How timely Zac. I'm 69 and retired 2 years ago and was playing my Tele about 25- 30 hour's a week at gigs & friend jams. About 4 months ago I started having wrist, hand , tendon pain. I've been freaking out what to do. I live to play guitar and finally have the time! I saw the Dano vid showing the top loader bridge. I love Jim Campilongo's playing & Tone so I'm getting a top loader bridge, set of XL 9's and hope to God this saves me!! I'll turn up the bass if sound's to thin. Thank you for this video Doctor Zac!
Hi Dave, if you didn't know Warmoth makes a conversion neck for Tele that is 24.75" rather than the normal Tele 25.5". No need to do anything but bolt it on and do a setup. This shorter (Gibson) scale is not only lower tension but the is easier to play as there is less reach from one fret to the next making chording easier. A bit more expensive than just replacing the bridge and going top loading but you would get more effect with the conversion neck.
HI Jay. Thank you so much for this info. I will try this out for sure! A friend has a Anderson Tele called a shorty, maybe its that scale length. Appreciate the help Jay! Rock on!@@7171jay
@davemassie3726 I don't have a guitar with the conversion neck but if you have played a 24.75 scale guitar like a Gibson you know it has quite a different feel than a Tele due to the shorter scale length so I thought maybe it could be something you might want to pursue. I would imagine the conversion neck may make a Tele a bit warmer and a bit less snappy sounding but if it was more playable that might be a reasonable tradeoff.
If you haven't already, I'd recommend physical therapy. It's allowed me to keep playing after significantly increasing my playing time with the unwanted effect of arm pain.
My custom ZacCaster is capable to do both string through and top loading. I had a machine shop drill the holes to convert my bridge. The guy was so intrigued, he drilled the holes for free while I waited, and then said he was gonna do that with his Squire. I love the top load feel, but next string change I’m gonna go string through on the wound strings, and top loaded on the plains.
I really enjoyed this episode. My old ‘59 Tele had a top-loader bridge, but was also drilled for through-body stringing. When I got it in maybe 1974, it had rusted threaded steel saddles, which I replaced with early ‘50s-style brass ones. I was playing six nights a week at that time, and since coated strings weren’t available in those days, I was changing strings about every three playing days. .011”-.054” too, and it was easier to string the guitar through the back rather than top-loading them. I don’t think I ever experimented with top-loading the entire time I owned that guitar-I liked the feel and tone with strings-through, even with the .011”-gauge strings and worn-out frets. Being a lefty playing righty, I’ve always had a strong left hand anyway. I’ve always figured that guitar was an early ‘59-it had the top-loader/string-through bridge and a maple neck with the ‘59 date stamp. Black pickguard too-I don’t know how that happened, unless it was replaced at some point; it was an old pickguard with the wear spot on the front and the paint-can circle on the underside. I never found a body date on it either-1959 was close enough!
I bought a cheap SX Telecaster copy five years ago that was a toploader. The bridge had holes for through stringing but no ferrules or holes in the body. I got my local luthier Ritchie Tomson in Wigan to add the body holes and ferrules and it plays great. Nice to have the option to string it both ways.
My SX tele copy is the bomb! It has a very flat radius, so it doesn't feel like a tele. But it very much sounds like one. Had to smooth out the fret ends, do a bit nut work and I upgraded the saddles and pups. For like $250 it's a gorgeous (translucent, dark blue) swamp ash riff stick.
Yes, some of the SX gear is really quite good. I had an SX 30" fretless Jaguar P/J bass that was as good as any Fender... I wonder, have you tried combining string-thru with top-loading at all on your Tele? If so, what were you going for, and did you get there??
Jimmy Page's famous Telecaster is a toploader. He played it in the Yardbirds and on Led Zepellin's first album. It originally had mirror disks on the top but he later stripped the whole guitar and had a dragon painted on the top. Presumably this was the guitar he used for the solo on "Stairway To Heaven".
Any particular reason he wouldn't have used Les Paul #1 on that? I know he used a Fender 12-string for the other parts. That solo ends with what I call "Jimmy Page flourish #1" to go along with a whole library of riffs that categorize like that. I've noticed that when improvising I use Chuck Berry riff #2 more than any canned line combined. That's when you grab the b-string, bend it along with the g, string, and double pick a major third above on the high e. Repeat a few times. Also known as "the English Punk rock solo rirff".
Nice work Zac. Thanks. May I put this additional theory out about the change in playability? The strings on a top loader are all ~ 1.5" shorter than those on a string through setup. It will take less tension to bring a shorter string up to the same pitch. Just a thought.
I wonder if anyone has experimented with combining/mixing both top and string-thru loading to achieve different tension effects on those affected strings; for example using string-thru on a Tele’s three trebles specifically for use when slide playing, so that the string-thru stiffness on those strings would give more resistance on the trebles to achieve better sustain off the slide; whereas the top-loaded bass strings would be slightly looser, maybe producing more expressive snapping techniques, or perhaps bends/vibrato? Of course, judicious adjusting of string gauges would also produce a whole different palette of responses/results to those strings. Anyway, just a thought… I think one could really fall down an interesting rabbit hole comparing different combinations for use with alt tunings, slide, tapping, pinched harmonics, etc…
Great video, thanks! I think the top loaders make the lip on the bridge plate ring more, as the tension of the strings are anchored to it, thus making it vibrate more. As for which is best? I think as with so many guitar quirks, it's subjective.
Re: break over angle - years ago, I noticed that a Gibson Les Paul became easier to bend strings on when the stop tailpiece was raised, thus decreasing the breakover angle. Keep up the good work, Zac!
A critical factor regarding string tension is the "String Length" from the Tail Block (or wherever the ends of the strings are fastened) to the Tuners (the other end where the strings are fastened). This is different from the "Scale Length," which is the length from the Saddles to the Nut. The other factors regarding string tension are "string gauge" and "string pitch." Since string gauge and string pitch are usually the same in this type of comparison, "string length" accounts for most of the difference in feel and tone. A Telecaster body is about 1.5 to 1.75 inches. In a string through configuration, that add those lengths to the overall "Sting Length," whereas the "Scale length" remains the same. A longer string length requires a higher overall tension to raise the string up to the same pitch, when using the same gauge strings. This is why on Harps and Grand Pianos, the strings are of different lengths, longest for the Bass strings, and shortest for the treble strings. Reverse Headstocks, where the longest length is on the 6th string, and the shortest length is on the 1st string, utilize this physics to help produces better tone results and feel from the strings. With such a configuration, the Basses feel snappier, and more resonant, and the trebles feel more slinky and easier to bend without losing tone. I recently saw a Tele were the basses were strung through the body and the trebles were top loaded. Pretty clever way to get the best of both worlds. "Break Angle" contributes more to tone than feel.
@@me-xv6tf Here is a simple test I came up with to determine how much "string length" affects string tension explained using a typical Strat-type guitar. Since the 6th string has the shortest string length, replace it with the same gauge as your 1st string (an old one should work if it's long enough). Tune it to the same pitch as the high E string. Do some bends on each string with the guitar sitting on your lap. Rotate the guitar around so all bends are done towards the middle of the fretboard. Do you notice a difference? The only significant difference in this test is the total length of the string from the Ball End to the Tuner. Just make sure you're not using a locking bridge/tremolo and a locking nut.
