Grateful Dead Music Forum

Hi, I'm building a wolf shaped guitar with Alligator sensibilities. I'm trying to settle on a bridge. I like to stick to a bit of a traditional Strat style hardtail bridge, but with a top load bridge plate rather than a through the body. All I can find are ones made of zinc or steel and nothing made of brass. Anyone have any idea where I can get an all brass bridge like this? Does it really matter if its all brass? I've been thinking about getting a zinc or steel bridge and replacing the saddles with brass ones. Would that do the trick? Thanks.

Here is one on Reverb but it's pricey.

https://reverb.com/item/3094541-killer- ... rce=google

I think Star made brass stratocaster bridges in the 70s & 80s but I don't know if they made a brass hardtail bridge for stratocasters.

I'd call that reasonable for a brass machined bridge.

Bridges are more expensive than one would expect. Go for machined brass, you won’t regret it.

I’d love to find a machined brass bridge but it has not been easy to fid one with top loaded strings as opposed to through body strings. Any suggestions for a top load option?

What about a G.E. Smith Style Telecaster Bridge, might be called a half bridge, with brass saddles? That will be top loaded and shouldn't be a problem to install on a Hardtail Stratocaster.

One thing to take into consideration if you go with a Tele Bridge is string spacing. I believe there might be a difference in string spacing between some or all telecaster and stratocasters.

yes, Ive looked at some of the tele bridges, but Im not sure about the barrel saddles. I have found several top load Strat bridges but none of them are brass. I'm going to keep searching for now. If anyone has any other suggestions I am all ears. Thanks!

Check out Hipshot. They do some solid brass hard tail bridges.

Armadillo is another company that I've ordered solid brass hardware from. Good stuff.

Great. thank you for the suggestions. I've contacted both of them.

I build brass bridges for my instruments. They aren't hard to make and most of the cost is in the saddles. Any machine shop can fabricate one for you but its tough to do just one. http://www.crossroadswood.com/images/bridge_006.jpg