T-51 Bridge Replacement?

[rugby1970]

Not totally happy with the stock Wilky bridge on my T-51. Anyone know of a good quality replacement that DOES NOT required body modifications of any kind; i.e. not new holes or routing required.

Thanks in advance for the information.

[atquinn]

I replaced the bridge in the one I had with a Joe Barden bridge. It has two screws for the front edge of the bridge but I guess you don't have to use them (I did).

-

Austin

[JohnnyB]

What do you want the replacement bridge to do that the stock Wilkinson does not?

[RobB]

What do you want the replacement bridge to do?

Not suck? Sorry, but I'm not a fan of how Wilkie does their "vintage" bridges. Reminds me of an African finger-piano.

[JohnnyB]

What do you want the replacement bridge to do?

Not suck? Sorry, but I'm not a fan of how Wilkie does their "vintage" bridges. Reminds me of an African finger-piano.

Sure, but is the OP looking for more phatness, more midrange clarity, more treble bite? More girth, more comfort, easier setup and more stability after bolting everything down?

… or more vintage mojo?

[atquinn]

In other words, JB recommends the Babicz bridge
-
Austin

P.S. I should add that I have a Babicz TOM on my blue Studio Custom and it is a great bridge. Too funny-looking for most though I would imagine.

[JohnnyB]

In other words, JB recommends the Babicz bridge

-

Austin

P.S. I should add that I have a Babicz TOM on my blue Studio Custom and it is a great bridge. Too funny-looking for most though I would imagine.

The Babicz TOM is easily their most awkward looking. The ones that I think blend the easiest are the Tele and Fender bass bridges. The Babicz Tele bridge doesn't look much weirder than the Wilky, and it's way more solid for keeping its settings.

But I asked the question because maybe he's looking for better intonation, more stability, or a more vintage tone. Maybe he just wants something with 3 brass barrel saddles.

[rugby1970]

I'm looking for better intonation, more stability and a fatter tone. The Wilky is, er, "slippery"? Has too much movement for me. I understand that the fatter tone can also be achieved with different pickups but I don't know that I want to go there yet.

[JohnnyB]

rugby1970, on 02 Jan 2014 - 3:47 PM, said:

I'm looking for better intonation, more stability and a fatter tone. The Wilky is, er, "slippery"? Has too much movement for me. I understand that the fatter tone can also be achieved with different pickups but I don't know that I want to go there yet.

If you want all those things, then the Babicz delivers.

• Intonation: It has individual sliding saddles
• Slickest, fastest action: Each saddle's height is adjusted by one (not two) set screw adjusted by an allen wrench. It is so much easier to dial in best action when you don't have to fiddle with two screws for each saddle.
• More stability: Both the intonation (vibrating string length) and saddle height adjustments cane be locked down similar to TonePros.
• Fatter tone: The heavier plate and full contact really deliver fatter tone. It was the first thing I noticed when I installed one on a Squier Jazz Bass. Even with those thin Jazz Bass pickups, the Babicz mass gave me more bottom end and better tone transfer.

[jaberwock]

One thing to note on the Babicz bridge, I have one on a Strat, unless the saddles are set pretty much near there maximum height adjustment, you wont be able to damp the strings with the heel of your hand as on a conventional Strat or Tele bridge, I've learnt to damp the strings just in front of the saddles now, but it's not quite the same.

Definitely give a fatter, bolder, tone to a guitar though.

Jaberwock

[rugby1970]

Thanks for the insight. Still in the vetting process.

[Bobby Marshall]

Joe Barden compensated brass saddles have worked really well on my JD teles. You can get them with or without the bridge plate.

[Samuello]

I changed the original bridge to some hi-end replacement vintage bridge (can't remember the name right now) and the change was remarkable! The original bridge is very good but doesn't give that typical twang. Depends on what you're after really!

I didn't need to drill any new holes. It has been really stable, I like the sound and the intonation is spot on... can't really complain EA -saddle is aluminum BTW...

[Samuello]

Found it: my bridge was made by Glendale. They seem to be really expensive... for me it's been worth it.

I changed the original bridge to some hi-end replacement vintage bridge (can't remember the name right now) and the change was remarkable! The original bridge is very good but doesn't give that typical twang. Depends on what you're after really!

I didn't need to drill any new holes. It has been really stable, I like the sound and the intonation is spot on... can't really complain EA -saddle is aluminum BTW...

[JohnnyB]

Found it: my bridge was made by Glendale. They seem to be really expensive... for me it's been worth it.

I changed the original bridge to some hi-end replacement vintage bridge (can't remember the name right now) and the change was remarkable! The original bridge is very good but doesn't give that typical twang. Depends on what you're after really!

