Telecaster 3-saddle compensated bridge?

[Butch Snyder]

Telecasters are the Chuck Taylors of the guitar world. They existed before specialization, but by modern standards are somewhat lacking in sophistication. The only reason they hang around in the modern era is mojo. For the less perceptive of you, I am referring to the shoe and not the basketball player.

Comparing classic Telecasters, specifically, the early 50s design to Chuck Taylor shoes, isn't a very good analogy. Design, engineering, and technology have proven better shoes can and have been made.

In the case of a 50's era Telecaster, that design has been altered for time purposes. There have been new designs for the Telecaster; including fretboards, pickups, moving from 3-saddle ashtray to a six-saddle chrome-plated brass bridge, contours, etc. All that is well and good, but is up to the player to decide what works for them. The 70+ year old design still holds up and while some players can't get along with the appointments of a 70-year old design, because they can't deal with a 7.5" fretboard radius or they don't like the feel of the screws on the brass saddles and the way they can rub the palm of your hands, the 70 year old design is what you heard in the studio (still). You don't hear American Standards or Elite Telecasters in the studios and on recordings (except for Brent Mason, whose Tele has a 6-saddle chrome-plated brass bridge for his B-Bender).

No, bring a pair of Nike Air Jordans to a 1950's basketball team and let them use them, they would be over the moon about them and would quickly ditch their Chucks.

 

[Artie]

For the less perceptive of you, I am referring to the shoe and not the basketball player.

I must be getting old. I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[Butch Snyder]

I must be getting old. I have no idea what you're talking about.

This....

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Chuck Taylors look cool (I wore them to my wedding, LOL), but they have to be the most uncomfortable shoes I've ever worn.

 

[Chistopher]

Comparing classic Telecasters, specifically, the early 50s design to Chuck Taylor shoes, isn't a very good analogy. Design, engineering, and technology have proven better shoes can and have been made.

In the case of a 50's era Telecaster, that design has been altered for time purposes. There have been new designs for the Telecaster; including fretboards, pickups, moving from 3-saddle ashtray to a six-saddle chrome-plated brass bridge, contours, etc. All that is well and good, but is up to the player to decide what works for them. The 70+ year old design still holds up and while some players can't get along with the appointments of a 70-year old design, because they can't deal with a 7.5" fretboard radius or they don't like the feel of the screws on the brass saddles and the way they can rub the palm of your hands, the 70 year old design is what you heard in the studio (still). You don't hear American Standards or Elite Telecasters in the studios and on recordings (except for Brent Mason, whose Tele has a 6-saddle chrome-plated brass bridge for his B-Bender).

No, bring a pair of Nike Air Jordans to a 1950's basketball team and let them use them, they would be over the moon about them and would quickly ditch their Chucks.

Well yeah, shoes being easy to design consumable items makes them subject to trends far more than guitars.

You say that Jordans would instantly be a more popular shoe, but the Air Force 1 recieved multiple endorsements before being discontinued, and the only reason it came back was because Jordan liked it well enough to attach his name to it.

Also FWIW I don't think basketball shoes are really the best shoes for basketball. They are heavy, lack range of motion, and are expensive to the point you don't want to risk damaging them. It's to the point that it's kind of weird to see someone wearing actual basketball shoes on the court.

 

[Aceman]

These seem to be popular, expensive, and compromise the ability for proper intonation. What's the appeal? What am I missing?

This is just stupid.

If you want intonation, get six saddles.
If you want tradition, get three
This is a half solution to a problem to satisfice the vintage heads with prissy ears.

You are not missing anything. Delete this thread. Never discuss this dumb@$$ery again.

So disappointed Artie....

 

[jeremy]

spoken as the spandex wearing, dean playin tele bridge saddle expert acebob is

 

[MikeS]

Compensated saddles are still an intonation compromise. Better than the straight saddles, but still imperfect. Mine's in the category of "close enough" and fortunately for me, the finger flubs and errant picking often overshadow any intonation issues.

 

[Chistopher]

3 compensated saddles may be a compromise, but look at all the fixed bridge guitars that don't ever have any issues with intonation, no matter how much you deviate string guage from factory spec.

Perfect intonation doesn't really matter all that much when you consider all the other places you introduce inadvertent pitch variations in your playing.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Perfect intonation doesn't really matter all that much when you consider all the other places you introduce inadvertent pitch variations in your playing.

