Is it worth it to upgrade a telecaster bridge? Tele bridge replacement

[@larrysteinke1839]

gotoh and kluson make a pivoting swivel saddle that retains the round shape of the contact point but allows each string to have its own intonation . it takes a few tries to get it dialed in though because moving the swivel affects two strings, but if you need accurate intonation it's a good compromise.

[@BOGZTER9Artist]

From Fender bridge to Wilkinson is upgrade🙄 ?

[@BobZed]

The Wilkinson has compensated saddles, which make it better for intonation. With the straight saddles it's nearly impossible to get your intonation dialed in. You end up with one string a few cents sharp and the other a few cents flat. It's also worth considering that not everything marked "Fender" is actually a Fender product.

[@guitarscience6926]

Totally agree. Unless you get lucky enough to hit the intonation spot on the first time, adjusting those old school type saddles is brutal. And I think that everything about this body was fake, as is evidenced by the lack of finish under the bridge. Not something fender would ever do.

[@ashscott6068]

you can just buy tele bridges with 6 saddles. Also without the ridiculous and pointless sides. Well...I suppose if you're in a black metal band, you can offer a blood sacrifice to the devil every time you split your knuckles open on the edge of the bridge - which you'll do a lot if you get carried away and play aggressively.

[@timnewman1172]

I have one on my Tele, the intonation is pretty spot-on and it stays in tune...

[@tomosborne5949]

The Wilkinson staggered saddles can chaff at the top ridge. This destroys the 1st or 2nd string. It's best to polish over the contact area with #600 sand paper or eventually you end up with flat strings. The fender round barrel design is very good. If you want better sustain and accuracy , install sperzel locking tuners , they have the mass that opens up the vibration quality . Hip shot, shaller and fender locing tuners all do the same. And the accuracy is exceptional. When a string goes flat, use a good magnifier you may find a shaving on the staggered Wilkinson unit. This needs to be burnished out so your string does not rattle. The sharp corner is usually the spot that needs a touch up.

[@billkallas1762]

I've got that same bridge on my Tele. I like the fact that I can top load it if I choose. I love a dark Tele with a black scratch guard and black screws.

[@jabohonu]

4:00 songs name?

[@paowerhouse92]

1:11 I see holes at the bottom of the bridge. Can you top-load through a Wilkinson Bridge instead of stringing through the body?

[@caerphoto]

You can. I put this same bridge on my Squier Affinity Tele which doesn’t have through-body holes, and it works just fine.

[@guitarscience6926]

Yes you definitely can. Now I have two of these Wilkinson bridges that do both and I have to test!

[@jamesallen1164]

yes absolutly , and that old myth about the sound and tone being differant if you string through the body or the top is in my opinion and experience just that , a myth . I've done it both ways on the same guitar and couldnt tell any difference. I know that's a little off the the subject , just thought I'd throw it out there lol . rock on !

[@AdultsAreTalking]

@@jamesallen1164 100% correct

[@Miss_Pixie]

Seems the pickup holes in Fender are smaller, you’ve noticed the same?

[@maxwellfan55]

How do you find the q/pounders compared to Fender stock?

[@BahbahKaduche]

Saddles are compensated for slightly shorter and longer scale lengths on each string.... more intonation adjustable and tuning stable

[@thebenefactor6744]

Callaham's my go to for every tele.

[@Rythymace]

I did not see any ground wire underneath the bridge when it was off. There should be a bit of exposed wire contacting the bridge and then grounded to one of the pots. If you have an electrical hum that goes away when your hand touched the bridge you need to add a wire.

[@davidriggs8196]

The problem with guitar intonation is that it will always be a compromise. The issue is actually less with the bridge than the frets. The only type of guitar that escapes this problem is guitars with fanned frets, where the lower strings are allowed a longer scale length and the higher strings a shorter scale length. With a conventional guitar each string will have small tuning issues. Compensated bridges do correct to some degree from string to string, but because the frets stay where they are these tuning is are just moved the a different place on the fretboard. I

[@justadbeer]

Haha, you sound just like my kid! And of course, you both are absolutely correct.

[@ashscott6068]

Fanned frets are a compromise, too. If you want perfect intonation all over the neck, you need a true temperament neck. It's not even something you can add to an existing neck, cus the frets and fret slots are squiggly lines...and they sound BAD. some people like it, but a perfectly intonated guitar just sounds wrong to most people. If you want slightly better intonation in the studio, don't set it at the 12th fret on any string, if the song doesn't require you to play above it. If, for example, you don't play anything on your A string beyond the 9th fret, intonate it there, and the errors in between the open string and the 9th fret, will be smaller. Still a lot of trouble to go to, since everyone is used to guitars being a bit pitchy, to the point where perfect tuning turns people off.