Hmmmm. Interesting analogy. Spot on in regards to volume. I love the telecaster but hate the string through body setup. I am not a country player which explains alot here. I play Pop rock guitar which involves alot of broken chords. I have an 83 tele which is the famous toploader which is not so desirable because there's less tone. How did I compensate? Simple. I use 10 to 52 gauge strings and changed the pickup to a hotrail. The resulting sound is inbetween a Les Paul and a tele. No feedback and a soft rock sound. Another thing is the toploader holds its tune better. I'm pretty aggressive in my strumming and when stretching those strings in bends it stays in tune. Just thought I'd share. Cheers from downunder.
Great comparison! My 1993 MIM Telecaster came with toploading. It was my first new guitar, so it was "normal" to me. I've never gotten along with through-body Teles. I've even gone to 8-38 strings on my Strats to help them feel like my Tele. Thanks for helping to explain the feel difference.
I'm in the same boat. I play 10s and the top loading just feels better. I have a hard tail strat (Robert Cray) that I wish was a top loader......I guess it would be easy to change it....
Great, helpful video. Im looking for a Tele at the moment. I wasn't sure what to make of top loading Teles. After hearing the sound comparisons I'm not biased against them anymore. I like the idea of having a slinkier feel on the strings since I'm a double locking vibrato guy. It's also great that you've referenced your sources. It's always good to know that the content creator is doing actual research instead of just forming factual sounding statements out of personal opinions.
On the next A-B comparison video I'd like to request a change in shirt color at the time of the string change, lol! That way I could think red shirt Zac is playing top loaded and blue shirt Zac is playing body though. The difference in sound may be too subtle for my out-of-practice (and old) ears.
This is the only video on youtube where I can clearly hear the tone difference. I think I prefer the sound of top-loader. (Is it me or did it also sound a bit quieter, too?) I'm so glad you mentioned mr. Jim Campilongo as number 1, over Jimmy Page! 😄 Next, time I'm changing strings, I'm going to top-load my Sire tele. Maybe I get a bit closer to that '59 toploader tone...
I have 2 Telecasters that came with individual saddles which I found too fussy, although they had very thick non-ashtray bridges that helped with mass. I drilled 3 holes in them to convert them to a brass compensated 3 saddle settup. This freed up the 6 holes for the original saddles that I can now use for top-loading, which I prefer with my old arthritic hands anyway. A lighter touch is IMO something to strive for and whatever stringing or mods that lead you down that path are a plus. This video is very much appreciated, as are all of Zac's videos.
The top loaded clips sounded more sonorous and less punchy. That means there is more dynamic range available to the lighter pickers. I am sold on playing as lightly as a note can fully bloom. I believe I also heard more sustain with top loading - non necessarily longevity but length of the sonorous blooming section of note generation. I've adjusted all my fixed bridge's tail piece to lessen break angle. This has improved both feel and dynamic control. The term stiffness is related to string tension in that the string mass mobility is lessened more near where the string is diverted. I can feel it in the picking zones. I alternated between all fingers, fingers and pick and all pick - depending on the style I'm playing. Top loading, or any other way of reducing string tension near a picking zone provides the player increase in dynamic control. I believe in allowing the player the control necessary to express their artistry. I want to "dance" with the instrument no "fight" it.
So interesting listening to the sound clips. I actually thought the top loader sounds were brighter and the string through had more warmth; particularly in the neck pick-up riff you played.
Man i have a mim toploader and that thing sounds awesome to me. I like the more midrange bluesy tones. Those are alder or basswood bodies and that lighter body with a topload is for some reason a great combo.
thank you so much for sharing your insight on this subject.... i have an '83 tele, no holes through the body... saddles are offset 3 right and 3 left... good luck finding those anywhere.. i do love the guitar but a through body with holes on the bridge lip is the best of both worlds... really enjoyed this, thanks for paying this forward....
Whoa. You dont hear a huge difference? I do. And imediately after you played, I knew first riff is mine, and it was top loader. It is just much more sustainy (which is weird), has more ambiental feeling, much clearer and not so bright. Far better than string through (and that one was not bad).
I converted an earlyish MIM std Tele to a String-thru ashtray bridge, and I did an imperfect job of drilling the thru holes. I laid them out relatively good job of laying them out on the front of the body. But I used a hand drill, not a drill press. So there was some sway or leaning of the drill, resulting in the exit wound where the ferule would go on the back of the body. But it worked pretty well. I wish I'd hund onto that Tele and upgraded the pickups.
I was curious about the perception of increased "flexibility" or "bendability" on top loading vs through stringing. It came about when I read about top wrapping a Les Paul tailpiece. I decided to do an experiment with a Les Paul and a Telecaster that, like yours, could be strung both ways. It was a simple measurement of tension on the string at a given deflection. With a small hook scale, which I attached to each string individually at the 12th fret, I pulled the string one inch to the side and measured the force required. I found that, in both guitars, the force was the same regardless of how it was strung. Feel and perception are so subjective, I get it. I'm not saying you're wrong, heck, I swear I felt a difference too.
I listened several times before I got the answer on which was which. I couldn't tell any difference in the high notes but I felt the string through had a more mellow bass note which I think makes sense I just got a guitar body today in the mail and I was trying to decide which way to string it and this help me decide I'm definitely going string through
Great video. I tried this on my Mexican tele that I long ago put a wilkinson 3 saddle bridge on which has top loading holes. I used 11s and it was very playable, I like it. Still feels stiffer than a less paul, probably the best top load bridge design ever. Maybe that’s why Page switched. I can hear a difference in the clips, the traditional has more resonance, but I play cranked up blues so it doesn’t matter.
I discovered I really like top-loading teles when I bought a cheap Squier that has that kind of bridge, no string-through. I have two of them now and they're my go to guitars.
G'day Zac, Thanks for a great video. I do think that you missed one of the issues with top loading strings, but you did sort of skirt around that issue. I have 2 Telecasters - a 2000(ish) Squier Affinity, & a 2021 MIJ Traditional. The MIJ is fitted with a 50's style bridge, with 3 saddles, & string-through routing, whilst the Squire is fitted with 6 aluminium bridge saddles (like the aluminium Stratocaster saddles), & top loading strings. Although the bridges on these 2 guitars are vastly different, I have had to deal with a problem with the Squire's top loading bridge. The problem is that the height adjustment screws on the high E saddle wind down over a short period of time, reducing the string height, & causing string buzz. The amount of time taken for the grub screws to wind down is shorter when I use a pick heavily, and longer if I pick the strings with my fingers. I believe that the break angle of the strings on the top load bridge is so shallow, the lighter high E string (usually 0.010") does not provide enough tension on the grub screws to "lock" them into place. And tension is the correct term, as I'm looking at the tension on the screws, not the tension of the strings. The screws don't wind down on the thicker strings, & I think that I've even tried a new set of saddles to overcome the problem. But that didn't work. I'm going to have to drill out the body, & convert it to string-through. Thanks again for a great video. I hope my comment provides some useful information. Keep up the good work Andrew
Also about stiffness. Same thing with retainers on the headstock. I felt E&B wss too stiff on my JI tele. Then I set retainers a bit higher, and it makes difference in feel and bending experience.
