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Been doing some reading. Think I might pull the trigger on the Gotoh saddles.....
My thought is that I can use the existing Wilkinson bridge. It's already got the through body and top loading string holes drilled, which is what I need.
MY questions are:

A) will the saddles fit if I drill the saddles screw holes between the 3 existing holes, or do I need to offset them/look into a 6 saddle bridge
B) If the saddles do fit, will the through-body holes line up enough with the saddles that I can thread the octave strings through.

These articles:

http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... =8&t=32420
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-de ... ridge.html
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-d ... sters.html
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-d ... rsion.html

Been also looking at those DIY Telecaster kits that COME with 12 string telecaster bridges to see if I might be able to immitate them.
I almost pulled the trigger on a 6 saddle top loading bridge, but I've got too many questions I think that I want some clarification to first.

Was originally looking at this bridge, but the string holes are in the wrong place:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASHTRAY-BRIDGE- ... 720wt_1124

So then I saw this bridge. A little more expensive, but the top loading string holes are drilled in the correct location.
Again the question would be IF I drilled the through-body holes, would they lign up with both the body, and the saddles.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Style-T ... 322wt_1362

skullservant wrote:Well the other night I found some spare saddles that I had laying around, and slotted them as best I could for the octave strings. The problem that I'm running into still is that the low E, D, and B octave strings run into the height adjustment screws on the saddles, which move them over from where they should be. I suppose I just need to suck it up and save up for the 12 string saddles, because they seem like the only real way to do it right at this point.



Here's the first picture with it strung up:

So fucking rad.

Did some more research and the 12 string Gotoh bridge's string through holes are in a different spot.
For now, I'm going to take the cheap option of threaded saddles. If those don't work, then I'll move to the Gotoh saddles with the current bridge

I'd order the Gotoh style, and then shop for bridges. The saddles ARE different than normal fender 6 strings that they resemble. Having a tall rear edge is the main thing in a donr bridge. You may be able to use the one you have, with some mods.
Night as well get the thing that will work best right off the bat and go from there.

Second best option would be a stop tail and ric style saddle. gets spendy but very solid and gives you full intonation options.

Yeah, and you'll want the full intonation options on a 12 string.

Yeah, I suppose. I'm mostly just concerned about where the string through areas are on the Gotohs compared to what the body is drilled for.
I guess that I could drill new string through holes and plug the other ones...

I'm starting to think that I might just take this neck, get the Gotoh 12 string bridge, and turn this incoming Strat into the 12 string for easiness' sake...

Just found this picture, but again, the strings are loading in a modern style, compared to the vintage style that the body is drilled for:

I'm wondering if I COULD have it so that the regular strings enter below the screw holes, and are just at a low angle under the saddle until they reach where they would normally come through them, or if that would screw anything up

Alright, did some more reading and research. If I get a MIM Tele bridge, it will work with the Gotoh saddles. That MIM style bridge is extended in the rear to allow the through body strings to go through the saddles while leaving the through body holes stock and not having to re-drill

Ordered the Gotoh bridge and MIM Tele bridge. No lip around the sides, just the heightened bottom lip

Wow, skully, you're doing a lot of homework for this build.

It's gonna be amazing when it's all done.

Yeah, I wanna do it right if I'm going to do it- I've come this far! haha. 12 strings is already out of my comfort zone, so I want to make it as easy to play as possible for me, you know?

Also, just looked at that picture above, and it looks like they ARE feeding the standard strings through the bottom slots instead of raising them. I'll try it both ways!

Have you considered switching the string arrangement? So it's like on a Ric 360/12, first string you hit is the low string.

I got the nut cut so that the octave string is on top- only because when I did the same octave thing with that P bass I modded last summer it felt a LOT easier to strum both strings with the smaller octave first for whatever reason