Tele 14 Bender - Identify your tailpiece and order below

**FOR TELE 14 FOR TELE HARDTAIL MODERN TELE-TYPE SADDLES OR STRAT-TYPE SADDLES, GO TO STRAT 14 MOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS**

MOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL OTHER TELE 14 MODELS

TELE 14 for 6 Saddle & 3 Saddle Ashtray models Instructions:

Please read through these instructions to the end and familiarize yourself with all the parts in the picture to the right before beginning to install your Bowden B Bender. It installs in much less time than it takes to read these instructions, but it’s best to read them before you try because you can damage your guitar or the bender if you haven’t read them.

Instructions for mounting the 

TELE14 for 6 Saddle & 3 Saddle Ashtray 

1. Remove and discard the B String (and/or G if you ordered the bender for the G string) from your guitar. You will need a new string for the extra length. A gauge of .012 or .013 is recommended for B string. For G string benders, a .016, .017 or .018 is recommended, the lighter the better. A .013 or .017 will be included depending on which string you ordered it for.
 

2. Take Bender in hand and insert the Tailpiece Slot over the lip of the tailpiece between the B and G bridge saddle intonation screws for the 3 saddle tailpiece. If you ordered a G bender for a 6 saddle, place the bender between the G and D saddle intonation screws. Line up the pressure roller with the string path where it crosses the saddle. NOTE: If you ordered a G Bender for the 3 barrel saddle place the bender so that the tip roller lines up with the G string path.

3. FOR 6 BARREL SADDLE ASHTRAY TAILPIECE: For 3 barrel mounting skip to paragraph 5. Take hold of the Front Adapter Assembly and insert the Tailpiece Slot over the lip of the tailpiece between the two bridge saddle adjustment screws (with the string you wish to bend to the right of the bender, looking from the rear of the guitar) and PRESS DOWN FIRMLY until adapter bottoms out (the back leg of the adapter should almost touch the face of the guitar).
 

4. PLEASE FOLLOW THIS STEP CAREFULLY: While FIRMLY HOLDING THE ADAPTER DOWN ON THE TAILPIECE LIP and up against the intonation adjustment screw spring to the right of the bender. tighten the Top Mounting Screw very snugly with the longest hex key (Allen wrench) provided, using only the power of your finger strength.  Make sure the Adapter DOES NOT MOVE WHEN TIGHTENING THE SCREWS. (Proceed to paragraph 6)

5. FOR 3 BARREL SADDLE ASHTRAY TAILPIECE: Take hold of the Front Adapter Assembly and insert the Tailpiece Slot over the lip of the tailpiece between the B and the G saddle intonation adjustment screws and PRESS DOWN FIRMLY until adapter bottoms out (the back leg of the adapter should almost touch the face of the guitar). Move the Adapter from side to side until the front Pressure Roller is lined up exactly with the string path. While FIRMLY HOLDING THE ADAPTER DOWN ON THE TAILPIECE LIP and keeping the roller lined up with the string path, tighten the Top Mounting Screw very snugly with the longest hex key (Allen wrench) provided, using only the power of your finger strength.  Make sure the Adapter DOES NOT MOVE WHEN TIGHTENING THE SCREWS.

THE REMAINING INSTRUCTIONS APPLY TO BOTH THE 6 AND 3 SADDLE MODELS

6. Now, tighten the Bottom Mounting Screw lightly,  getting firmer until the Adapter is solid. (NOTE: The mounting screws will cause a slight circular indentation on the back of your tailpiece lip. Also, be careful not to over tighten the bottom screw … Watch the Tailpiece Slot carefully while tightening the bottom Mounting Screw and if you see the Tailpiece Slot starting to spread, you are going too tight!) Make sure the Adapter does not slide up or get out of position when tightening the screws. Now, tighten the Top Mounting Screw again ½ turn or until firmly tightened using the short end of the wrench in the screw head and using the long end for leverage.

7. Place a new string ball on the Top Pin at the rear of the Bender and wrap it around the Rear Groove (see parts diagram). 

Align the string OVER the rear Adapter Roller and UNDER the Pressure Roller (a specially designed guide roller for the purpose of putting string pressure on the bridge saddle) and attach the other end to your tuning key. 

8. Making sure that the string stays in the Rear Groove and the groove of rear Adapter Roller, tighten the string to pitch and stretch the string several times until it stays in tune after a stretch. Then, lower the pitch about a whole tone.
With the included ball-end hex key Allen wrench in one hand, with your other thumb, push down on the top of the Pressure Roller making sure the string is in the roller's groove. Press down until the string makes good contact with the bridge saddle. Holding the Pressure Roller in place, tighten the Pressure Screw just enough to maintain string pressure on the saddle when you let go with your thumb.  You do not need excessive pressure here.

