Fender 'vintage' replacement bridge too big for vintage Strat?

[beaubrummels]

I tried to restore my 1966 Strat a little bit by replacing the aftermarket bridge that was on there (arm broke off in it and wasn't worth salvaging). But strangely, the Fender 'vintage' bridge block sticks out past the back of the guitar so I can't put a back plate on there. In particular, the block is right at the edge of the wood of the body and where the springs insert into the block rise above the body so the back plate won't screw down. And if I use the vibrato, then the block also rises out of the body when at an angle. I have only three springs on and tightened so the bridge is almost decked, but not quite.

Anyone have this experience?

Thanks.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Fender 'vintage' replacement bridge too big for vintage Strat?

Arm breaking off is 100% salvagable.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Fender 'vintage' replacement bridge too big for vintage Strat?

It's a Fender brand bridge, right?

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Fender 'vintage' replacement bridge too big for vintage Strat?

It's a Fender brand bridge, right?

The bridge that doesn't seem to fit is indeed a real Fender bridge.

I have no interest in salvaging or continuing to use a mid-70's aftermarket bridge. I want to restore the guitar back to stock as much as possible.

 

[stringbender11]

Re: Fender 'vintage' replacement bridge too big for vintage Strat?

Wow that is strange. And you're sure your '66 Strat body is factory original, huh? I'm curious to see how this turns out.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Fender 'vintage' replacement bridge too big for vintage Strat?

What are the measurements on the old and new blocks?

Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Fender 'vintage' replacement bridge too big for vintage Strat?

Yeah, what he said. I have a real '59, and I can measure the block on it to see if they match.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Fender 'vintage' replacement bridge too big for vintage Strat?

Clearly you want it vintage, but maybe a non- visible compromise for a shorter but great sounding block could be ideal. I know the guy at Killer Guitar (I think that is the name) sold me a shorter one than normal in brass and it doesn't show and really did sound better, regardless of the naysayers.
Just a thought. Maybe he can cut yours down to fit or some other local guy can trim the length for you, it would still be VERY close to "vintage". Just make sure he trims the bottom, not the top, if he is not a regular luthier!
SJB

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Fender 'vintage' replacement bridge too big for vintage Strat?

Was the guitar ever refinished? If so, the person who did it may have sanded down the back a bit too far.

At any rate, I would be tempted to simply make a spacer ring for the spring cover and call it good. I did the same on one of my Strats that I converted to a Kahler. It has active pickups, and I put the batteries in the empty spring cavity once the Kahler was on. However, they stuck out a bit past the edge of the cavity, so I made a spacer ring. It was easy, cheap and effective. Even a few layers of white artist's tape stuck to the back of the spring cover and then trimmed flush would probably do it.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Fender 'vintage' replacement bridge too big for vintage Strat?

Was the guitar ever refinished? If so, the person who did it may have sanded down the back a bit too far.

At any rate, I would be tempted to simply make a spacer ring for the spring cover and call it good. I did the same on one of my Strats that I converted to a Kahler. It has active pickups, and I put the batteries in the empty spring cavity once the Kahler was on. However, they stuck out a bit past the edge of the cavity, so I made a spacer ring. It was easy, cheap and effective. Even a few layers of white artist's tape stuck to the back of the spring cover and then trimmed flush would probably do it.

It has been refinished. Not a good job at all. It's got some kind of 'boat varnish' on it that's yellowed and now craquelure. Some kind of spacer action sounds fine to me. I like the bridge and the sound now. I just don't want anything brushing the springs while I'm playing.

Thanks.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Fender 'vintage' replacement bridge too big for vintage Strat?

Then I'd say that oversanding really could be what happened. Doing that not only on the back, but also on the front, would cause your problem. Based on what you described, I'm estimating that your body should be around 3/32" thicker than it is. It would be possible for a poorly skilled amateur refinisher with an orbital sander and 80 or 100 grit sandpaper to take off that much from both the front and the back of the guitar. That's only 3/64" (less than 1/16") from each side, after all.

The easiest fix would, of course, be to play without the cover on, like countless Strat players have done. The second easiest would probably be what I explained above: just space the cover away from the body using some white artist's tape cut into thin strips and then trimmed flush. Even some thin cardboard or a few layers of manila folder would do.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Fender 'vintage' replacement bridge too big for vintage Strat?

Spring cover plastic would make a great shim if it came with one. 2 or 3 layers sound like it would be plenty. Plus you could use the top and bottom sections that already are drilled out for the screws anyway.
SJ

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Fender 'vintage' replacement bridge too big for vintage Strat?

Spring cover plastic would make a great shim if it came with one. 2 or 3 layers sound like it would be plenty. Plus you could use the top and bottom sections that already are drilled out for the screws anyway.
SJ

Yes, that would work, but to me it really seems like a 10-dollar solution to a 10-cent problem, and it requires just as much labor, if not more.