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For all you guys who have used top-loader Tele bridges, do you like them? Even though I have my OLP in the Trading Post, my initial thought was to turn it into a Tele. You guys have seen the pics of my design. If not, I'll post one. The problem lies in the fact that the OLP has a vintage Tremolo and to install a Tele bridge, I would have to have a string-through body. I don't. I would have to block in the cavity somehow and that seems like a whole lotta work. I could go with a top-loading Tele bridge and solve that issue; however, I have always used Teles with string-through bridges.

What are your thoughts on top-loading bridges?

Just theorizing here, but I'm missing the big benefit of string-through bridges. It seems like if you have a solid saddle-to-bridge connection, and long screws going holding a bridge onto the body for a good connection, that ought to be as good or better than 1-1/2 inches of 6 strings pulling on 6 little ferrules. At least in terms of getting the body of the guitar to vibrat.

Unfortunately, that's all based on starting with a solid piece of wood. Unless you fill in the tremelo amp; spring cavities, they are going to affect the tone. Think about this aspect - with a fixed bridge, there is solid wood straight through between the neck and the bridge. With a tremelo bridge, there is a void right in front of the bridge. IMHO the portion of the body directly between the bridge amp; the neck may be the most important in terms of tone.

Butch, this is just theory and opinion, so please take it for what it's worth.

Chip

P.S. You probably don't remember, but thanks again for suggesting the steel plate under the bridge Quarter Pound in my MIM Strat.

Hi chip,

Thanks for the comments. I agree with the fact that any opne spaces in the wood can affect the tone. My B-Bender Tele was like thet. I do believe that if I can find a top-loading Tele bridge, I can get a really nice Tele tone.

No...I do not like them. I much prefer the string through body design: the sustain and tone is better.

Part of the reason is that the string angle behind the saddles in the top loader Tele design is not steep enough. The string is not pressed down as firmly against the saddles and the resulting tone is not quite as solid and the sustain not as long.

Lew


Originally Posted by LewguitarNo...I do not like them. I much prefer the string through body design: the sustain and tone is better.

Part of the reason is that the string angle behind the saddles in the top loader Tele design is not steep enough. The string is not pressed down as firmly against the saddles and the resulting tone is not quite as solid and the sustain not as long.

Lew

I was hoping you would chime in Lew...

I have a top loader and I love the feel on it. The strings are just a bit easier to bend, even with the 10's I use and the 11's I used to use. I believe, and I may be mistaken, even James Burton used the top loaders for this reason..made it easier to do those faux-steel licks because the bends were a bit easier


Originally Posted by LewguitarNo...I do not like them. I much prefer the string through body design: the sustain and tone is better.

Part of the reason is that the string angle behind the saddles in the top loader Tele design is not steep enough. The string is not pressed down as firmly against the saddles and the resulting tone is not quite as solid and the sustain not as long.

Lew

10000 to that ...my old tele was thru the body and talk about sustain and tone improvement!!!

chris

Hi Lew - I understand your point about the break angle over the saddle. That may be the key to quot;the tonequot; people hear with string-thru bridges, not the fact that the strings go through the guitar.

There's no question that changing the break angle on a tune-o-matic bridge affects tone and playability (not necessarily in that order).

Chip

My Bastardcaster Tele was a top loader when I bought it. Within a few months I switched it to a string through bridge and the result in response was nothing short of amazing. The sustain was better, the overall tone seemed tighter, it just really made it a better instrument.

I have two MIM Teles, one witha String-Thru and the other with a Top-Loader. The TL is my favourite because of the resonance and as mentioned above, they are easier to bent on. The break angle doesn't have any adverse effects on sustain as far as I can find. Mind you, it has EMG Humbuckers...

Bear in mind, the '59 Tele came from the factory with a Top-Load bridge and they are quite desireable in Tele circles because of the resonance...

Hers a pic of mine:
The top loader 59 is worth less than the 58 though. Most serious Tele lovers find it less desirable than the string through body 58 or even 60. The 59 is desireable only because it's a 50's Teles...not because of the top loading design (which was discontinued pretty quickly!). Lew

I love my MIJ Fernandez 50's style string thru tele. It resonates amaizingly well unplugged and packs a big wallop plugged in.

Jim Compilongo does get a ripping tone with a 50's top loader though...

Personally I think a string-thru bridge on a Tele is a must. The whole charm of the guitar for me is that unbeatable bridge pickup on a string-thru bridge. Sure, there are other Tele-like guitars without these features that are very good instruments, but they aren't quot;realquot; Tele's IMO.