So, maybe it's not the most glamorous element of Fender Custom Shop guitars, but it's important nonetheless – hardware. As we consider the smaller elements of a Custom Shop guitar, or any guitar for that matter, we have to talk about bridges and frets, the metals that cross the T's and dot the I's, keep the lights on, you know what we mean. It'd be a pretty sorry guitar with nothing to anchor the strings, after all. We've got a cool little collection of bridges and frets to talk about, won't you join us?
TL; DRBridges and frets can assume huge roles in playability when it comes to your Fender Custom Shop guitar. Across the Fender Custom Shop line, there’s a large selection of bridges for Stratocaster, Telecaster and offset guitars. The Custom Shop offers both vintage and modern-styled bridges with different options for saddles, plates, and tremolo assemblies. Fender Custom Shop offers five shapes of fret wire spanning small to large styles.
Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Bridges
There's a number of Stratocaster bridges from the Fender canon that you can choose from when designing your own Fender Custom Shop guitar. Custom Shop Stratocaster bridges offer traditional tremolo experiences as well as lesser-seen experiences to make playability all your own. Let's run down these bridges.
Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
The OG. With a Vintage Synchronized Tremolo bridge, you've got a pretty classic design for a Stratocaster assembly. This bridge utilizes Fender's original die-cast moulds and punch presses with bent-steel saddles. You'll find similar bridges on Fender Standard, Deluxe, Roadhouse, Lone Star, and Blacktop Stratocaster models made since 2006.
2-Point Classic Player Tremolo
Balancing vintage and modern sensibilities, the 2-Point Classic Player Tremolo bridge is a great pick for players looking to have it all. Fender's modern two-point synchronized tremolo bridge design couples with a more vintage Fender aesthetic. You can find similar bridges on Fender Player, Deluxe, Classic Player, and Vintera Modified Stratocasters, if you're on the hunt for modern playability with a classic look.
2-Point Custom Classic Tremolo
Similar to the 2-Point Classic Player, the 2-Point Custom Classic Tremolo bridge retains modern playability and design with classic aesthetics. Where this bridge differs is in its saddles. The 2-Point Classic Player Tremolo's bent steel saddles are swapped out for polished steel block saddles, modernizing the feel of playability.
RSD Stratocaster Tremolo
Let's get into some updates. The RSD Strat Tremolo is fashioned hearkening to vintage styles of design with an improved pivot geometry. Onboard, the RSD Tremolo optimizes string spacing and enhances tremolo tension adjustment. If you're looking for a vintage feel with the most modern of adjustments, the RSD Strat Tremolo is the way to go.
Floyd Rose Original
Stop me if you've heard this one before. The Floyd Rose tremolo bridge is pretty famous among those crazy '80s metal guitars – you know the type, the high-octane solos, the tremolo divebombs, those. A double-locking tremolo bridge with a recess for the picking hand, the Floyd Rose Original bridge boasts rock-solid intonation and stable tuning when paired with a Floyd Rose locking nut.
Vintage Hard-Tail
Tremolo not really your thing? Understandable. Throwing back to a lesser-seen chapter of Fender history, the Vintage Hard-Tail bridge is not a tremolo bridge. It cannot move and removes springs and blocks from the equation. A good number of players prefer this for their Strats because they don't need to worry about tremolo height or spring tension. If that sounds like your cup of tea, check out this one.
Fender Custom Shop Telecaster Bridges
Let’s talk about Telecasters, shall we? You might be surprised at the variety of bridges you’re open to with Fender Custom Shop guitars. There’s a good selection of bridge plates and saddle types to choose from, so let’s run some down.
'51-'53 Telecaster - Brass Saddles
This bridge throws it all the way back to the early ‘50s with a number of specifications alluding to original Fender quirks. For one, you have an ashtray bridge plate with original tooling marks and a serial number. This little detail recreates one of the foundational Telecaster design characteristics, where the bridge plate is stamped denoting the model's identity. Three brass saddles line up in this bridge for a more classic stringing experience.
'54-'57 Telecaster - Steel Saddles
For a vintage-style feel that pushes a little further ahead, we have the ‘54-’57 bridge with steel saddles. This bridge is very similar to the ‘51-’53 brass, but with a few key differences. The first is that the brass saddles are swapped out for steel, which imparts a brighter twang off the bat through its transfer of energy. Second, we have the removal of the tooling marks and serial number. If you’re looking for a cleaner image with a brighter inflection, check out this bridge.
'60 & Up Telecaster - Threaded Saddles
Alright, so now we’re getting a little fancy, so we have to talk about saddles. With the ‘60 & Up Tele bridge, we have threaded saddles. How these saddles differ from our previous examples is that they have ridges, or threads, for holding strings more solidly in place. This additional consideration offers a brighter tonal voice from the strings and crisp, Tele twang.