Thanks a lot again Zac. I like toploading on my G&L Asat Special (it's the only way on this guitar). I think it's not all about the break angle but additionally about the string length and thereby "the stiffness". From ferrules to tuner is longer than toploaded to tuner. And even longer on a Bigsby. Like a reversed headstock makes the lower strings stiffer and the upper strings easier to bend.
I've a mid 80s Fender mij Tele that I adore. got it 20 years ago and was kinda surprised too find it was a toploader . All my previous Teles had been string through. Few years later i asked on a forum if it actually was a Fender cos I never saw or heard of Toploading Teles . Was told it was a a Fender but a low end one which made me smile cos I'm definitely a low end player.
I knew the second was string through... There is a rounder, subtle wood sound. But you verified what i suspected... Ill keep em through the wood! Thanks.
Thanks for the info on this! I’ve always believed top loaders had a slinky feel compared to string thru. I grew up with a guy that had a Korean made Squier Tele that was a TOP LOADER, and had the 6 individual saddles that were like smaller barrels instead of the block type. It always felt “looser” than my string thru Nashville tele did. I’ve recently acquired a loaded esquire body with a Wilkinson bridge that can be strung either way. I have it setup top loading to be different than my ‘52 reissue.
Didn’t realize the top loaders started so early. I have an early 80’s top loader and just assumed that’s when they started doing it. Thx for the great info and demos.
Zac - great video and properly fair presentation. I've tried both on Teles (I have lots of them and build them) - I keep mine through - a touch more "big-boned" in my experience. A touch slinkier. I spend a lot of time on set-up so I'm not that bothered about a little more slinky. What is interesting to me is that on Les Pauls, 335s, and SGs I have a preference for wrap around and lightening bar set-ups they seem to have a brighter top end.... but it's marginal.
I am so impressed, I was skeptical but there is a clear difference in tone. Small, but unmistakable in your well-designed A/B comparison. Thank you for this! I wonder if the real impetus for top-loader was that sometimes, the holes would be so far off that a piece was unsellable (even by Fender's relaxed standards).
Thanks for the breakdown. btw, having drop repaired paint chips before, but thrown up my hands when they're on the corners, this video is making me want to order some binding from stewMac for MY red telecaster.
Drop chips are just character.....I look for those in the used market because the look doesn't matter to me. I love getting discounts on a great guitar because they have a big finish chip.....
I have a 61 tele which came with the top loader bridge since Leo kept using them till he ran out, even tho it’s a normal through body tele. my favorite way to go about top load and the way I string my guitar is EAD top load and GBe through body, it makes the string balance really nice and even in sound and sustain, you get all the spank and stringiness from the wound strings and the sustain and punch from the plain strings, highly recommend if you got that option
I believe Jim Campilongo uses '9's' gauge on his top loader which makes the strings feel like rubber bands (I know, I've tried it!) so he must have a helluva light touch on the fingerboard. Top loading suits his playing style and what a great player. Also, you can 'up' your string gauge when top loading to give a similar feel of stiffness as 'string through' of a lighter set yet obtaining (dare I say) a stronger tone due to the extra mass of the strings. Lastly, if you have a dual drilled bridge, try string throughing the bottom wound strings and top loading the top plain ones. Then you still get the tele 'twang' but can do some serious and pleasing bending on the unwound strings. 😀
I have both but, love my MIM top loader. It's my cheapest guitar and has been a go to for many gigs. The one thing I really do NOT like is having to put tape over the string winds so it does not cut my hand. Other than that it rules. THX
Great video! Love all the history you go into. I liked the 2nd takes and wasn't surprised those were the string through. My tele is string through, as is my strat (Fender tremelo system). I do have a Squier mini that is a top loader that I got for my son when he was little. I agree, I like the taught feel and snappy sound of the string through design.
Great topic. I hear the difference. My thinking is that the difference in break angle changes the rigidity of the saddles, which would definitely affect string vibration and tone. I'm sold on through body now. Thanks man.
My best Tele is a 1985, MIJ, '58 reissue top-loader. It's also a featherweight, just over 6 pounds, and has a great, thin nitro finish. I've worn it so much, most people think it's a vintage 1958. I also have an MIJ 1986 '54 reissue Esquire. Those Fuji Gen guys in the 1980s knew how to make some of the best guitars to ever have the Fender name.
@hayfielddraw4364 Interestingly enough, some of the first Fender Japan guitars were made by Tokai. I have a relationship with Tokai guitars going back to '81 and I also have an 80s Fender catalog where they mistakenly show a guitar in the background with the Tokai logo. 😅
My first guitar (which I still have) is a '86-87 MIJ Tele (serial number Fxxxxxx). I love it and it was made with amazing quality. Plays like a dream and is a toploader which makes string bending so effortless.
Awesome video, thanks for this! Glad you mentioned Jesse Ed Davis. I saw a close-up pic of his Tele one time, and it’s definitely a toploader… Wilkinson makes a tele bridge with optional top-loading, & that’s going on my next partscaster.
Great vid Zac , I bought your amp schematic t shirt and asked you about doing a top loading vid a while back- stoked to see this. I put some ‘ 64 vintage pickups on an 86 Korean Tele flamed solid maple neck. Luv it. I like the slacker string thing. But I also luv my Am Special Texas special thru body Tele too. I lucked in to swapping my BJ 4 for 2018 Deluxe reverb reisue and I’m gonna take your tip and go for a vintage Celestine 30. Thanks for your insight views. If you had some t shirts with some nice telecaster outlines or Tele guitars on them, I’d buy them . Good on ya
I have a 2015' mim telecaster. Its a string through. I also have an 81' American Strat Bullet, S3 Deluxe. This guitar is essentially a factory partscaster. Slightly smaller strat body, strat neck, with telecaster headstock, string through body, hard tail bridge, Output jack through the pickgaurd. Made only two years, before production for this model was shipped to Japan and then later Korea.
Thanks for doing this video, I wondered how popular the top loaders were. Years ago I built a telecaster style parts caster thinline using a hard tail top loader bridge from Guitarfetish. I didn’t have the right tools to drill through the body, so the top loader bridge was a nice find.
Loved this. Looks like you may have just confirmed my problem with a 52 reissue with string tension issues. I covered this recently and other assorted problems. Huge thanks from the UK 😊👍
I loved the sound, feel, neck profile and lightweight of my 1959 Esquire. I had it from 1967 until it was stolen in 1995. I’ve been chasing those features ever since.
My parts Tele is a Warmoth 50s neck, SD Broadcaster pickup, brass saddles on a Fender bridge, body was originally a Squire TV finish and set up as string through body. The ferrules are catiwampus but it plays fine.
An in-depth episode on the Telecaster Deluxe would be nice! Especially in regards to notable players across various genres, differences and relations in the overall Tele sound, etc. Keeping my fingers crossed, haha. Much love from southeast Georgia, Zac!
My non Fender bridge plate is designed for top or string through. The holes drilled for top loading are drilled low providing a good break angle. The stiffness to me is very enjoyable similar but not exactly like a wrap around bridge on a Les Paul type guitar.
Good enough for Jimmy Page....also, recently purchased a Harley Benton T style and was pleased to see the bridge had the ability to top load as well as string thru. Awesome work Zac
I find it a little easier to hit the full step bend in the 20th - 22nd frets with a top loaded Tele. Even with 10's vs 9's on a string through. It's awesome.
