NGD - HH tele but need advice on bridge..

Aidanspaghetti

Hi all, 
Im finally putting together a beast that's been in the wings for a long time... @GSPBASSES ;; built, @Iamf68 painted HH tele - basically a hardtail version of the Suhr Andy wood.

Now my dilemna is this -  Im going cut tele bridge obviously because of the HB but should I venture intop the unknown territory that is a toploader or just go conventional? I gather I could stick a toploader bridge on and it will make no odds (The guitar is drilled for through body stringing) and if I dont like it just go conventional?

Anyone ever tried a HH top loader? I believe the tension can be quite low on them,...

Open to corrections/opinions as usual guys!

Full NGD thread to follow soon!

DrBob

Tease ! I want pics ! 

guitarfishbay

I personally prefer through body string hardtails but I’ve not specifically tried a top loaded Tele bridge.

paulnb57

Wilkinson half bridge would save cutting one for not many beer tokens, I think they work fine top strung but they alsohave the holes for through stringing too....

Aidanspaghetti

Cool guys... @DrBob .... Think Paul Newman and Nik Huber

Funkfingers

guitarfishbay said:

I personally prefer through body string hardtails but I’ve not specifically tried a top loaded Tele bridge.

The Squier Silver Series Telecaster came was with a thick, machined steel, top-loader bridge and horrid offset zinc saddles.

Conversion to through body stringing and a vintage-style stamped steel bridge makes an enormous difference to the sustain and twang. 

Whether this increased twang is appropriate on a HH Telecaster is for the OP to decide.

gavin_axecaster

Best check with GSPBasses what bridge he has drilled the string through holes for. HH Teles usually are drilled for a hardtail Strat bridge so the string through holes on a vintage Tele bridge plate will not line up. (Well technically you will be able to line them up and depending on how large diameter they are they might work but you may not be able to intonate properly as the bridge will be about 1/8 inch too far forward)

GSPBASSES

The body has been drilled to take a standard Fender style hard tail bridge, I use a Gotoh base plate as a drilling jig. See the link below, WD carry this bridge its a bit expensive. I'm sure you can find an identical bridge on eBay far less money. David Dyke has these in stock, they are cheaper than WD. they also come with matching screws and ferrules.

https://www.axecaster.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12_37&products_id=268

https://www.wdmusic.co.uk/hardware-parts-c1/bridges-tailpieces-c2/fixed-bridges-c43/gotoh-fixed-bridge-contemporary-6-saddle-p689