Swapping Out A Telecaster Bridge

Duppy03

Does anyone know if the American Professional Telecaster Bridge would drop in as a direct replacement on a 2003 American Standard?

They look really similar with regards the string holes being in front of the mounting screws rather than behind like a vintage style bridge.

Funkfingers

Looks from photographs as if it does. 

One caveat. With the Am Pro bridge adopting the same footprint as a vintage style stamped steel bridge, it will leave a strip of finish exposed where the original bridge used to end. There may also be marks left in the finish where it was compressed under the steel.

Your other option is to just replace the stock compressed steel powder saddles. Fender Deluxe solid stainless steel ones, Callaham replacement stamped steel "Strat" style saddles or the revised Fender ones that borrowed the Callaham idea.

gavin_axecaster

Pretty sure someone on TDPRI overlayed pics of both and the string through holes lined up. Obviously there will be drilling of mount holes required (3 vs 4)
This is my unscientific opinion but I don't think the brass barrel saddles work well with that string through placement. Due to the diameter of the barrels you end up having the strings wrap right around them and very near 90degree down into the through holes.
I'd go with 1/4 inch steel saddles if making the swap to a vintage style bridge - I think the smaller diameter will be more forgiving.

Duppy03

Aren’t the American professional bridges 3 hole mount like the American standards?

Duppy03

@gavin_axecaster a slight digression but I don’t suppose you’ve had any news on when you might be getting those Telecaster bridges with Bigsby Cut always back in stock?

gavin_axecaster

Duppy03 said:

Aren’t the American professional bridges 3 hole mount like the American standards?

No. The two outer holes may line up, I'm not sure.
See what I mean about the barrels/string path?

Duppy03 said:

@gavin_axecaster a slight digression but I don’t suppose you’ve had any news on when you might be getting those Telecaster bridges with Bigsby Cut always back in stock?

No idea. Allparts UK cancelled my order and won't tell me why.
I have one of my other suppliers making a sample, so hopefully it won't be too much longer.

Duppy03

I did a closer inspection on Photoshop last night and i think your right, everything seems to line up but it would need those extra two holes drilling.

I had thought about the six stamped saddles approach but the American Standerds from my era have the offset steel saddles. Did Fender ever make them? I see Callaham did.

Cheers for the heads up on the Bigsby cut bridges. I’ll keep my eye on here and your site for updates

gavin_axecaster

The US Standard changed in 2008(?) and they ditched the offset saddles for centred bent/stamped steel strat style saddles. As far as I know Fender never sold the bridge assembly separately (annoyingly Fender doesn't list the model on their service diagrams site so can't find the product code for the bridge) but Stratosphere used to have them. The 2008 and later bridge is a direct replacement for the earlier Standard/Series/Deluxe bridge.

Duppy03

From my Photoshop exercise last night it looks like the bridge plate of the 2008 onwards Tele’s had the same 4 hole fixings as the current Pro models. So other than the saddles they look like the same part

gavin_axecaster

Definitely 3 as per the earlier series/standard.
Check out Darren Riley's site - this is a leftie (seems it was available aftermarket) and there's a pic from the back showing the 3 mount holes.
http://darrenriley.com/store/american-telecaster-0075109000/

Duppy03

Ah right, great detective work! So it that would work as a direct replacement without a hitch then.

CasperCaster

There are now a few manufacturers making replacement bridges for the US Std Tele, so you do have some options - Callaham and Hipshot both spring to mind. I had a US Std Tele back in '89 and back then if you didn't get on with the bridge and those sintered steel saddles it was tough luck - there were no alternatives available. 

Funkfingers

Duppy03 said:

I had thought about the six stamped saddles approach but the American Standards from my era have the offset steel saddles. Did Fender ever make them? I see Callaham did.

No. Fender did not produce bent steel saddles with the offset intonation adjustment screw.

FWIIW, I have a set of the Callaham US-width saddles. They used to be on an Am Std Stratocaster until I traded it with HarrySeven. These have taken on the slightly tarnished matt appearance of Nickel plating. 

https://i.imgur.com/3ickFiE.jpg?1