My 1995 Mexican Standard Telecaster is a top loader. I have never played a through body one though so can't compare. But, I absolutely love my Tele. I've been getting severe GAS recently and looking at buying another Tele but I eventually come around to the decision that I can do everything I need with my Tele and the other guitars. I would like a more vintage specced Tele though. So may eventually break in the future.
After your previous video featuring this guitar, I was kicking around the idea of buying this style of bridge to put on my new Squier classic vibe 50's tele, just for the sake of doing something different. After taking a closer look I realized Squier installed this bridge from the factory! I may have to experiment!
My 2 top load 94 MIM standard Teles are my favorite guitars I have ever played. My main guitar is a thru body sunburst thinline Tele. I also have a thinline with a Bigsby. It is awesome. I do prefer the top load sound and feel.
Great episode Zac, really enjoyed it! I think the difference in sound translated quite well. Loved that you talked about Jim Campilongo too - his playing is absolutely stellar. For what it's worth however, I did prefer the sound of the string through in all your playing examples (even before knowing which was which).
Enjoyed your content so I subscribed. Trying to look for a gold bridge to will work with my recent purchased Squier 40th Anniversary tele. Mounting screw hole is at 61mm center to center and string through hole is at 52mm center to center. It’s smaller than Fender’s own bridge and as well as aftermarket brands. Any recommendations?
Great discussion. I bought a Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster Standard in 1983, the so-called Smith era. Despite the top loading Tele and the odd Strat, I found both these instruments just fine to play. I think each were about $389.00 each plus case. I bonded especially well to the red sunburst Tele. I thought bending was easier and I loved the neck. Eventually I sold them both (wish I had kept the Tele). Later, I bought a Squire Classic Vibe Telecaster. I thought bending was tough as though I felt every inch of that scale. So I bought a 2-way bridge plate that you referred to as an experiment. Guess what? I discerned no difference between the two and changed it back to the string-through. Regardless, I have to keep .009 to .042 on Fenders to get the full whole step bends my style requires.
I liked the first example of each in tone. The second was a little louder perhaps but consistently so and yes more brash. Also if you say it has a more slinky kind of feel (easier to bend) I may be up for that too. So I may be trying a top loader bridge Thanks!
1. Thank you for acknowledging the new strings, people do pickup swaps and say it’s a massive difference but they went from 3 month old strings to new ones. And 2. My guess would be that the break angle is changing the sound because of the difference in string tension, sort of like how paying down tuned instruments without upping the string gauge. Since the break angle is different the string may oscillate in a different point over the pickup which would make a subtle difference in sound. That’s my theory at least, the feel part is the most important part.
The equation describing string oscillation includes the length of the string , density (diameters are different for various materials) as well as the tension. String through has a longer overall length even if the bridge to nut distance is the same.
glad you touched on the Bigsby (so to speak).I played a few lovely Teles old and new at Chicago Music Exchange recently and really liked the feel of a new/68-ish reissue w a Bigsby
I also found the string through "snappier" and that the strings sounded " tauter/stiffer". I am now looking for top load bridge as I prefer the tonality of the top load. I have two excellent, quality price guitars by Fazley T type guitars, the Coyote, ( it really is not a dog!) both with the same string through bridges. On one the strings feel taut on the other the strings feel slacker, easier to fret, so I understand perfectly your comments. However I do not understand why my two, which are exactly the same in every area, are so different in this respect. Any opinions gratefully received. Learner at 77 years old.
I used to have an American Pro II Tele which had the top loading bridge. I really enjoyed playing it that way. It has kind of a spongey tension that feels more Strat-like to me. Ultimately I still prefer string-through because has more of that telephone wires stretched across a big horizon feel & sound that I want from a Tele. Speaking of those early 80s standard Fenders, I first learned about top loaders way back from reading about Jeff Buckley's 83 Dan Smith era Tele that he used almost exclusively. I would definitely include him in the top-loader pantheon as well.
I have a older Maxi Tele from the 90's ,top loader and I really liked the feel ,no real difference sound wise I agree .Since then I have messed the whole thing up(kidding) by putting on a Bigsby and it has taken awhile to settle in but other than weight was a nice upgrade...thanks for this Zac very interesting.
Wonderful stuff Zac! Being a bit of a tinkerer, I am going to try this out! I have a player tele and a Squier, both string though, so I will try to find a “both ways” bridge. It is not going to be easy, because I am left handed.
What about Thinliner? Is there the same possibilities? I want to build a kitThinliner and want to have stringthroughbody. And I'm gonna use tonecontrol only on the bridge, from you.✌️👍
As someone with small hands, I prefer to top load my telecaster for the slinky feeling. Also, it's cool to see someone else that uses 9.5-44 string gauge, for me its the best feeling for the fender scale length.
When I first heard it, the difference in tone seemed really clear to me; the string through just had a little extra weight to it that immediately made me feel like, “Yes, that’s what a Tele is supposed to sound like!” But when I listen to them again, it’s clear that it’s actually quite close, and the real difference is subtle, but it’s subtle in an important way.
Took my MIM tele to my worlds finest guitar guru and had the body drilled and a strat style bridge installed. Made it sound a bit darker and has a little more sustain. Also the stray bridge allows for much better intonation. Added a JB at the neck and had the neck radius done to 10.5 Best guitar I have. D Addario light top heavy bottoms.
Glendale offers bridge plates that offer both methods. Best I’ve ever used. I have 3 Teles with them. I prefer top loading because of the string feel. In my comparisons, the sound difference is outweighed by the feel. Interesting that some players I know use top loading for the top 4 strings and string through body for the bottom 2 strings.
How timely Zac. I'm 69 and retired 2 years ago and was playing my Tele about 25- 30 hour's a week at gigs & friend jams. About 4 months ago I started having wrist, hand , tendon pain. I've been freaking out what to do. I live to play guitar and finally have the time! I saw the Dano vid showing the top loader bridge. I love Jim Campilongo's playing & Tone so I'm getting a top loader bridge, set of XL 9's and hope to God this saves me!! I'll turn up the bass if sound's to thin. Thank you for this video Doctor Zac!
Hi Dave, if you didn't know Warmoth makes a conversion neck for Tele that is 24.75" rather than the normal Tele 25.5". No need to do anything but bolt it on and do a setup. This shorter (Gibson) scale is not only lower tension but the is easier to play as there is less reach from one fret to the next making chording easier. A bit more expensive than just replacing the bridge and going top loading but you would get more effect with the conversion neck.
HI Jay. Thank you so much for this info. I will try this out for sure! A friend has a Anderson Tele called a shorty, maybe its that scale length. Appreciate the help Jay! Rock on!@@7171jay
@davemassie3726 I don't have a guitar with the conversion neck but if you have played a 24.75 scale guitar like a Gibson you know it has quite a different feel than a Tele due to the shorter scale length so I thought maybe it could be something you might want to pursue. I would imagine the conversion neck may make a Tele a bit warmer and a bit less snappy sounding but if it was more playable that might be a reasonable tradeoff.
You might want to try a joint supplement with MSM ,Glucosamine, Chondroitin etc
If you haven't already, I'd recommend physical therapy. It's allowed me to keep playing after significantly increasing my playing time with the unwanted effect of arm pain.