[@AdultsAreTalking]

You ok? Not sure what happened at the end of that paragraph lol

[@GinoGenero]

@@AdultsAreTalking I'm sure he's just fine. Maybe he just

[@JWNOSNHOJ]

I find it interesting that the presenter percieves differences in the sound of the two bridges but does not seem to understand the concept of intonated saddles.

[@guitarscience6926]

I briefly mentioned the saddles about a minute and a half in. It's not a video about intonation, so I didn't go into depth. It was definitely easier to intonate than a traditional tele bridge, but still more work than a 'strat style' with 6 individual saddles.

[@spencerdodds2207]

Why is that interesting? Someone apparently not understanding something but perceiving something else? Or are you pointing it out because you understand something he doesn’t ? Maybe you could make a video all about intonation for our viewing pleasure.

[@williamdon3442]

Why is the compensated bridge easier to intonate???

[@Arcade1959]

I have a Squier Tele Thinline CV 60, I wonder if it is worth changing the original bridge for a Fender Vintage Tele Bridge. Will the sound quality be improved ?

[@humiut2041]

Yes

[@MattWhatsGoinOn]

I think that thin, old bridge is partly responsible for the tele’s particular voice - that extra, tin pan-like twang that seemed to be diminished in tele’s I’ve played with thicker, more modern bridges. Whatever floats your boat, though.

[@guitarscience6926]

That definitely could be true. I do think the adjustment made the guitar sound better to me, but I was also tired of getting my palm stabbed by the sharp screws and constantly fussing with the intonation haha.

[@ashscott6068]

That's probably more to do with hand-wound pickups vs machine wound on more modern guitars. The neater the winding, the greater the capacitance, and the more you lose the highs. Modern finishes are thicker too, so the unplugged sound can be kinda muted by that. I had a Jerry Donahue tele that had like 3mm of epoxy on top. When I chipped all that away, the guitar really came to life.

[@oldasrocks9121]

A thicker gauge bridge is a typical remedy for a squealing pickup. It'll also increase the inductance and change the flux shape, golden ears will claim to hear tonal differences, any increased output is pretty easy to hear.

[@oldasrocks9121]

​@@guitarscience6926Get a selection of shorter adjustment screws, 8mm, 6mm and 4mm, you should be able to sink the screws in the saddles. Also I second the commenter that suggested burnishing the Wilkinson saddle edges for the solid strings. The Gotoh compensated saddles are a little more spendy but better, the Joe Barden (and similar) cattywompus saddles are preferred by many. The JBs come in 2 widths, if your string spacing is 2 1/16" (measure your top loader holes on the bridge if you have them) then the JBs with allen screws fit, wider the slotted screw version fits.

[@bertonedes]

Interesting. I have it on my new pinecaster, and its like you said, it rings like crazy, and its lound even unpluged. BUT, its strange that on the bridge pickup, my BAJA MEX tele shines more, because of the rounded-nes of a tone that a original Fender bridge is giving. Wilky is more snappy and bright, and it shines more with a neck humbucker in my new guitar. Maybe i will get some more winded(powerfull) bridge pickup like you have SD quarterpound. Mine is a 9k standard tele singlecoil. Its good, but not exceptional. I must to mess around with a tone know all the time.

[@Dbj5555555]

Keep the old bridge and change the saddles. Sound is all the matters. The thicker plate will change what it sounds like.

[@chuckmatses6803]

It’s probably just the polish that was used making it look like there’s no finish under the bridge, right?

[@nylonshredder]

The fender bridge is what you should go with if you are looking for a great tele sound. Adding a heavier bridge will change the sound. But it appears that isn't what you prefer.

[@TempoDrift1480]

See about getting you a slotted neck rule and level those frets. I don't even worry about crowning them. I just hit them with 400 grit long ways and then I go parallel with the fret wire and then I use one of those four sided fingernail polish sponges and all my guitars play like a dream. Just a suggestion cause I bet that thing can smoke if the neck isn't hoopajuped.

[@guitarscience6926]

For sure. It's time consuming but ultimately a neck shim and a nice level/crown solved all the issues.I hate fret leveling but it is useful, especially on those Warmoth necks with no fall away built into the upper frets.

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

Ah, yes, but that old fender bridge carrier will accept a snap on ashtray cover without any mods. The Wilkinson requires tweaking to keep the cover on while in use. Don't use a cover? If you play finger style or Jazz, You should try it. It makes the tone to more rounded and mellow. Like others have said, break the edges of those sharp saddles, or you will be breaking the high strings, and de-wrapping the wound ones.

[@MarcoxNew]

I used this bridge as a top loader but strings e and B move in the bending touching the screw

[@guitarscience6926]

I've noticed this too,but for me it's very small. I'd guess the top loading doesn't give enough of a break angle compared to thru-body, so the strings can slide more. I'll have to test this out.

