Upgrading Your Telecaster

Important Tele Dimensions

For Bridges

The vintage Tele mounting is the most common. What confuses folks is when they see a modern six saddle bridge without sides and think that it is an American Standard. Visual inspection can answer a lot of questions. Vintage mounting requires 4 rear mounting screws with the string holes behind the mounting screws.

Look carefully at the above pics and notice the clear difference in the mounting/string hole configuration. The vintage mounting is on the left, and the American Standard on the right. The vintage bridge plate fits any Fender guitar that came/comes with the original 3 side ashtray bridge. This covers a lot of models. It also fits Mexican Standards and G&L ASAT Classics as a direct replacement.

Many import guitars use a Gotoh model bridge which from a distance looks like an American Standard, but is really a vintage mount. Look under the saddles and count the number of mounting screws and their relationship to the string holes. In the Fender line of guitars, their Mexican Standard model Tele is an example of this situation. Mexican Standard Teles take our vintage T model bridge as a direct replacement.

American Standard Teles have a unique 3 screw mount and a 2 1/16 spaced bridge. Our American Standard upgrade is a direct replacement for American Standard Telecasters only. There are Squire models and other imports that use the 3 screw mount, but it is completely different than the American Standard and they are not interchangeable.

In 2009 Fender added 2 front lip screws to the American Standard. We have not added this to our plate. Our plate is far more rigid than the brass fender plate, and the extra screws are not required. Our bridge will cover the body holes and keep a clean look.

Tuning Machines and Ferrules

We only sell one set of tuning machines. They are the top of the line Gotoh vintage machine with slotted post. The ferrule requires an 11/32 (.344) hole. The post is 1/4 of an inch in diameter. These are the same machines Fender uses on the custom shop relics and artist model vintage guitars.

I do consider it an improvement installing vintage tuners to American Standards. It does require the use of conversion bushings and you need to drill the new mounting holes But the improved sound and slotted post to me are worth the change. Models like the Highway 1, Mexican Standards, and Roadhouse all fall under this category.

I also suggest if you are just replacing tuners, to keep using the stock ferrule. As long as it has a 1/4 inch hole just leave them in the peghead.