9. You will now need to re-tune your string to pitch. (NOTE: Once the installation is complete, if your string comes back sharp after a bend, slightly loosen the Pressure Screw until each bend returns to pitch, as too much pressure will cause that to happen). Also, occasionally there is enough drag under the little Tree-nut string retainer on the headstock of the guitar to cause the problem. You may use the optional enclosed Teflon tubing to slide over your string and put under the Tree-nut to reduce friction.

10. An electronic tuner is helpful in this next step: With the string stretched and back in tune, flip the Adjustment Screw Lock (under the bender handle) out in a clockwise direction (looking down on it from the rear of the guitar) to adjust the pitch “travel” of the Bender Handle. With the string in tune, turn the Adjustment Screw until the handle, when depressed all the way down, raises the pitch of the string to the desired pitch, usually one whole tone. Alternately release the Bender Handle, adjust the Screw, and depress the Handle to check pitch until you have reached the desired pitch. Holding the Bender Handle down while adjusting the screw will not always get you to the desired pitch. Once you have attained the desired pitch, hold the Adjustment Screw in place and tuck the Adjustment Screw Lock back under the Bender Handle, locking the Adjustment Screw in place.

11. Now that you have properly mounted the Bender and adjusted the pitch, you should have trouble-free string bending indefinitely. Over 40 years of use by the inventor has proven that the original Bowden B Bender does not break strings. On this new model, if you have a problem with string breakage, make a note of where the string broke and advise bowdenbenders@gmail.com or call 903-814-1482 if the break appears to be at the bender. If the break is not at the bender, you may need to look for a burr on the bridge saddle or a bind in the guitar nut or elsewhere and take the proper action to remove the burr with sandpaper or a small file.

ALSO NOTE: When changing strings, if you use a different gauge than the previous string, you will have to readjust the Adjustment Screw, as different gauges require different “travels” of the Bender Handle, the heavier the gauge, the less “travel” and vice versa.

ADDITIONAL TIPS: An occasional drop of lubricant (silicone spray is good) on the bridge saddle, the Rollers, the nut, and the Hinge Pin at the rear of the Bender Handle should be all the maintenance required to keep the Bender working perfectly. With heavy use, the Mounting Adapter Assembly may loosen a bit and need re-tightening. This doesn’t happen often, but keep these instructions handy in case.

You will notice a piece of fuzzy material at the rear of the Bender Handle where it comes to rest against the Handle Rest Pin. This serves to dampen any clicking sound when releasing the Bender. If this material should deteriorate or come off, it is simply the “loop side” of self-adhesive Velcro and can be replaced by cutting a small piece to replace it, available at most hardware or fabric stores. A small pad of the same material can also be used to replace the little round “landing pad” where the Adjustment Screw touches down, should it become damaged or come off.

NOTE: There should be a slight sideways movement of the Bender Handle in the body of the Handle Assembly to assure that the Handle is not too tight. Without a string in place, the Bender Handle should easily flop down into its “depressed” position. If the Bender Handle is too tight, simply take a small screwdriver, ice pick, your Allen wrench or other suitable device to spread the rear of the Handle Assembly slightly apart to allow the Bender Handle to move up and down freely with no binding.

CASE STORAGE: By lightly loosening the string and pulling the handle back out of the Chevron Joint, you can lay the bender over on its side for fitting into tight cases.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DOUBLE TELE14 ASHTRAY 3 SADDLE BENDER

Here's how to mount the newly redesigned Double Adapter for the Tele14 Ashtray 3 Saddle tailpiece. Installation is as simple as tightening the two mounting screws. Just slip the adapter over the tailpiece lip and line the rollers up with the bridge saddles and tighten the screws. After you tighten the second one, go back and tighten the first one a little tighter and then give the second one a last snugging up. It’s mounted!
** Look at the picture on the right for reference.

 Now put the two strings on – First, thread each string under the rear roller, then over the middle roller and then under the front roller. Then hook the ball end of the string on the pin at the back of the bender and the other end to your tuning keys. **Making sure the strings are all in the roller grooves, tighten the strings to pitch.

(**See the picture on the right for the proper installation of B and G placement of strings)

Once you have mounted the bender and put the strings on, go to paragraph 10 on the Tele14 Models Mounting Instructions to finish learning about the bender operations and maintenance.

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