T1 Whitepaper
Premise
Badass bridges have long been known for contributing a faster attack, more sustain, and increased harmonic content to an instrument’s tone. Employed by many legendary Fender P and J Bass players, we wondered if these Badass hallmarks could contribute musically and functionally to the tone and playability of a Tele.
Why the Tele?
- There’s already a lot of great replacement Strat and Jazzmaster bridges on the market from innovative makers like Vega-Trem, Mastery, and Halon, but not so for the Tele.
- There’s a new generation of players pushing beyond the musical genres and playing styles traditionally associated with the Tele. We thought it was high-time they had a replacement bridge option that matched their innovative and rule-breaking spirit.
The Prototype
-
Hand sketches and potential design improvements (over the classic Fender Tele bridge) led to multiple rounds of plastic and 3D metal prints. Even in these early stages, we could tell we were on to something. The enhanced sustain wasn’t just audible… You could feel it!
-
As we reviewed and tested prototypes we focused on surpassing the stock bridge design and the multitude of replacement Tele bridges already on the market. Priority was given to maximizing sustain, broadening the frequency range and improving the playing experience.
Why the T1 is the Ultimate Replacement Tele Bridge
-
Improvement #1: Solid zinc bridge plate and saddles (the Badass formula) offers a faster and stronger attack, enhanced sustain, and increased harmonic content – particularly in the low-mids.
Improvement #2: We extended the intonation travel length by roughly ¼” ensuring proper performance across the entire spectrum of Fender and Squier Tele models, plus the huge range of Tele-inspired models from other manufacturers.
-
Improvement #3: No tone-stealing, palm-shredding height adjustment screws. Our unique “set it and forget it” shim system ensures optimal string height and rock-solid contact between the saddles and bridge plate dramatically increasing sustain by way of transferring string energy through the bridge and body.
-
Improvement #4: Like all classic Badass bass bridge models, the T1’s saddles feature a “guide knob” on the bottom of the saddle that perfectly sits in an intonation travel track. This small feature keeps the saddles from moving side to side under heavy playing conditions. It also keeps the under-saddle shims perfectly in place during initial set up and string changes.
-
Improvement #5: Contoured string-through-body holes to reduce the likelihood of string breakage when the instrument is strung through body.
Improvement #6: Elliptical mounting screw holes allow this bridge to mount easily on both metric and standard Tele models. No filling – no redrilling! Perfect for upgrading all Squier and Fender Tele models with a vintage bridge screw pattern, this bridge can also be shifted slightly for perfect centering.
-
Improvement #7: Recessed string-through-bridge holes perfectly receive the ball end of the string and center the string through the hole for a sleeker look and maximum resonance.
-
Improvement #8: We rounded all the corners for maximum comfort, and to provide a more modern and refined aesthetic that still looks in keeping with the originals.
Testing
From the beginning we knew we’d have to back up our claims that our T1 bridge offers Tele players significantly more sustain and a bigger, bolder tone. So, we decided to enlist Lucky Run Studios in Houston, Texas to help us construct a testing framework and procedural flow that would stand up to scrutiny.
Absolutes:
The same instrument would have to be used in testing the performance of each Tele bridge to ensure a completely unbiased test. We tested using the same pickups, same pickup height, same pickup position, same strings, same amp, same settings, same tuning, same cables, same pick, same signal path, same room, same session, the same engineer… same everything! All variables had to be eliminated outside the bridge on the guitar.
Our test model – affectionally called the “deathcaster” was a partscaster.
Core components:
• Fender Contemporary Tele® Neck (Compound Radius 12”-16”)
• PRiMO replacement Tele® Body
• Razor “Blade Bucker” Bridge Pickup
• Razor “Cream Bucker” Neck Pickup
• Tesi Kill Switch (just for fun)
• D’Addario 9-42 gauge strings
• Black hardware just to look extra doomy…
Following our controlled testing of several leading Tele replacement bridges, we conducted the same testing on Lucky Run’s in-house Tele and Jaguar, plus an Epiphone Les Paul Standard just to broaden our comparison.
The Results
Whether strung through body or bridge, the Badass T1 offered significantly more sustain than the competition. Astonishingly, our T1 equipped “deathcaster” out-sustained a Les Paul Standard by 12 seconds!
Test after test, our T1 bridge provided a thicker, bolder, tone that was richer in low-mids. The blue bars being higher than the next orange bar graphically show the girthy sonic signature of the T1. Nothing shrill or piercing!
The T1 truly offers Bigger, Bolder tone!
Faster and stronger attack than the competition –proven!• Glen Quan would be proud!
