THREE SADDLE TELE BRIDGE, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE

[twotimingpete]

Compared to modern 6 saddle bridges.

 

YOu hear a lot of hooting and hollaring about this from boner having tele fanboys, but what's the real deal? is it a different sound or not? I'm extremely skeptical.

[vintage clubber]

I have four teles, three of which are partsocasters I put together and the fourth is my modded squier cv. Two have the modern bridges and the other two have the three saddle bridges with Wilkinson compensated saddles. I like them both and can get the twang out of either type. I'm finding myself preferring the 3 saddles for the coolness factor though...

[docjeffrey]

The worst decision Fender ever made was to put a six saddle bridge on their new Standard Teles. It's akin to putting a trapeze tailpiece on an ES335. The tone is just not right. They should at least include a kit with a three piece bridge.

 

Yes, the three saddle tele bridge is the only way to go. I like plain steel the best. I don't like the threaded steel versions. Brass sounds great too, and you can get just about any style in a compensated version so that intonation is not compromised.

 

Shame on Fender for doing this:

 

 

WTF were they thinking.

[schoolie1]

I don't notice much difference in tone, but the six-saddle bridge looks freakin horrible! It's an abomination. The compensated saddles have evolved to the point where intonation is no longer an issue, so there's really no point to the six-saddle.

[acousticDave]

I like the 6 piece.

 

[DaleH]

I put a six saddle on my Highway One. Love it and chords sound so much better. Second best mod I have done to it.

First is the Keystones.

Third the 4 way.

 

[wagdog]

I think tone wise, you're going to find that brass and stainless DO sound a bit different.

 

Functionality wise, I like 6 saddles - don't really get hung up on looks... and I think they both look cool.