My custom ZacCaster is capable to do both string through and top loading. I had a machine shop drill the holes to convert my bridge. The guy was so intrigued, he drilled the holes for free while I waited, and then said he was gonna do that with his Squire. I love the top load feel, but next string change I’m gonna go string through on the wound strings, and top loaded on the plains.
That's a great idea!
Ima try Dat too!
I'll try the same!
One of my favorite bridges is the G&L top loading saddle lock bridge. It's terrific.
I really enjoyed this episode. My old ‘59 Tele had a top-loader bridge, but was also drilled for through-body stringing. When I got it in maybe 1974, it had rusted threaded steel saddles, which I replaced with early ‘50s-style brass ones. I was playing six nights a week at that time, and since coated strings weren’t available in those days, I was changing strings about every three playing days. .011”-.054” too, and it was easier to string the guitar through the back rather than top-loading them. I don’t think I ever experimented with top-loading the entire time I owned that guitar-I liked the feel and tone with strings-through, even with the .011”-gauge strings and worn-out frets. Being a lefty playing righty, I’ve always had a strong left hand anyway. I’ve always figured that guitar was an early ‘59-it had the top-loader/string-through bridge and a maple neck with the ‘59 date stamp. Black pickguard too-I don’t know how that happened, unless it was replaced at some point; it was an old pickguard with the wear spot on the front and the paint-can circle on the underside. I never found a body date on it either-1959 was close enough!
I bought a cheap SX Telecaster copy five years ago that was a toploader. The bridge had holes for through stringing but no ferrules or holes in the body. I got my local luthier Ritchie Tomson in Wigan to add the body holes and ferrules and it plays great. Nice to have the option to string it both ways.
My SX tele copy is the bomb! It has a very flat radius, so it doesn't feel like a tele. But it very much sounds like one. Had to smooth out the fret ends, do a bit nut work and I upgraded the saddles and pups. For like $250 it's a gorgeous (translucent, dark blue) swamp ash riff stick.
Yes, some of the SX gear is really quite good. I had an SX 30" fretless Jaguar P/J bass that was as good as any Fender...
I wonder, have you tried combining string-thru with top-loading at all on your Tele? If so, what were you going for, and did you get there??
@@PaisleyPatchouli hi I've tried it in both configurations and the string tension is looser when top loaded so string bending is easier.
Jimmy Page's famous Telecaster is a toploader. He played it in the Yardbirds and on Led Zepellin's first album. It originally had mirror disks on the top but he later stripped the whole guitar and had a dragon painted on the top. Presumably this was the guitar he used for the solo on "Stairway To Heaven".
Any particular reason he wouldn't have used Les Paul #1 on that? I know he used a Fender 12-string for the other parts.
That solo ends with what I call "Jimmy Page flourish #1" to go along with a whole library of riffs that categorize like that. I've noticed that when improvising I use Chuck Berry riff #2 more than any canned line combined. That's when you grab the b-string, bend it along with the g, string, and double pick a major third above on the high e. Repeat a few times. Also known as "the English Punk rock solo rirff".
Nice work Zac. Thanks. May I put this additional theory out about the change in playability? The strings on a top loader are all ~ 1.5" shorter than those on a string through setup. It will take less tension to bring a shorter string up to the same pitch. Just a thought.
Interesting thought. I doubt anyone can actually hear a difference but in terms of the physics involved I think you're absolutely right.
use both methods...still can't really appreciate one over the other... same with LPs and top / wrap loading...I can't tell difference...
I wonder if anyone has experimented with combining/mixing both top and string-thru loading to achieve different tension effects on those affected strings; for example using string-thru on a Tele’s three trebles specifically for use when slide playing, so that the string-thru stiffness on those strings would give more resistance on the trebles to achieve better sustain off the slide; whereas the top-loaded bass strings would be slightly looser, maybe producing more expressive snapping techniques, or perhaps bends/vibrato?
Of course, judicious adjusting of string gauges would also produce a whole different palette of responses/results to those strings. Anyway, just a thought… I think one could really fall down an interesting rabbit hole comparing different combinations for use with alt tunings, slide, tapping, pinched harmonics, etc…
Great comparison!
Great video, thanks! I think the top loaders make the lip on the bridge plate ring more, as the tension of the strings are anchored to it, thus making it vibrate more. As for which is best? I think as with so many guitar quirks, it's subjective.
The new Page Mirror tele is made for both string through and top loading. Cool to be able to do both.
Love me a top loader tele with 3 brass saddles. Classic
Missed this one. I’m growing to really appreciate telecasters.
Re: break over angle - years ago, I noticed that a Gibson Les Paul became easier to bend strings on when the stop tailpiece was raised, thus decreasing the breakover angle. Keep up the good work, Zac!
Real ones deck the tail piece and over wrap. At least that's what I do and it works fine
A critical factor regarding string tension is the "String Length" from the Tail Block (or wherever the ends of the strings are fastened) to the Tuners (the other end where the strings are fastened). This is different from the "Scale Length," which is the length from the Saddles to the Nut. The other factors regarding string tension are "string gauge" and "string pitch." Since string gauge and string pitch are usually the same in this type of comparison, "string length" accounts for most of the difference in feel and tone.
A Telecaster body is about 1.5 to 1.75 inches. In a string through configuration, that add those lengths to the overall "Sting Length," whereas the "Scale length" remains the same. A longer string length requires a higher overall tension to raise the string up to the same pitch, when using the same gauge strings. This is why on Harps and Grand Pianos, the strings are of different lengths, longest for the Bass strings, and shortest for the treble strings.
Reverse Headstocks, where the longest length is on the 6th string, and the shortest length is on the 1st string, utilize this physics to help produces better tone results and feel from the strings. With such a configuration, the Basses feel snappier, and more resonant, and the trebles feel more slinky and easier to bend without losing tone. I recently saw a Tele were the basses were strung through the body and the trebles were top loaded. Pretty clever way to get the best of both worlds. "Break Angle" contributes more to tone than feel.
The length of the non vibrating portion of the string should more affect the overall tension.
That's the cleverest sh...t I've heard of. Thank u strangerrrrrr
And just as i was wondering about this exact issue, i found your comment. Thank you for your thoroughness 👍
@@me-xv6tf Here is a simple test I came up with to determine how much "string length" affects string tension explained using a typical Strat-type guitar.
Since the 6th string has the shortest string length, replace it with the same gauge as your 1st string (an old one should work if it's long enough). Tune it to the same pitch as the high E string. Do some bends on each string with the guitar sitting on your lap. Rotate the guitar around so all bends are done towards the middle of the fretboard. Do you notice a difference?
The only significant difference in this test is the total length of the string from the Ball End to the Tuner. Just make sure you're not using a locking bridge/tremolo and a locking nut.
Hmmmm. Interesting analogy. Spot on in regards to volume. I love the telecaster but hate the string through body setup. I am not a country player which explains alot here. I play Pop rock guitar which involves alot of broken chords. I have an 83 tele which is the famous toploader which is not so desirable because there's less tone. How did I compensate? Simple. I use 10 to 52 gauge strings and changed the pickup to a hotrail. The resulting sound is inbetween a Les Paul and a tele. No feedback and a soft rock sound. Another thing is the toploader holds its tune better. I'm pretty aggressive in my strumming and when stretching those strings in bends it stays in tune. Just thought I'd share. Cheers from downunder.