[@meadish]

I guess you could make just those two strings through-body?

[@keithclark486]

File a small slot in the saddle and the strings won't move.

[@kle2217]

Do you have a link to the Wilkinson bridge with compensated saddles? Seems to be multiple options that I find on Amazon at diffrent prices.

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

A good bridge does wonders... different metals theoretically effect the sound so don't think one metal brass or titanium, or stainless or just hardener steel is better is better than the rest, it all depends on what you want, but a good hefty bridge of your choice of metal is better than a flimsy one.

[@meadish]

Did you manage to resolve the neck issues in the end?

[@guitarscience6926]

Yes! I was going to make another video on this, but I deleted the footage... I used a small piece of card stock in the neck pocket. Did the same in my hardtail build video and it worked wonders there too.

[@nevillegreg1]

The difference in finish under the bridge may have resulted from the previous owner applying wipe-on products on the body and not removing the bridge - such as Danish oil and furniture waxes. No big deal. I don't remove hardware from my guitars when cleaning them and applying polish. You may need to shim the neck to get rid of the buzzing if your frets are level and you have sufficient relief and your nut slots haven't been cut too deep.

[@pharmerdavid1432]

A thicker bridge doesn't get that plinky sound telecasters are famous for, and the compensated saddles are OVER-compensated on a couple strings, so I flip them over and use the un-compensated rounded side - just bend slightly to intonate accurately. Gotoh "in tune" bridges are better than the Wilkenson, and saddles are grooved and slightly compensated more accurately.

[@guitarscience6926]

Yeah after a while playing it, I don't love the bridge. I might check out that Gotoh one. Got a few teles to experiment on.

[@bwyou812]

Old , dirty and gross. Has been remarketed now as vintage.

[@guitarscience6926]

Just listed for $400 on reverb!

[@imandan1966]

Top load those strings! Big difference!

[@guitarscience6926]

Think so? Sound, playability, or both?

[@Vern859]

@@guitarscience6926 I think top loading makes it's a little slinkier to play. The tone part may be subjective.

[@guitarscience6926]

@@Vern859 Definitely the subject of a future video. I'm very curious now.

[@nickf9392]

Say what you want about an original fender bridge plate, I own about a dozen Teles and have zero issue with them. Not against trying anything new at all, if it makes you feel better. Just make sure they are flat, screwed down properly and grounded properly. As far as intonation, the guitar must be set up properly, truss rod, frets leveled, nut slots cut to optimal depth, bridge hgt is optimized, and then intonate the string length with a tuner as well as by playing.....I have no noticeable issue with intonation either. Spend more time playing and less time wasting your money.

[@lovelessjams2720]

Hey man, I 2nd everything you're saying here. It's always been surprising to me how many guys want to play, and even can play, but then they take their guitars to a tech for setup instead of learning the process themselves. Maybe it's separate worlds, but I wholeheartedly agree that setup is key. I have never had a problem with my fender bridge inspite of the simple uncompensated brass saddles..... Zero issues. Stays in tune. Stays intonated. Plays fantastic.

[@arturo13245]

Seems like you guys skipped physics

[@nickf9392]

@@arturo13245 I am a degreed mechanical engineer and hold six US Patents....how about you?

[@JohnAdams-xc5yk]

The original fender bridge are usually thin and not flat, having said that a lot of people like the sound, but some like the flat heavy bridge plate, brass or steel nickel coated the sound is different

[@AWilliamsfilm]

It looks more substantial? 😂

[@billkallas1762]

My Tele came with that bridge.

[@weightlessfilms5651]

I'm willing to bet that the guitar body was an Aliexpress-type knock off. It seems strange that there wouldn't have been a finish beneath the bridge. I'd bet the previous owner bought it as a project guitar; replaced the pickups and the neck, and that may have contributed towards the neck issues if it's not properly set up. Cool looking guitar though. Definitely correct me if I'm wrong though. I'm assuming that's a variation of the George Harrison tele. There were some reissues that were made in Japan by Fender in the '80s, so it could've been one of those.

[@guitarscience6926]

Wow. Had no idea I basically built a George Harrison telecaster! My neck is wenge but aesthetically it's almost the same. Knowing that, I think you're right and it was a knockoff body. With that said, the import body + American made neck has never let me down, and this tele is now my favorite guitar.

[@weightlessfilms5651]

@@guitarscience6926 That's awesome! I would love to get one like that some day.

[@phademusic4744]

Vibrations to the body are irrelevant. The energy needs transfering to to pick ups, thats the only thing to be concerned with.

[@oldasrocks9121]

Resonant frequencies in the body put energy back into the string excursion increasing sustain and effecting string harmonics.

[@ioodyssey3740]

upgrade.....LMAO