The Evolution of Fender’s Tele Bridge Saddles from 1950 to 1968 – Focusing on Material and Appearance

Understanding the historical development of Telecaster saddles is essential for players and builders seeking authentic vintage tone and feel. Between 1950 and 1968, Fender used a range of saddle designs and materials. Below, we explore how saddle design evolved through the years — and what makes each era special.

At Silverback Vintage, we’ve made it our mission to faithfully recreate classic Tele saddles — both in terms of material and dimensions as the perfect replacement for your Telecaster. To capture the tone of saddles that have been played in over decades, we also offer every model in a CryoVibe version — cryogenically treated for enhanced response and vintage character.

Early 1950: Steel Saddles with Ground Flats

Before November 1950, Broadcasters and Esquire Guitars featured steel round saddles with flat bottoms, no springs, and screws drilled at an angle (~45°) relative to the bridge plate. These early designs were mechanically simple but laid the foundation for all future bridge concepts.

Late October 1950: Brass Takes Over

With the first production models, Fender switched to brass saddles, still round with flat bottoms. Brass offered a warmer tone and smoother tone — qualities that defined the early '50s Tele sound and continue to inspire vintage purists today.

1953: Some Modifications

From 1953 onward, notches were added to the bottoms of the outer brass saddles to lower the E-strings. However, this change didn’t last long and Fender changed the saddles again.

Summer 1954: Return to Steel

Brass was replaced by steel saddles again in mid-1954, this time without flat bottoms and with a slightly smaller diameter. These subtle changes introduced a brighter, more focused sound — a tonal shift.

1958–1968: Threaded Steel Saddles

By late 1958, Fender introduced threaded round steel saddles. These were lighter and included individual grooves formed by threading, offering better string alignment and stability. These remained standard throughout most of the 1960s.

Post-1968: Dedicated Grooves

In early 1968, Fender transitioned to steel saddles with dedicated grooves for each string. Though still round, they lacked flat bottoms and provided even more consistent spacing and tuning accuracy — bridging the gap between vintage aesthetics and modern precision.