Telecaster 3-barrel bridge vs. modern 6-string bridge ?

surfsteve said:
What manufacturer 3-saddle did you use? Is it an easy swap? Is it a compensated type?
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Wilkinson dual loader from GFS. Compensated brass saddles. $30.

The swap was pretty easy. The end result is 3 holes behind the bridge, and a bit of butt crack on the bass side.

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surfsteve said:
What manufacturer 3-saddle did you use? Is it an easy swap? Is it a compensated type?
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You can buy compensated saddles separately.

I bought a $13 stamped Fender. I have two Teles, American Peavey and Korean Hamer. It would of been a worse butt crack than posted above on the Hamer. Had to remove wood on the Peavey.

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I think the 3 saddle ultimately is for the vintage look and that only. there may be some who argue string through design vs the 6 saddle hard tail anchor may loose sustain etc..... I think thats really splitting hairs.... but for intonation cant beat 6
 
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realtree71 said:
I think the 3 saddle ultimately is for the vintage look and that only. there may be some who argue string through design vs the 6 saddle hard tail anchor may loose sustain etc..... I think thats really splitting hairs.... but for intonation cant beat 6
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There is absolutely no reason that you can't properly intonate with 3 compensated brass saddles. As a matter of fact, I feel I have better intonation now than I did with the stock 6 saddles that had a lot of lateral (side to side) movement that threw the intonation off if they got bumped. YMMV.
 
realtree71 said:
I think the 3 saddle ultimately is for the vintage look and that only. there may be some who argue string through design vs the 6 saddle hard tail anchor may loose sustain etc..... I think thats really splitting hairs.... but for intonation cant beat 6
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The six saddle bridges are still string through the body. At least most of the ones I’ve seen.
 
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realtree71 said:
I think the 3 saddle ultimately is for the vintage look and that only. there may be some who argue string through design vs the 6 saddle hard tail anchor may loose sustain etc..... I think thats really splitting hairs.... but for intonation cant beat 6
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Honestly, I prefer the feel. I like having the lip I can wrap my pinky around for certain purposes. I had a Tele with a modern bridge on it for about a year before I put a '52RI bridge plate on it like my other Tele at the time. To me there was an audible difference, too, and I haven't had any issues with intonation on any of the Teles I've had with ashtray bridges. D'Addario 10s line up nicely.
 
reverend1 said:
The six saddle bridges are still string through the body. At least most of the ones I’ve seen.
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Agreed there are but there are also the 6 saddle hard tail adjustable..

I agree you can get good intonation with three saddle but there are those out there that argue 6 is better or at least easier to intonate. I usually put 3 saddles on my builds unless they specifically ask for 6.
 
realtree71 said:
Agreed there are but there are also the 6 saddle hard tail adjustable..

I agree you can get good intonation with three saddle but there are those out there that argue 6 is better or at least easier to intonate. I usually put 3 saddles on my builds unless they specifically ask for 6.
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I guess that’s where I’m misunderstanding, six string adjustable or not they are all strung through the body. With the exception of a top loader, and I’ve only seen that on basses.
 
335clone said:
A little bit of hot glue, and you might be able to mount that on a Tele body. But your action and intonation are going to be a problem.
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If that works well for a viol, then a well-designed and well-made 3-saddle should work well for a tele.
 
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