[scott from _actual time_]

Originally Posted by xwmucradiox

I dont see a serious need for a tele bridge unless you want it for the look. Many high end tele copies such as andersons use a hardtail strat bridge instead.

those Andersons aren't Teles, they are just tele-shaped strats. the shape isn't what makes a Tele sound like that--it's the pickups and the hardware.

you can't get the true Tele sound from a strat hardtail bridge, for many reasons. the saddles are a different design and different materials. the baseplate is brass, not steel, and it's much thicker. even that Mann 7-string Tele bridge was machined from what looked like brass, so it could never sound like a thin sheet-steel stamped Tele bridge. the pickup being mounted on the bridge baseplate is probably part of it too.

[eelblack2]

Originally Posted by scott from _actual time_

those Andersons aren't Teles, they are just tele-shaped strats. the shape isn't what makes a Tele sound like that--it's the pickups and the hardware.

you can't get the true Tele sound from a strat hardtail bridge, for many reasons. the saddles are a different design and different materials. the baseplate is brass, not steel, and it's much thicker. even that Mann 7-string Tele bridge was machined from what looked like brass, so it would never sound like a thin sheet-steel stamped Tele bridge. the pickup being mounted on the bridge baseplate is probably part of it too.

Exactly. The saddles, baseplate, bridge pickup, and pup mounting method are all extremely integral to that insane telly twang.

[xwmucradiox]

Ill agree to some extent but a tele pickup set with a hardtail strat bridge sounds pretty close. If its the difference between buying a $60 bridge and forking over $5,000 for tooling up 7 string telecaster bridges, Ill take the former.

[scott from _actual time_]

Originally Posted by xwmucradiox

If its the difference between buying a $60 bridge and forking over $5,000 for tooling up 7 string telecaster bridges, Ill take the former.

the Mann 7-stg Tele bridge was over $200 back when they made them, but that's still less than a Lo Pro 7.

i wouldn't pay $5000 for any bridge unless it was crusted with diamonds. that's why i'm gonna make my own Tele bridge--$35 for saddles, $15 for a piece of sheet steel, $10 for drill bits and jigsaw blades and cutting oil, plus a few homemade jigs and a few afternoons in the garage. but i'm into that sort of thing.

[ohio_eric]

If USACG has a source for Tele bridges that would be outstanding for those people who want to build a Tele with a seventh string. Teles minus all that metal around the rear pickup are just false.