Vintage bridges

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:52 pm

As I look at my CS I wonder, what was that gap in the middle spacer for?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 1:00 pm

No one knows, it seems.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 1:19 pm

looks

blueflamerick · Post by **blueflamerick** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 1:43 pm

Cigarette holder?

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 2:47 pm

Anybody ever ask JH? While cleaning the CS last night I wondered the same thing. Also, on my '69, the slot was in the same place obviously, but the "tab" closest to the bidge was rounded, and the one closer to the pickups was straight across. Wonder why the heck they bothered with that?! Almost like they thought about doing that, and the slot had a purpose. Weird...

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 2:52 pm

I can't believe I'd stump this crowd.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 2:53 pm

JH has said before that he does not know.

The older tailpieces are cast differently from the newer ones. Maybe the old mold required it. I don't think it was for looks because the one on my '63 is slightly diagonal (almost looks hand cut) and is a bit rough around the edges. I suspect it was done for practical purposes.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 5:36 pm

I think Ted might be on to something, maybe when it was cast, it needed a groove going the other way from the saddle slots.

chefothefuture · Post by **chefothefuture** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:32 pm

It was part of the casting process.
It may have been where the sprue or slag from the
mold was. This was ground off after the casting was cooled.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:56 pm

I would guess it was for aligning the top and bottom halves of the mold.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 2:16 am

Yes, what Ted and John said.....

apollo11 · Post by **apollo11** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 4:52 am

I've always loved the look of the vintage bridge with the gap. For whatever reason, there is something cool about it.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:00 am

The old ones are made totally differently from the newer ones. The old ones were sand cast (aluminium) and the new ones are cast zinc.