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Thread: Vintage style bridge, saddle and machine heads for 2000 American Standard?

  1. #1
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    Vintage style bridge, saddle and machine heads for 2000 American Standard?

    Hello, great to find this excellent forum!

    After years of playing a Mexican Strat I took the plunge and got an American Standard with a lovely alder body from 2000 with a 2 screw bridge. I love everything about it and am happy to leave it as it is but I also find that aesthetically I prefer a more vintage looking bridge, saddle and machine heads on a Strat. This one has the off set screw saddles and the square back chunky tuners.

    I have done some research but I wanted to know if anyone else has done these types of mods, are they easy to do for a beginner in guitar maintenance or would you suggest leaving well alone?

    Which vintage style saddles and tuners would fit a 2000 Standard? What about a bridge cover?

    Thanks!
    Last edited by Babaluma1; 05-30-2015 at 05:34 AM.

  2. #2
    Forum Member Don's Avatar
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    Re: Vintage style bridge, saddle and machine heads for 2000 American Standard?

    I'm not sure about the saddles, but I've installed Gotoh Kluson style tuners on an American Standard Strat using conversion bushings from Stew Mac. If I recall, the spacing of the tuners was a little wider than the Gotohs were designed for but it worked fine.

  3. #3
    Forum Member phantomman's Avatar
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    Re: Vintage style bridge, saddle and machine heads for 2000 American Standard?

    Those alterations you've mentioned fall well beyond the scope of "guitar maintenance". All of these are serious mods that are best left to someone experienced in such matters. The tuners are likely the easiest swap (as Don mentioned) but that road is lined with a few ruts that, should you hit one, could result in irreparable mistakes that could render your neck useful only for kindling. As for the changes to the bridge, the only method that would really make sense would be outright replacement with a vintage-spec trem -- also a delicate operation best left to a qualified luthier. Fender's vintage "ashtray" bridge cover fits the 2-7/32" unit only so plan your shopping accordingly.

    In all candor, I think your interests would be better served by trading the current guitar for one with the vintage features you desire as original equipment.
    "When injustice becomes law then rebellion becomes duty."

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    Re: Vintage style bridge, saddle and machine heads for 2000 American Standard?

    Quote Originally Posted by phantomman View Post
    Those alterations you've mentioned fall well beyond the scope of "guitar maintenance". All of these are serious mods that are best left to someone experienced in such matters. The tuners are likely the easiest swap (as Don mentioned) but that road is lined with a few ruts that, should you hit one, could result in irreparable mistakes that could render your neck useful only for kindling. As for the changes to the bridge, the only method that would really make sense would be outright replacement with a vintage-spec trem -- also a delicate operation best left to a qualified luthier. Fender's vintage "ashtray" bridge cover fits the 2-7/32" unit only so plan your shopping accordingly.

    In all candor, I think your interests would be better served by trading the current guitar for one with the vintage features you desire as original equipment.
    Thanks very much for the advise! I do know a good guitar guy, I will keep all you said in mind and have a chat with him this week about it. I love the guitar as it is, this was just a question of cosmetics but I can live with it if that is the better option. No doubt I will be looking for more guitars down the road anyhow:)

  5. #5
    Forum Member yankeerob's Avatar
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    Re: Vintage style bridge, saddle and machine heads for 2000 American Standard?

    I have done such a conversion on the bridge and there are more factors than meet the eye. The neck is slightly narrower and the saddle spacing on a standard vintage style bridge is in most cases a little too wide. The result is that the two outside strings are in most cases too near the outside edge of the fretboard. There's not a lot in it but a mm or two can make a big difference in the playing comfort of the guitar and as Roger says it may be more ballache than it's worth considering you could just leave it as is and get rid in favor of what you actually want. There may also be issues with the height of 22nd fret vs the height of the saddles resulting in a rather awkward setup of the bridge.

    OTOH - I haven't looked too deep into it but there are specialist aftermarket parts companies that may have a special kit for what you want. I have a Callaham replacement bridge on my USA Tele Std with three stainless saddles and it now sounds so much more like a 'proper Tele' than it ever did. There are other companies like them that may as I say - have what you require. Bear in mind you will have to pull the two existing studs out of that body, fill the holes (I used fluted beech dowels that I cut to size, glued and hammered in with a mallet and another suitable block of wood) and then mark out where the new screw holes are going to go. Does this already sound like too much ballache?

    See how you go... If you are concerned about messing around with the value of a guitar that is already 15 yrs old... think sideways...

    Wishing you all the best,

    YR
    If I could find a road to get away it wouldn't be too soon....... Shipwreck Moon.......

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