a few times and I’m amazed at the simplicity of these videos. Are they for kindergarteners?

[@winogod917]

Counter sink tool rather that a screwdriver?

[@craigkaschan4822]

Does anyone know if a vintage USA bridge fit on a Mexican 6 saddle type,like the one here. I have a MIM Tele which is surprisingly good I would prefer the old style bridge though. Thanks for any help 🇦🇺

[@popysanchez]

Wilkinson wt3 or wtn go direct. I've done the swap myself.

[@popysanchez]

Sorry, wtb is the other bridge, not wtn

[@Steve-wz5pz]

What I really need is how to install a bridge when there aren't already holes pre-drilled. Any lemur can screw a bridge to pre-drilled holes.

[@couerl]

How do you keep the little individual bridge things from buzzing once it’s strung? The tiny little g-string metal thingy vibrates against the bridges face plate and I see no way to tighten it down. Crap design imo.

[@DayTripperLennon]

Damnn dude I'm gonna have to try what you're talking about! Thanks for that great tip! Gonna use it on my road worn tele. Thanks again man!

[@jixxxxer17]

what color is the first tele you worked on ?

[@Elksniffer1]

There is only one tele

[@jingjong1298]

How about the bridge pick up???

[@LucenaBlues]

SUPER!!!

[@Julz8422]

Alright, who wants a new fender guitar?

[@cozmovox]

When mentioning the difference between the two types of bridges, you forgot to mention the difference in the position of the stringholes. But mr Fender usa doesn't seem to think that's important, especially in a bridge mounting instruction video.....mr Fender usa doesn't care about customers or musicians.....as long as the logo is on the headstock they start counting the money.......

[@soto44123]

Blah Blah Blah. . . why did you screw in the new plate without putting the pickup back onto the plate???

[@DayTripperLennon]

Nice! I prefer the vintage bridge but it does suck you can't intonate it perfectly.

[@Jammoko]

You can if you use modern three compensated brass saddles (aka Wilkinson or Gotoh)

[@wesleywhite9782]

2nd on the wilkinson brass compensated saddles , a lot better intonation and they add a bit of sparkle and warmth

[@jayweaver1142]

Thanks for the complete lack of information about Intonation or on bodies without holes making sure the bridge is square

[@layladystay]

Do a video of installing the bridge upside down (with a lefty bridge)

[@bryanfergusonsingersongwri4505]

sorry, intonation, how to measure to make sure it's right?

[@noseyparker6622]

Wow......your lack of knowledge is embarrassing. There are approximately 103,973 videos on KZbin on how to set your intonation.....watch one.

[@johnrichard9606]

this video is a bit pointless - they might just as well have made a video showing how to use a screwdriver. No useful information given !

[@JO-bz4kc]

You know if vintage bridge installation will be the same to paulownia body? I have Callaham vintage bridge and I was thinking to put glue instead of wax to screws. Or is that stupid idea? Never built a guitar before so I don't know. Is paulownia wood too soft without glue?

[@kernowforester2349]

@@JO-bz4kc I am a forest manager by profession, and am experimenting with growing Paulownia spp. Great for rapid growth and fuelwood, and surfboards, but is too soft for guitar bodies in my opinion, more like dense Balsawood. I've made Teles and Strats with timber from Basswood, to American white Ash, but after buying a cheapo Paulownia strat body, I ended up cutting it into pieces as examples of Paulownia wood I'd go for American poplar or Basswood (Tilia or lime spp), lightweight, cheap and much tougher than Paulownia.

[@JO-bz4kc]

@@kernowforester2349 Thanks for the answer and info.

[@guyfromthatthing1017]

Kernow Forester Isn’t the Brad Paisley signature Fender Tele made from Paulownia? (Spruce/Paulownia/Spruce)... SUPER Light. Resonates almost like an acoustic, very woody electric tone.

[@JBurtonTenor]

I actually found the grounding information quite useful. Metal vs plastic bobbins etc.

[@ravenshield56]

Phil Anselmo went full country

[@ashscott6068]

That route in the body for the neck pickup wire, is Fender's way of saying, "You WILL keep that horrible plastic scratchplate on there!". Then the heel-adjust truss rod is Fender saying "Ha! We made you keep the scratchplate, but by God, we're gonna make you unscrew it every few days!"

[@davidkornblatt991]

No shielding

[@30smsuperstrat]

Why on earth does Fender still make guitars without offset saddles?!?!? One can argue that most non tone deaf pros throughout the romantic historical period of the Telecaster offset the saddles anyway.

[@pifko87]

Because it's not 'period correct'. They know that no one will buy it, even if the design is an improvement.

[@jhoskins5630]

Copper plated steel, not brass.

[@TheRoodDude]

First!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@CaptainRon1913]

Fender dude needs to get himself a chamfering bit instead of grinding the holes with a screw driver

[@INeverWanted2010]

I love Fender but this video is worthless, lol. I, and I assume most people that clicked on this video, was wanting to learn how to get the bridge square and drilling the mounting holes correctly in the right location. This video shows how to screw four screws into holes that were already there.

[@jfbegley]

Boy do we gloss over this stuff

[@nateglass8767]

Good thing no soldering is required.... stupid Fender...

[@infoscholar5221]

Yet,they want you to pay ten grand for this plank.

[@Guitar502]

Wake up Fender! This is useless. John slow down.

[@BruceLyeg]

Well, that wasn't informative whatsoever.

[@rossiej70]

They may know how to build guitars, but they do not know how to teach. The parts that weren't pointless were actually misleading (install the bridge with no pickup).

[@derickalbert]

Will this fit in squier Tele without modification?