I didn't need to drill any new holes. It has been really stable, I like the sound and the intonation is spot on... can't really complain EA -saddle is aluminum BTW...

Glendale bridge plates $99.99 each, available in a variety of metals and configurations

Glendale Tele saddles $57.99 to $99.99 per set. Available in brass, cold rolled steel (plated or unplated), aluminum, titanium (that's the $99.99 set), or various brass/aluminum combinations

[kanegon]

You should know that the T51 bridge is about a half a pickup width closer to the neck than it is on a Tele. I was never able to intonate the low E properly with my Barden. You'll find its height screws will sit right on the mounting screw, rather than ahead of it like a Tele. I don't like the Wilkie because it's got that thick deck/bezel around the pup, which cramps my picking. So far, the Gotoh is working for me, tho I wish it was lighter, it weighs twice as much as anything else and exacerbates the t51 weight issue. (8.75 lbs!) But you can't complain if you like solid brass a la Keiffer!

[rugby1970]

Very nice guitar and thanks for the DL! Does anyone know if it is possible to just replace the saddles?

I haven't pulled the trigger on this yet as I've been working so much overtime.

[Disturber]

I have no problems what so ever with the T51 Wilkie bridge. It's easy to intonate. You clamp down the saddles tight which gives great coupling = good for tone. It's a loud bridge and it's not a thin sounding as a standard tele bridge, which is a good thing in my book - for rockier tones. It's got omph and sustain. But then again, I aint' no chicken picker and can't play a country lick worth a damn.

I also think it's very comfortable to rest my hand on the Wilkie, compared to a thin standard tele bridge.

I have set the Broadcaster up slightly angled, facing down a little towards the neck - by screwing the front screw down. This takes some treble bite out of the broadcaster and opens it up a lot with added bottom. Great for a good tele rock tone.

I had this old Fender at home this summer. It does not come close to being as beefy sounding as my T-51. The T-51 sounds better, plays better (I like Hamers radius more) and it's more comfortable to play over all.

I have an Antiquity II neck pup in it, one of the best damn neck pickup I've ever played. Sounds awesome.

[kanegon]

I have no problems what so ever with the T51 Wilkie bridge. It's easy to intonate.

Yes, the Wilkie intonates okay, but it's a pain to setup. You've gut to loosen the lock screw to intonate or adjust height, which throws everything off, so even simple adjustments in height entail fiddling with the other screws and holding down the loose saddle. I was however surprised at how light it was, about the same as a Fender ashtray bridge. Sounded good, would've kept had it not been for the odd thick bezel around the pickup. (why?)

[Disturber]

I'm looking for better intonation, more stability and a fatter tone. The Wilky is, er, "slippery"? Has too much movement for me. I understand that the fatter tone can also be achieved with different pickups but I don't know that I want to go there yet.

I don't think it was that hard to set up. Compared to a vintage tele bridge with three screws and the two strings on each saddle it's a breeze to set up and intonate. My T-51 holds intonation so well I never mess with it. It's been a set and forget thing. Maybe it's thick around the pickup to ad more mass, to get a bigger tone? Who knows, never had a problem with it what so ever. Never thought it was an issue.

... not mention the whole pain of having to change the whole bridge. I mean, you Think it's pain to intonate the Wilkie, but changing the whole bridge is like five times the trouble and time effort.... ....I don't really get that one

Edit:

What do you mean with "slippery" and "movement"? Once you set the Wilkie up and screwed the saddles tight it's a damn brick. Nothing moves around....?????

Here is an old soundclip I found. I play like crap, timing is of the chart, as I was just doing recording so a friend could hear the speaker and amp. But you get the idea...

Original Duncan Broadcaster, Ant II neck pickup. Eminence R,W&B speaker, Deluxe Reverb II amp. A little louder than bedroom level, but not loud enough for a hard hitting drummer:

I think the pup and Wilkie bridge sounds pretty fat. T-51's are great rock monsters stock:

http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=10178768&q=hi&newref=1

It's distorted for the most part, but at the end I play it pretty clean, if your ears manage to get through the whole thing....

[rugby1970]

Edit:

What do you mean with "slippery" and "movement"? Once you set the Wilkie up and screwed the saddles tight it's a damn brick. Nothing moves around....?????

I agree that with the set nut tightened the saddles don't move forward and back but they do move side to side. Maybe I'm not tightening them down enough. I have HUGE effing hands and with an instrument I prefer finesse rather than power. Build a brick wall? Power. Work on a guitar? Finesse.

In hind sight I was referring to the adjustment and intonation of the saddles as "slippery". So I've decided not to change the bridge and keep the original hardware.

Thanks to all who have weighed in on this topic.