Bridge upgrade for BSB Tele?

[squierjosh]

Many of the GFS Strat bridges get good reviews on here, so I was wondering if the Tele bridges are decent as well. I've got a BSB Affinity, and I think it uses what GFS calls the "modern" layout for the screw holes.

[GukkanGwnarkill]

Do they have a top loader that will fit the Affinitys? If u find one that fits let post which one it was please.

[voided3]

I put one of their toploader 3-saddle vintage bridges on my modified Affinity Tele. I just had to drill the four new mounting hole and its been just fine. Their modern layout bridges most likely would not be a big upgrade over the stock bridge (though their saddles are a bit nicer). There are three other options to consider, however, that can give a nice improvement.

One is to convert your stock bridge plate to a three saddle setup by drilling the back edge of the bridge plate. This gives you better downforce because the stock saddles have the string fed through them in a sort of "zig zag" fashion whereas with the three barrel style saddles it's just straight over the tops of the saddles. I did this conversion on a toploader Bullet Strat that I use for slide with good results, but you'll need to buy longer intonation screws for the saddles.

A second option is to buy a set of Gotoh modern Tele saddles. They are similar to your stock ones, but they are significantly longer allowing the string to pass through without the "zig zag" effect, giving better downforce (plus they are solid brass and will most likely sound better). I have a full Gotoh modern bridge on a parts Tele I have and I prefer it over the Fender 3-saddle it had before it (great sound + intonation).

The third option is the free option. Just shim your neck two business card thicknesses on the back end of the neck pocket and raise your saddles + pickups to compensate. This also minimizes the "zig zag" and gives better downforce. I did this to a Squier '51 with the stock bridge and it worked perfectly.

[nomadh]

Id go all the way and do a string through.