Any downsides to top loaded tele bridge?
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Butcher of Strats
Most Honored Senior Member
Weaker break angle over the saddles, slight change in note attack, and the strings are more easily moved on the saddles, usually falling into the height screw indents unless all the screws stick up.
I would not mod a top loader, but if you have a good big drill press you can do that.
I would not mod a top loader, but if you have a good big drill press you can do that.
soulman969
Most Honored Senior Member
I would not bother. Based on my own experience top loaders have a slightly different "feel" to them but in my mind there aren't enough detractions to make converting one into a string through worth the time and effort.
somebodyelseuk
Senior Stratmaster
Not in theory, but if you ever remove it, be careful when you screw the mounting screws back in. You don't want to damage the wood - cross threading - putting 'em back. Potential for the string tension to pull it off the body, if they're damaged.
EDIT: Misread the OP... with that in mind, biggest advantage to through body is in my reply.
The sound differences? That's down to personal taste. Try a string through, if you like how it sounds, trade it in. Is it really worth the hassle drilling it?
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dogletnoir
V----V
Like just about everything else, 'top loader'-style Tele bridges
have both fans and detractors.
Jim Campilongo, for example, prefers that type of bridge:
(bonus points for the Classic Vibe Duo-Sonic in the background too)
i have played just about every kind of Tele bridge that's available,
and i can say categorically that i sound like myself no matter which
one i play.
Possibly there's a bit of difference in feel, but it's not a thing that i
could attribute entirely to the bridge as opposed to other factors.
have both fans and detractors.
Jim Campilongo, for example, prefers that type of bridge:
(bonus points for the Classic Vibe Duo-Sonic in the background too)
i have played just about every kind of Tele bridge that's available,
and i can say categorically that i sound like myself no matter which
one i play.
Possibly there's a bit of difference in feel, but it's not a thing that i
could attribute entirely to the bridge as opposed to other factors.
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sadmoodyfrazier
Senior Stratmaster
The difference is that you can't tell "I have a string trough body Tele".
.
I hate changing strings on string-through guitars.
Flopping the guitar over and back on the bench like a tune-a-fish.
So I prefer top loaders.
Remember that somehow those Gibson LPs/SGs and other guitar brands survived decades in the market as top loaders.
.
I hate changing strings on string-through guitars.
Flopping the guitar over and back on the bench like a tune-a-fish.
So I prefer top loaders.
Remember that somehow those Gibson LPs/SGs and other guitar brands survived decades in the market as top loaders.
.
HazyPurple
You've gotta get up!, to get down!
Maybe I'll try top loading next string change 
I'm very much, if there's already holes there then I'd be obliged to use them
Will there be more sustain and less twang or vice versa?
I'm very much, if there's already holes there then I'd be obliged to use them
Will there be more sustain and less twang or vice versa?
It’s a little harder mod than it seems. The top loader bridge isn’t as good IMO, but I have an Esquire, that I use a lot with the top loaded bridge and it plays and sounds great.
Probably not enough to have a dramatic effect.Maybe I'll try top loading next string change
I'm very much, if there's already holes there then I'd be obliged to use them
View attachment 633336
Will there be more sustain and less twang or vice versa?
Butcher of Strats
Most Honored Senior Member
Remember though that the physics that may or may not matter are about break angle.
The stop tail Gibson design allows fine tuning of the break angle from very weak to very strong.
Then the single wraparound style on Jr and a few cheaper Gibson models has possibly even stronger break angle than a string through Tele. Depends on the specific bridge but the string "wraps around" so is really not gently resting on the saddles and prone to sliding around when you pick or strum hard.
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Butcher of Strats
Most Honored Senior Member
A funny thing with the massive parts market these days is that Tele toploader bridges have ball end holes in better and worse locations.
Some string through the plate lower than the intonation screw holes and provide a pretty solid break angle.
Some all the holes are the same height.
Some string through the plate ABOVE the intonation screw holes and provide the weakest break angle possible, depending on neck angle/ relief/ saddle heights.
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I just put a new top loader bridge on mine. When I first got my guitar, I, too thought I would drill string through holes in the body rather than use a top loader. Why? Because I thought it was "better". Then I got the thing and it's never been a consideration. The reason I replaced the bridge plate last night was because the string holes were too high, IMO, causing too shallow of a break angle over the saddles. See below.
Both of these are Wilkinson bridge plates. The one on the left came on the guitar. I ended up having to shim the neck to get a decent break angle over the saddles with that one. It also helped it to get enough downforce to keep the strings from sliding all over the saddles or sliding out of the slots on my Gotoh In Tune saddles. So I finally replaced it with the one on the right after looking at bridge plates for far too long lol
The 2 plates aren't the same, either. The original is Wilkinson M-Series and the other is Wilkinson by Sung il. The M-Series is made of a thicker piece of steel so it weighs more. It also gave the guitar a little different sound from the thinner Sung il plate. Not enough to really matter, esp. since I play at home, but I could immediately tell a difference on the first note.
Anyway. I'm much happier with the lower holes on the new bridge plate so that outweighs any negatives I might encounter.
While we're all here...check out the saddles that came with the plate I just installed. I think something was lost in translation when they machined these. I would've just done a shallow groove similar to the In Tune saddles. I mean...i doubt you're supposed to put the string on the narrow ramp inside the groove.
Both of these are Wilkinson bridge plates. The one on the left came on the guitar. I ended up having to shim the neck to get a decent break angle over the saddles with that one. It also helped it to get enough downforce to keep the strings from sliding all over the saddles or sliding out of the slots on my Gotoh In Tune saddles. So I finally replaced it with the one on the right after looking at bridge plates for far too long lol
The 2 plates aren't the same, either. The original is Wilkinson M-Series and the other is Wilkinson by Sung il. The M-Series is made of a thicker piece of steel so it weighs more. It also gave the guitar a little different sound from the thinner Sung il plate. Not enough to really matter, esp. since I play at home, but I could immediately tell a difference on the first note.
Anyway. I'm much happier with the lower holes on the new bridge plate so that outweighs any negatives I might encounter.
While we're all here...check out the saddles that came with the plate I just installed. I think something was lost in translation when they machined these. I would've just done a shallow groove similar to the In Tune saddles. I mean...i doubt you're supposed to put the string on the narrow ramp inside the groove.
count me in the opposition camp. why have the guitar body if you're not going to use it?
i converted mine and the resonance definitely improved.
i converted mine and the resonance definitely improved.
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I have a Tele with a top loaded Tele bridge and it appears to sustain as well as my through hole American Tele. I do not see any problems with top loaded bridges. The bridge I have has saddles with notches in them so there is no problem with string wander and the break angle is just fine. If it works don't "fix" it.
92 Fiesta Red 62
Senior Stratmaster
Regardless of what you do, that’s a gorgeous guitar…who made it?
Per your original question:
I like string-through better, but I can’t say there’s any major/noticeable difference in sound/tone…it’s more of a feel thing for me.
Per your original question:
I like string-through better, but I can’t say there’s any major/noticeable difference in sound/tone…it’s more of a feel thing for me.