Zac! This channel is some of the best content on guitar. Much appreciated.
Great comparison! My 1993 MIM Telecaster came with toploading. It was my first new guitar, so it was "normal" to me. I've never gotten along with through-body Teles. I've even gone to 8-38 strings on my Strats to help them feel like my Tele.
Thanks for helping to explain the feel difference.
I'm in the same boat. I play 10s and the top loading just feels better. I have a hard tail strat (Robert Cray) that I wish was a top loader......I guess it would be easy to change it....
Great, helpful video. Im looking for a Tele at the moment. I wasn't sure what to make of top loading Teles. After hearing the sound comparisons I'm not biased against them anymore. I like the idea of having a slinkier feel on the strings since I'm a double locking vibrato guy.
It's also great that you've referenced your sources. It's always good to know that the content creator is doing actual research instead of just forming factual sounding statements out of personal opinions.
On the next A-B comparison video I'd like to request a change in shirt color at the time of the string change, lol! That way I could think red shirt Zac is playing top loaded and blue shirt Zac is playing body though. The difference in sound may be too subtle for my out-of-practice (and old) ears.
This is the only video on youtube where I can clearly hear the tone difference.
I think I prefer the sound of top-loader. (Is it me or did it also sound a bit quieter, too?)
I'm so glad you mentioned mr. Jim Campilongo as number 1, over Jimmy Page! 😄
Next, time I'm changing strings, I'm going to top-load my Sire tele. Maybe I get a bit closer to that '59 toploader tone...
I have 2 Telecasters that came with individual saddles which I found too fussy, although they had very thick non-ashtray bridges that helped with mass. I drilled 3 holes in them to convert them to a brass compensated 3 saddle settup. This freed up the 6 holes for the original saddles that I can now use for top-loading, which I prefer with my old arthritic hands anyway. A lighter touch is IMO something to strive for and whatever stringing or mods that lead you down that path are a plus. This video is very much appreciated, as are all of Zac's videos.
The top loaded clips sounded more sonorous and less punchy. That means there is more dynamic range available to the lighter pickers. I am sold on playing as lightly as a note can fully bloom. I believe I also heard more sustain with top loading - non necessarily longevity but length of the sonorous blooming section of note generation. I've adjusted all my fixed bridge's tail piece to lessen break angle. This has improved both feel and dynamic control. The term stiffness is related to string tension in that the string mass mobility is lessened more near where the string is diverted. I can feel it in the picking zones. I alternated between all fingers, fingers and pick and all pick - depending on the style I'm playing. Top loading, or any other way of reducing string tension near a picking zone provides the player increase in dynamic control. I believe in allowing the player the control necessary to express their artistry. I want to "dance" with the instrument no "fight" it.
Hey Zac
Thank you for referencing your sources. That goes a long way to making your channel credible.
I appreciate that!
So interesting listening to the sound clips. I actually thought the top loader sounds were brighter and the string through had more warmth; particularly in the neck pick-up riff you played.
Man i have a mim toploader and that thing sounds awesome to me. I like the more midrange bluesy tones. Those are alder or basswood bodies and that lighter body with a topload is for some reason a great combo.
thank you so much for sharing your insight on this subject.... i have an '83 tele, no holes through the body... saddles are offset 3 right and 3 left... good luck finding those anywhere.. i do love the guitar but a through body with holes on the bridge lip is the best of both worlds... really enjoyed this, thanks for paying this forward....
Whoa. You dont hear a huge difference? I do. And imediately after you played, I knew first riff is mine, and it was top loader. It is just much more sustainy (which is weird), has more ambiental feeling, much clearer and not so bright. Far better than string through (and that one was not bad).
I've got toppy Strats, Teles and Stangs, love them all.
I converted an earlyish MIM std Tele to a String-thru ashtray bridge, and I did an imperfect job of drilling the thru holes.
I laid them out relatively good job of laying them out on the front of the body. But I used a hand drill, not a drill press. So there was some sway or leaning of the drill, resulting in the exit wound where the ferule would go on the back of the body.
But it worked pretty well. I wish I'd hund onto that Tele and upgraded the pickups.
Big Campilongo fan, as well. Nice work, Zac!
I was curious about the perception of increased "flexibility" or "bendability" on top loading vs through stringing. It came about when I read about top wrapping a Les Paul tailpiece. I decided to do an experiment with a Les Paul and a Telecaster that, like yours, could be strung both ways. It was a simple measurement of tension on the string at a given deflection. With a small hook scale, which I attached to each string individually at the 12th fret, I pulled the string one inch to the side and measured the force required. I found that, in both guitars, the force was the same regardless of how it was strung. Feel and perception are so subjective, I get it. I'm not saying you're wrong, heck, I swear I felt a difference too.
I listened several times before I got the answer on which was which. I couldn't tell any difference in the high notes but I felt the string through had a more mellow bass note which I think makes sense I just got a guitar body today in the mail and I was trying to decide which way to string it and this help me decide I'm definitely going string through
Great video. I tried this on my Mexican tele that I long ago put a wilkinson 3 saddle bridge on which has top loading holes. I used 11s and it was very playable, I like it. Still feels stiffer than a less paul, probably the best top load bridge design ever. Maybe that’s why Page switched. I can hear a difference in the clips, the traditional has more resonance, but I play cranked up blues so it doesn’t matter.
I discovered I really like top-loading teles when I bought a cheap Squier that has that kind of bridge, no string-through. I have two of them now and they're my go to guitars.
I had wanted a top loader for SO many years. I was so stoked to see that the plate on my Danocaster was set up for top loading. I dig it!
G'day Zac,
Thanks for a great video. I do think that you missed one of the issues with top loading strings, but you did sort of skirt around that issue.
I have 2 Telecasters - a 2000(ish) Squier Affinity, & a 2021 MIJ Traditional. The MIJ is fitted with a 50's style bridge, with 3 saddles, & string-through routing, whilst the Squire is fitted with 6 aluminium bridge saddles (like the aluminium Stratocaster saddles), & top loading strings. Although the bridges on these 2 guitars are vastly different, I have had to deal with a problem with the Squire's top loading bridge. The problem is that the height adjustment screws on the high E saddle wind down over a short period of time, reducing the string height, & causing string buzz. The amount of time taken for the grub screws to wind down is shorter when I use a pick heavily, and longer if I pick the strings with my fingers. I believe that the break angle of the strings on the top load bridge is so shallow, the lighter high E string (usually 0.010") does not provide enough tension on the grub screws to "lock" them into place. And tension is the correct term, as I'm looking at the tension on the screws, not the tension of the strings. The screws don't wind down on the thicker strings, & I think that I've even tried a new set of saddles to overcome the problem. But that didn't work. I'm going to have to drill out the body, & convert it to string-through.
Thanks again for a great video. I hope my comment provides some useful information.
Keep up the good work
Andrew
Thanks, Ive always wondered about the difference.
Also about stiffness. Same thing with retainers on the headstock. I felt E&B wss too stiff on my JI tele. Then I set retainers a bit higher, and it makes difference in feel and bending experience.
