Telecaster Bridges

Here you'll find Telecaster bridges both as complete bridges with a plate and as separate replacement saddles. Fender offers vintage bridges with 3 saddles as well as bridges with 6 saddles, while Gotoh adds the BS-TC1 “In-Tune” with compensated brass saddles and the GTC201 with 6 brass saddles. Graphtech makes String Saver saddle sets that fit both Telecaster and Stratocaster. The saddles are either steel or brass, and Graphtech String Saver saddles also use a self-lubricating material where the string rests.

Bridge with 3 or 6 saddles: what is the difference?

A classic Telecaster bridge has 3 saddles, and two strings rest on each one. The Fender 3-Saddle American Vintage Telecaster Bridge Assembly, for example, is built this way, with brass saddles. With two strings on a single saddle, setting the octave intonation is harder, which is why the Gotoh BS-TC1 “In-Tune” and the Fender American Vintage Telecaster Compensated Bridge Saddles have compensated saddles: each string rests on a different spot on the saddle.

A bridge with 6 saddles gives every string its own saddle, so you can set the height and the octave intonation for each string separately. The Fender Standard Series Telecaster Bridge Assembly, the Fender 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Telecaster Bridge Assembly and the Gotoh GTC201 are built this way.

A whole bridge or just new saddles?

When the bridge plate is in good shape, replacing the saddles is enough. For vintage bridges with 3 saddles there are the Fender Pure Vintage '52 Telecaster Saddle Kit and the Fender American Vintage Telecaster Compensated Bridge Saddles. The Graphtech String Saver sets PS-8000-00 and PG-8000-0C fit bridges with 6 saddles and a string spacing of 2 1/16", and they also fit a Stratocaster; the manufacturer makes them so that strings break less often at the saddle. The Fender American Vintage Telecaster Custom Threaded Bridge Saddles are a set of 6 threaded saddles.

Replace the whole bridge when the plate is damaged or when you want a different type of bridge. The Fender American Vintage 3-Saddle Telecaster Bridge Plate is the plate on its own, without saddles.

How do you choose Telecaster bridges that fit your guitar?

• Strings through the body or through the bridge: most bridges run the strings through the body of the guitar, and the Fender 3-Saddle Top-Load/String-Through Tele Bridge handles both ways.
• Screws and holes: compare the spacing of the mounting screws and the string holes with your old bridge, because vintage and modern Telecasters differ in this.
• Plate sides: the Fender 3-Saddle Custom Cut-Off Vintage-Style Tele Bridge has lower cut-down sides than a classic vintage plate.
• Saddle material: brass saddles come with the Gotoh BS-TC1, the Gotoh GTC201 and the Fender Pure Vintage '52 Telecaster Saddle Kit, while the saddles of the Fender Standard Series and the Fender American Vintage Telecaster Compensated Bridge Saddles are steel.

If you are changing the neck too, take a look at Telecaster necks. For Les Paul and SG there are Tune-o-matic bridges, and you will find the other types in the bridges and tailpieces category.