anyone recognize this bridge on a fender?

[monkeyland]

It is on a body that is currently attached to a California Series Strat neck.

 

 

I know this pic is blurry but here is the neck pocket.

 

 

from what i understand the california series is supposed to have an american vintage bridge but this does not. Just curious to know if anyone has any ideas as to what the deal is.

[Into Nation]

Looks like the older style American bridge before they changed them back to bent steel a couple years ago.

[cratz2]

I'll be the naysayer and guess that it's a Fender neck on a Squier body.

 

I think on most (not all, but definitely most) of the 'standard' American Fenders that had those block type saddles, had the intonation screw offset... It wasn't in the middle.

 

 

Hopefully someone with more experience can chime in.

 

Having said that, there is a lot going on in the neck pocket to be a Squier so hopefully it's a trem I'm just not familiar with,.

[Doctor Morbius]

I have an American Series Strat tremolo with block saddles and the intonation screws are indeed offset as Cratz2 has stated.

[sneakerpimp]

 

I think on most (not all, but definitely most) of the 'standard' American Fenders that had those block type saddles, had the intonation screw offset... It wasn't in the middle.

 

 

that is correct. the block saddles were gray anodized with black screws. the fulcrum screws were silver or chrome and slotted.

[mrbrown49]

I'll be the naysayer and guess that it's a Fender neck on a Squier body. I think on most (not all, but definitely most) of the 'standard' American Fenders that had those block type saddles, had the intonation screw offset... It wasn't in the middle. Hopefully someone with more experience can chime in. Having said that, there is a lot going on in the neck pocket to be a Squier so hopefully it's a trem I'm just not familiar with,.

 

I think the offset screw stopped in the early 2000s. IIRC there were at least a few years of non offset screws and block saddles. It does have a two point trem after all. Not something you see on a squier.

 

 

EDIT: Nevermind. After further research I recalled incorrectly. But, which squiers came with a 2 pt trem?

[cratz2]

I think the offset screw stopped in the early 2000s. IIRC there were at least a few years of non offset screws and block saddles. It does have a two point trem after all. Not something you see on a squier.

 

Hrmm... I've definitely seen plenty of the offset screw saddles well after 2000 and I've had three or four Squiers that had saddles that look exactly like those and were 2 point trems. I think the current Squier Standards have a 2 point trem, but I think either the intonation screws are black and the saddles themselves are more of a brushed look. But I've had a couple Squiers with 2 point trems with those flat block types saddles with a polished finish just like in the first post.

 

By no means am I saying that's a Fender neck on a Squier body, but they look kinda cheesy.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

I think the offset screw stopped in the early 2000s. IIRC there were at least a few years of non offset screws and block saddles. It does have a two point trem after all. Not something you see on a squier. EDIT: Nevermind. After further research I recalled incorrectly. But, which squiers came with a 2 pt trem?

Squier Standard Strats came with 2 point trems. The Affinities came with 6 point trems.

[cratz2]

Having said that, I think maybe these date from when Fender first went to a 2 point trem. Most of the 2 point Fender trems I've seen in the last decade looked more like this, where there's the bulky flat area between the saddles and the bridge pickup, whereas the Squier type 2 point trems have minimal flat area between the saddles and the bridge pickup. Honestly, that's the main reason I like the look of the 6 point trems more than the Fender 2 point trems.

 

[DaleH]

I thought the California Series was kind of a half mex half AIM type fender that had some funky parts like the Highway one that followed.

[GilmourD]

 

I thought the California Series was kind of a half mex half AIM type fender that had some funky parts like the Highway one that followed.

 

 

California Series had vintage-style hardware.

[cratz2]

Yeah, all the California Series I've seen looks like reissue hardware basically.

 

Regardless of it's a Fender, Squier or something else, I definitely don't think that's a California Series body.

[monkeyland]

I'm pretty sure that it's not the original body also. I'm really interested to know if anyone can identify that neck pocket as being Squire, MIM or whatever. It's definitely not a USA bridge from what ive seen.

 

I was working at a store selling primarily fenders 2 or 3 years after the california series went away but it's been a long time since i've seen the neck pocket of anything other than my USA fenders.

[monkeyland]

also...the biggest thing that i keep going back to other than the saddle screw placement is that little bit of metal missing next to the bridge post on the Low E side. No USA 2 point trem that I'm familiar with looks like that.

[IamBurnout]

 

also...the biggest thing that i keep going back to other than the saddle screw placement is that little bit of metal missing next to the bridge post on the Low E side. No USA 2 point trem that I'm familiar with looks like that.

 

 

Lots of low end Korean manufacturers use a design like that (including the Ibanez/Hoshino TRS floyds).

 

That body looks like an import with proper Fender neck plate screw spacing.

 

Taking off the pickguard may even reveal a plywood body.

 

Small pots and a cheap selector may also be under that 3-ply guard.

 

I don't know what the saddle spacing was on the California series, but that could be another clue.

 

Without more pics, I don't want to rush judgment, but it looks like shenanigans to me.

[GilmourD]

I say it's a Squier Standard Strat body with a Fender California Strat neck.

[GilmourD]

[monkeyland]

 

I say it's a Squier Standard Strat body with a Fender California Strat neck.

 

 

thats what we have decided on. Like i said I was selling squires back in the late 90s. when i saw that bridge I knew it looked familiar and some more searching today has confirmed it for me.

 

That was a guitar that the other guitarist in my band was looking at for a trade. No go now it seems.

[BlueSky1963]

 

I thought the California Series was kind of a half mex half AIM type fender that had some funky parts like the Highway one that followed.

 

 

California's were supposedly US made parts that were shipped to Ensenada for finishing, the sent back to Corona for assembly. However, I personally think it was a trial run for the MIM guitars.

 

I've got a California Series tele, it's actually a sweet little axe.

[BlueSky1963]

 

from what i understand the california series is supposed to have an american vintage bridge but this does not. Just curious to know if anyone has any ideas as to what the deal is.

 

 

My Cali Series tele has a vintage tuners but 6 individual saddles in the bridge. Hardly 100% vintage. I don't think there are hard and fast rules with the California Series.

 

This looks like a 90's era 2 point trem bridge.