That is a pretty astute observation. Artie, I own six guitars. Two have the Wilkinson ashtray bridge with compensated brass saddles and two have a chrome-plated brass bridge with six steel saddles. My Broadcaster has the stock ferrous ashtray bridge with non-compensated brass saddles. One is My PRS with the PRS trem. All sound fine and my intonation with them is fine. Is it perfect? No, but per Christopher's post, there is too much going on in my playing to worry about perfect intonation. So, get what you want and enjoy. You'll be fine whatever you choose. I have played for years with Telecasters using the classic ferrous ashtray bridge with standard brass saddles and never once received a weird look or comment from anyone regarding my intonation. You mentioned Brad Paisley. Here is a video of him with his "unicorn" Tele, a 67 Tele with a ferrous ashtray bridge with 3 non-compensated brass saddles. Personally, I don't here a problem with intonation.

 

[Ascension]

I get it, but there is still too much ergonomically wrong to me in traditional Teles.

Agree with you on the Ergonomics, a traditional Tele is just a slab and uncomfortable to play. Saying that, they do have a distinctive tone that the bridge plays a part in. At some point I will either grab a used Kiesel Retro Solo off Reverb or build one. There are things I do musically that I just need a good Tele for. The Retro Solo is a killer with only a few options and is far superior to a real Fender. Doesn't hurt they use the Ghoto compensated 3 saddle bridge and Duncan Antiquity pickups ether! Have a friend who has a Retro Solo and it's simply the best Tele I have ever picked up!
The Retro Solo https://www.kieselguitars.com/series/guitar/retro-solo

 

[Mincer]

Kiesel has some interesting variations, but something rubs me the wrong way about Jeff and his (bro! Duuuude!!) videos. I couldn't see me giving him any money, honestly. Good thing there are other options out there that will put a tummy cut, forearm cut on there and the controls where I can get to them.

 

[Ascension]

Kiesel has some interesting variations, but something rubs me the wrong way about Jeff and his (bro! Duuuude!!) videos. I couldn't see me giving him any money, honestly. Good thing there are other options out there that will put a tummy cut, forearm cut on there and the controls where I can get to them.

I agree with you on Jeff. However, I have had a relationship with the company for over 25 years. The folks building the guitars are the same as they were with Carvin plus I have known my current sales rep before he came to Kiesel from another forum. I also know Albert, their head guitar TEC. Jeff's dad Mark is a really cool guy, but Jeff comes off as an arrogant spoiled brat. That's unfortunate as Carvin had a really tight-knit community, much like we see here, before the family feud broke the company up and Jeff took over the guitar side. There are a LOT of really cool folks I have known for years who work at Carvin. Its unfortunate Jeff comes off this such an arrogant jerk because he is not repressive of my experience with the company... His grandfather Lowell is probably rolling in his grave over the image under Jeff today of the company.

 

[Mincer]

I agree with you on Jeff. However, I have had a relationship with the company for over 25 years. The folks building the guitars are the same as they were with Carvin plus I have known my current sales rep before he came to Kiesel from another forum. I also know Albert, their head guitar TEC. Jeff's dad Mark is a really cool guy, but Jeff comes off as an arrogant spoiled brat. That's unfortunate as Carvin had a really tight-knit community, much like we see here, before the family feud broke the company up and Jeff took over the guitar side. There are a LOT of really cool folks I have known for years who work at Carvin. Its unfortunate Jeff comes off this such an arrogant jerk because he is not repressive of my experience with the company... His grandfather Lowell is probably rolling in his grave over the image under Jeff today of the company.

I don't doubt that the company is full of good people. They just put the wrong face out there. When Kiesel was showing at NAMM, I always has opportunities to play many different models. Some I bonded with more than others...and I seemed to like the headless ones the best.

 

[donaldr]

Schecter makes very interesting Tele guitars.
Charvel So Cal style 2 is also very interesting.

 

[Mincer]

Squier had a cool blue set neck HH Tele like 15 years ago that had contours, and it was super lightweight.

 

[jeremy]

fender had similar models as well, a buddy of mine has one. tele shaped, but not very tele like

 

[Chistopher]

Peavey Generation EXP is what I usually think of when someone mentions a modern spin on the Tele, although I guess at this point they aren't particularly modern

 

[Artie]

Peavey Generation EXP is what I usually think of when someone mentions a modern spin on the Tele, although I guess at this point they aren't particularly modern

Mine is close to 20 years old. It came from the factory as HSS. I modded it to HH, with a Duncan Designed JB/Jazz set. Sounded great for awhile. But my Squier Tele's, (acquired afterward), are noticeably better. Can't put my finger on exactly what. They just "feel" nicer.

 

[Mincer]

I just looked up those Peavey Generation EXPs...now those are Teles I think I would dig. My Warmoth Velocity body is very vaguely Tele-shaped, too.