Black metal bridge parts on a hardtail, non tele pickup squire tele/humbuk-cheap

[SJ318]

Greetings,
I bought a cheapo Bullet Tele 'cause of the light basswood to bash around the house, play in bed, etc. And I mean cheap. However, I traded out the stock HB it came with and put in a nice S. Lover I had extra and swapped the neck pos for a nice '69 strat pup. Sounds great, but.........
Issue, I did all the change w/no cost to me, but the hardtail bridge has the black saddles and black saddle plate strung thru the back. I know basswood is bright, but my gut tells me these saddles and plate are cheap and bad sounding. I have no extras for that. So before I spend money on a good hard tail set up-am I correct to think the sound would be stronger w/better grade metal, or is that black hardware fine, just painted, or plated black. Would love an answer.
Thank you as always,
Steve Buffington

 

[gottalovethe80s]

Re: Black metal bridge parts on a hardtail, non tele pickup squire tele/humbuk-cheap

I don't know about a "stronger" sound but a good bridge would definitely improve the guitar tonally, so I'd say go for it.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Black metal bridge parts on a hardtail, non tele pickup squire tele/humbuk-cheap

Yeah,
Hard to pick the correct noun, how about "bigger and fuller"? Anyone care to recommend a great hardtail brand?
I would say please again but that goes without saying. So does Thank You.
Steve Buffington

 

[dominus]

Re: Black metal bridge parts on a hardtail, non tele pickup squire tele/humbuk-cheap

A "better" hardtail will probably just make it brighter. I'd look to electronics first. 250K tone knob maybe.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Black metal bridge parts on a hardtail, non tele pickup squire tele/humbuk-cheap

Thanks,
I should have mentioned that I re-did all the electronics and put in a seth custom shop bridge humbucker where the stock one was, and the humbucker was a too far away from the saddles for my liking so brightness will not be a problem, and bright is good for me. I also put in a 500k V pot & tone pot only on the strat neck pup so if need I just blend the mid position and have plenty of range of sounds w/a strat & S.Lover with a tone pot working together. Sorry, I think I repeated myself. So really just looking for the "Beefiest" hardtail I can buy. Callaham? Gotoh? Fender? Hasbro? I KNOW you guys know this! So it is a present for your best friend who likes "Beefy" bridges. What do you get him. Don't say McDonalds!
Thank you
Steve

 

[daan]

Re: Black metal bridge parts on a hardtail, non tele pickup squire tele/humbuk-cheap

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges...ictures&_suid=1398476783316030571567415500394
THese are great bridges. And I'm sure you can find them cheaper than at Stewmac...

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges...non-trem_bridges/Hipshot_Hardtail_Bridge.html
I've heard these are good too, but I personally haven't used one. I can vouch for the Gotoh I posted above though.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Black metal bridge parts on a hardtail, non tele pickup squire tele/humbuk-cheap

Thanks daan, everyone,
Appreciate all your help. I think the Gotoh looks best! Will sign off now, with an off the topic remark. Last year, at age 60, being such a J. Beck fan, I ditched my pick, stuck on as real looking nails as I could find, and have been pickless for 1 year, totally. I have been called *ickless, but picks are the issue in my OT message. Moral: I went to a friends house to crank a lound Strat I had put together I was quite proud of, and my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd nails got caught in my coat, were kinda old and all came off. I had to use a pick for the first time in one year. For 40 years prior, I only used a pick. I got so far into the art of fingernails, I could barely manage a "Recent" Clapton lick with a pick! No offense to E.C. Man, I love using strong nails.
Middle nail long enough feels better and is quicker than a real pick. Give it a shot if you are still reading.
Steve Buffington

 

[Artie]

Re: Black metal bridge parts on a hardtail, non tele pickup squire tele/humbuk-cheap

I definitely prefer my thumbnail rather than a pick. Mostly because, I never drop my thumb.