Telecaster Bridge Shootout! 3-Saddle vs 6-Saddle on My 1957 Esquire

April 17, 2020

In this episode of Ask Zac, I put my 1957 Fender Esquire through a true bridge showdown, comparing the classic 3-saddle setup that defined early Tele tone with a modern 6-saddle bridge known for better intonation, and for beefing-up the sound.

We’ll dig into:

The history of Fender bridge designs, and why Leo Fender stuck with 3 saddles

The tonal differences between the two setups

Direct sound samples recorded on the same guitar for an honest comparison

My verdict after playing both