Thanks a lot again Zac. I like toploading on my G&L Asat Special (it's the only way on this guitar). I think it's not all about the break angle but additionally about the string length and thereby "the stiffness". From ferrules to tuner is longer than toploaded to tuner. And even longer on a Bigsby. Like a reversed headstock makes the lower strings stiffer and the upper strings easier to bend.
I've a mid 80s Fender mij Tele that I adore. got it 20 years ago and was kinda surprised too find it was a toploader .
All my previous Teles had been string through.
Few years later i asked on a forum if it actually was a Fender cos I never saw or heard of Toploading Teles .
Was told it was a a Fender but a low end one which made me smile cos I'm definitely a low end player.
I knew the second was string through... There is a rounder, subtle wood sound. But you verified what i suspected... Ill keep em through the wood! Thanks.
Thanks for the info on this!
I’ve always believed top loaders had a slinky feel compared to string thru. I grew up with a guy that had a Korean made Squier Tele that was a TOP LOADER, and had the 6 individual saddles that were like smaller barrels instead of the block type. It always felt “looser” than my string thru Nashville tele did.
I’ve recently acquired a loaded esquire body with a Wilkinson bridge that can be strung either way. I have it setup top loading to be different than my ‘52 reissue.
Didn’t realize the top loaders started so early. I have an early 80’s top loader and just assumed that’s when they started doing it. Thx for the great info and demos.
Zac - great video and properly fair presentation. I've tried both on Teles (I have lots of them and build them) - I keep mine through - a touch more "big-boned" in my experience. A touch slinkier. I spend a lot of time on set-up so I'm not that bothered about a little more slinky. What is interesting to me is that on Les Pauls, 335s, and SGs I have a preference for wrap around and lightening bar set-ups they seem to have a brighter top end.... but it's marginal.
I am so impressed, I was skeptical but there is a clear difference in tone. Small, but unmistakable in your well-designed A/B comparison. Thank you for this! I wonder if the real impetus for top-loader was that sometimes, the holes would be so far off that a piece was unsellable (even by Fender's relaxed standards).
Thanks for the breakdown. btw, having drop repaired paint chips before, but thrown up my hands when they're on the corners, this video is making me want to order some binding from stewMac for MY red telecaster.
Drop chips are just character.....I look for those in the used market because the look doesn't matter to me. I love getting discounts on a great guitar because they have a big finish chip.....
Great topic! Thanks for this
One thing I love about my Squier CV Esquire is it came with both options. Greetings from Spain 🇪🇦
I have a 61 tele which came with the top loader bridge since Leo kept using them till he ran out, even tho it’s a normal through body tele.
my favorite way to go about top load and the way I string my guitar is EAD top load and GBe through body, it makes the string balance really nice and even in sound and sustain, you get all the spank and stringiness from the wound strings and the sustain and punch from the plain strings, highly recommend if you got that option
Bernie Leadon used one in the FBBs. I was working at Carruthers when he brought it in to change it.
I believe Jim Campilongo uses '9's' gauge on his top loader which makes the strings feel like rubber bands (I know, I've tried it!) so he must have a helluva light touch on the fingerboard. Top loading suits his playing style and what a great player. Also, you can 'up' your string gauge when top loading to give a similar feel of stiffness as 'string through' of a lighter set yet obtaining (dare I say) a stronger tone due to the extra mass of the strings. Lastly, if you have a dual drilled bridge, try string throughing the bottom wound strings and top loading the top plain ones. Then you still get the tele 'twang' but can do some serious and pleasing bending on the unwound strings. 😀
I have both but, love my MIM top loader. It's my cheapest guitar and has been a go to for many gigs. The one thing I really do NOT like is having to put tape over the string winds so it does not cut my hand. Other than that it rules. THX
Have you tried heat shrink tubing instead of tape?? I know guys that use this method.
i have not. I will give it a shot THX!@@markcress7484
Great video! Love all the history you go into. I liked the 2nd takes and wasn't surprised those were the string through. My tele is string through, as is my strat (Fender tremelo system). I do have a Squier mini that is a top loader that I got for my son when he was little. I agree, I like the taught feel and snappy sound of the string through design.
Great topic. I hear the difference. My thinking is that the difference in break angle changes the rigidity of the saddles, which would definitely affect string vibration and tone. I'm sold on through body now. Thanks man.
My best Tele is a 1985, MIJ, '58 reissue top-loader. It's also a featherweight, just over 6 pounds, and has a great, thin nitro finish. I've worn it so much, most people think it's a vintage 1958. I also have an MIJ 1986 '54 reissue Esquire. Those Fuji Gen guys in the 1980s knew how to make some of the best guitars to ever have the Fender name.
@hayfielddraw4364 Interestingly enough, some of the first Fender Japan guitars were made by Tokai. I have a relationship with Tokai guitars going back to '81 and I also have an 80s Fender catalog where they mistakenly show a guitar in the background with the Tokai logo. 😅
My first guitar (which I still have) is a '86-87 MIJ Tele (serial number Fxxxxxx). I love it and it was made with amazing quality. Plays like a dream and is a toploader which makes string bending so effortless.
Awesome video, thanks for this!
Glad you mentioned Jesse Ed Davis. I saw a close-up pic of his Tele one time, and it’s definitely a toploader… Wilkinson makes a tele bridge with optional top-loading, & that’s going on my next partscaster.
Great episode as usual !!! I knew most of this stuff but the Bigsby having similarities to top loading was something I wasn't aware of.
Great vid Zac , I bought your amp schematic t shirt and asked you about doing a top loading vid a while back- stoked to see this.
I put some ‘ 64 vintage pickups on an 86 Korean Tele flamed solid maple neck. Luv it.
I like the slacker string thing. But I also luv my Am Special Texas special thru body Tele too.
I lucked in to swapping my BJ 4 for 2018 Deluxe reverb reisue and I’m gonna take your tip and go for a vintage Celestine 30.
Thanks for your insight views.
If you had some t shirts with some nice telecaster outlines or Tele guitars on them, I’d buy them .
Good on ya
Thanks, Zac. I've hear all that i need. Thru.👌
Happy to help!
My schecter pt special came with the option for both! Love the top loaded feel, so slinky. And faster string changes
I have a 2015' mim telecaster. Its a string through. I also have an 81' American Strat Bullet, S3 Deluxe. This guitar is essentially a factory partscaster. Slightly smaller strat body, strat neck, with telecaster headstock, string through body, hard tail bridge, Output jack through the pickgaurd. Made only two years, before production for this model was shipped to Japan and then later Korea.
Thanks for doing this video, I wondered how popular the top loaders were. Years ago I built a telecaster style parts caster thinline using a hard tail top loader bridge from Guitarfetish. I didn’t have the right tools to drill through the body, so the top loader bridge was a nice find.
Loved this. Looks like you may have just confirmed my problem with a 52 reissue with string tension issues. I covered this recently and other assorted problems.
Huge thanks from the UK 😊👍
I enjoyed the video, very interesting, thank you.
I loved the sound, feel, neck profile and lightweight of my 1959 Esquire. I had it from 1967 until it was stolen in 1995. I’ve been chasing those features ever since.
My parts Tele is a Warmoth 50s neck, SD Broadcaster pickup, brass saddles on a Fender bridge, body was originally a Squire TV finish and set up as string through body. The ferrules are catiwampus but it plays fine.