'67 Telecaster - Slotted Steel Saddles
This is our best of both worlds when it comes to saddles. With saddles, you can have the recessed form with threads or the non-recessed form without. The ‘67 Telecaster employs slotted steel saddles that have two recessed areas on each saddle dedicated to each string. This does a bit to split the difference between non-threaded and threaded saddles where you’ll likely have an easier time stringing than non-threaded but a more relaxed sonic transfer than threaded.
RSD Telecaster
Okay, now we’re getting real fancy. The RSD Telecaster bridge does quite a bit to differentiate itself from the pack. This is accomplished through compensated brass saddles and a lower profile. Your compensated brass saddles operate like your other types of saddles, yet are intentionally slanted, as opposed to parallel to one another, like on your other bridges, here. Some players prefer the compensated saddles for their shorter stature on the guitar itself, though they do require a little more attention paid to your specific gauge of string to keep intonation and tuning stable. In any case, the RSD Telecaster bridge is a great alternative to the norm.
Custom Deluxe Telecaster
Alright, but what if we want to get a little more modern? Well, we’re in luck with the Custom Deluxe Telecaster bridge. This modern bridge features six individual block saddles as opposed to the three barrel saddles we’ve discussed. Its string-through plate and block saddles give it a more familiar feel to modern Telecasters that don’t utilize vintage-leaning bridges. If you’re in the mood for a more modern-feeling bridge than the rest of the assortment here, then you have the Custom Deluxe Telecaster bridge.
Vintage RSD Telecaster
For this bridge, we have something of a mashup between vintage and modern sensibilities. The Vintage RSD Telecaster bridge combines the vintage-style bridge plate of the earlier examples we talked about with compensated RSD saddles, giving it the lower profile and slanted stringing experience of the two different designs at once. For players demanding that extra element of distinction and uniqueness to their bridge experience, this one has you covered.
Fender Custom Shop Offset Bridges
As we round out our discussion of bridges, let’s talk a little about offset bridges. There isn’t as wide a selection for your Custom Shop offsets, but let’s run ‘em down, nonetheless.
RSD J-Bridge
This specialized bridge offers a few more components than your traditional bridge. All of this starts with two movable brass saddles that are bolted to a cold rolled steel base. This combination of elements allows for a greater transfer of energy between strings and body than your usual offset bridge. In addition, the movable saddles offer a more customizable experience for those who like to get into the nitty gritty of their setups. If you’re looking to put more in and get more out of your bridge, the RSD J-Bridge is your best bet.
Vintage Jazz/Jag Bridge
A classic’s still a classic, right? This bridge is likely more familiar to vintage offset fans with its six adjustable steel saddles and nickel-plated assembly: the offset bridge experience as you’ve always known it, more or less. No need to fuss on this one, it’s standard for a reason.
Fender Custom Shop Fret Wire Sizes
“Frets? Really? They’re gonna talk about frets now?”
Why not? When it comes to actually playing your Fender Custom Shop guitar, the frets are going to play a large role in how the guitar feels. This comes down to fret size which, at first shake might seem insignificant, but the more time you spend with Fender Custom Shops, the more you notice the differences and might even form a few preferences of your own.
Vintage - 45085
No vintage like true vintage, am I right? Vintage fret wire is the Custom Shop’s smallest size of wire. Capturing that original Fender feeling, Vintage wire is only slightly bigger than original ‘50s and ‘60s Fenders, if you’re looking for the closest representation of vintage Fender feel.
Height: 0.045", Width: 0.085"
Medium Vintage - 47095
The next step up. Medium Vintage expands outward slightly from Vintage, yet mostly fills out with width. You’ll likely not notice any difference in height between Vintage and Medium Vintage, but might catch yourself feeling the overall size of the fret a bit differently due to its widened width.
Height: 0.047", Width: 0.095"
Medium Jumbo - 6150
The fan favorite. Medium Jumbo fret is, according to the Custom Shop, a popular, middle-of-the-road fret wire. Sitting somewhere in the middle as not too big and not too small, Medium Jumbo offers the most familiar feel with a great balance of height and width.
Height: 0.047", Width: 0.104"
Narrow Tall - 6105
For articulation, speediness, and the most popular feel of fret wire, we have Narrow Tall. This fret wire pick is the Fender Custom Shop’s most common choice and gives a great feel to players who might find Vintage a little too small for their taste. On these frets, you’ll feel a prominent height as you move up and down the neck.
Height: 0.055", Width: 0.095"
Jumbo - 6100
The Custom Shop’s largest fret wire selection, we have Jumbo. This formidable size of fret gives guitars an almost scalloped feel as you move across the registers. Imparting a definitely noticeable feeling of spaciousness, Jumbo fret wire makes for a unique addition to any Custom Shop guitar.
Height: 0.057", Width: 0.110"
Any Questions?
We’re always talking about something Fender Custom Shop it seems, and we’re always up to talk more! Reach out to us here at Russo Music for anything and everything Fender Custom Shop.