Fascinating. Thank you brother.
An in-depth episode on the Telecaster Deluxe would be nice! Especially in regards to notable players across various genres, differences and relations in the overall Tele sound, etc. Keeping my fingers crossed, haha. Much love from southeast Georgia, Zac!
My non Fender bridge plate is designed for top or string through. The holes drilled for top
loading are drilled low providing a good break angle. The stiffness to me is very enjoyable similar but not exactly like a wrap around bridge on a Les Paul type guitar.
I have a top loaded tele, love it!
Good enough for Jimmy Page....also, recently purchased a Harley Benton T style and was pleased to see the bridge had the ability to top load as well as string thru. Awesome work Zac
I find it a little easier to hit the full step bend in the 20th - 22nd frets with a top loaded Tele. Even with 10's vs 9's on a string through. It's awesome.
My 1995 Mexican Standard Telecaster is a top loader. I have never played a through body one though so can't compare. But, I absolutely love my Tele. I've been getting severe GAS recently and looking at buying another Tele but I eventually come around to the decision that I can do everything I need with my Tele and the other guitars. I would like a more vintage specced Tele though. So may eventually break in the future.
After your previous video featuring this guitar, I was kicking around the idea of buying this style of bridge to put on my new Squier classic vibe 50's tele, just for the sake of doing something different. After taking a closer look I realized Squier installed this bridge from the factory! I may have to experiment!
My 2 top load 94 MIM standard Teles are my favorite guitars I have ever played. My main guitar is a thru body sunburst thinline Tele. I also have a thinline with a Bigsby. It is awesome. I do prefer the top load sound and feel.
Great episode Zac, really enjoyed it! I think the difference in sound translated quite well. Loved that you talked about Jim Campilongo too - his playing is absolutely stellar. For what it's worth however, I did prefer the sound of the string through in all your playing examples (even before knowing which was which).
I’m really enjoying the tele obsession💚
Enjoyed your content so I subscribed. Trying to look for a gold bridge to will work with my recent purchased Squier 40th Anniversary tele. Mounting screw hole is at 61mm center to center and string through hole is at 52mm center to center. It’s smaller than Fender’s own bridge and as well as aftermarket brands. Any recommendations?
That's a tough one. Look on ebay from Chinese sources, and ask for the measurements
Great discussion. I bought a Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster Standard in 1983, the so-called Smith era. Despite the top loading Tele and the odd Strat, I found both these instruments just fine to play. I think each were about $389.00 each plus case. I bonded especially well to the red sunburst Tele. I thought bending was easier and I loved the neck. Eventually I sold them both (wish I had kept the Tele). Later, I bought a Squire Classic Vibe Telecaster. I thought bending was tough as though I felt every inch of that scale. So I bought a 2-way bridge plate that you referred to as an experiment. Guess what? I discerned no difference between the two and changed it back to the string-through. Regardless, I have to keep .009 to .042 on Fenders to get the full whole step bends my style requires.
I liked the first example of each in tone. The second was a little louder perhaps but consistently so and yes more brash. Also if you say it has a more slinky kind of feel (easier to bend) I may be up for that too. So I may be trying a top loader bridge Thanks!
I have built a top loading Tele and top loading Esquire, and I love them. I can't really point to why I prefer them, but I do.
1. Thank you for acknowledging the new strings, people do pickup swaps and say it’s a massive difference but they went from 3 month old strings to new ones. And 2. My guess would be that the break angle is changing the sound because of the difference in string tension, sort of like how paying down tuned instruments without upping the string gauge. Since the break angle is different the string may oscillate in a different point over the pickup which would make a subtle difference in sound. That’s my theory at least, the feel part is the most important part.
Would less tension not affect the tuning? A certain tension is what produces notes. Honest question no hate.
Peace
The equation describing string oscillation includes the length of the string , density (diameters are different for various materials) as well as the tension. String through has a longer overall length even if the bridge to nut distance is the same.
glad you touched on the Bigsby (so to speak).I played a few lovely Teles old and new at Chicago Music Exchange recently and really liked the feel of a new/68-ish reissue w a Bigsby
It's a toploader with a better tail.
I also found the string through "snappier" and that the strings sounded " tauter/stiffer". I am now looking for top load bridge as I prefer the tonality of the top load. I have two excellent, quality price guitars by Fazley T type guitars, the Coyote, ( it really is not a dog!) both with the same string through bridges. On one the strings feel taut on the other the strings feel slacker, easier to fret, so I understand perfectly your comments. However I do not understand why my two, which are exactly the same in every area, are so different in this respect. Any opinions gratefully received. Learner at 77 years old.
I have a top loader fender black label from 94 its my #1. Love it.
Interesting facts, thanks Zac!
I used to have an American Pro II Tele which had the top loading bridge. I really enjoyed playing it that way. It has kind of a spongey tension that feels more Strat-like to me. Ultimately I still prefer string-through because has more of that telephone wires stretched across a big horizon feel & sound that I want from a Tele.
Speaking of those early 80s standard Fenders, I first learned about top loaders way back from reading about Jeff Buckley's 83 Dan Smith era Tele that he used almost exclusively. I would definitely include him in the top-loader pantheon as well.
I have a older Maxi Tele from the 90's ,top loader and I really liked the feel ,no real difference sound wise I agree .Since then I have messed the whole thing up(kidding) by putting on a Bigsby and it has taken awhile to settle in but other than weight was a nice upgrade...thanks for this Zac very interesting.
Hey Zac love the show man 😊your knowledge and vids 😮make us love the guitar 🎸 even more 👍👊🙏.
Wonderful stuff Zac! Being a bit of a tinkerer, I am going to try this out! I have a player tele and a Squier, both string though, so I will try to find a “both ways” bridge. It is not going to be easy, because I am left handed.
What about Thinliner? Is there the same possibilities? I want to build a kitThinliner and want to have stringthroughbody. And I'm gonna use tonecontrol only on the bridge, from you.✌️👍
As someone with small hands, I prefer to top load my telecaster for the slinky feeling. Also, it's cool to see someone else that uses 9.5-44 string gauge, for me its the best feeling for the fender scale length.
Thnx Zac
When I first heard it, the difference in tone seemed really clear to me; the string through just had a little extra weight to it that immediately made me feel like, “Yes, that’s what a Tele is supposed to sound like!” But when I listen to them again, it’s clear that it’s actually quite close, and the real difference is subtle, but it’s subtle in an important way.
Great one! 🎸🖤🔥🔥🔥
Thanks 🔥
Great as always.
Thank you! Cheers!
Took my MIM tele to my worlds finest guitar guru and had the body drilled and a strat style bridge installed. Made it sound a bit darker and has a little more sustain. Also the stray bridge allows for much better intonation. Added a JB at the neck and had the neck radius done to 10.5 Best guitar I have. D Addario light top heavy bottoms.
Glendale offers bridge plates that offer both methods. Best I’ve ever used. I have 3 Teles with them. I prefer top loading because of the string feel. In my comparisons, the sound difference is outweighed by the feel. Interesting that some players I know use top loading for the top 4 strings and string through body for the bottom 2 strings.
Fender’s new pro ii has top loading bridge too.
Have you ever demo and reviewed a Memphis telecaster? I've got half dozen and love then. I'd like to hear your opinion.