Graph tec String saver saddles and a lack of harmonics an sustain?

[Ascension]

My Purple quilt Carvin DC 127 has a factory set of Graphtec saddles. I notice that 2 are cracked where the intonation screw is and also the guitar lacks sustain and sounds duller than my other Carvins.
She is a maple neck through alder body wings with the Quilt top but sounds much duller and lacks the sustain of my other similar Carvins. Guitar plays great and is stunning to look at but just lacks something in harmonics and sustain. I'm wondering if those saddles are a major factor in this? Have to replace at least 2 so?? Anybody have any experience with the graphtec full graphite saddles? These were an option from Carvin so are likely the originals but are the first of these I have owned.

 

[Mincer]

Whatever effect they have on tone is something I've always liked. I suppose it is more mellow than bent steel saddles, but it isn't night and day. My guess is that the issues with the Carvin can't be put down to just those. It is easy enough to swap out saddles on the next string change to find out, though.

 

[alex1fly]

Just those two strings lack harmonics and sustain? Or all the strings?

 

[Ascension]

Whatever effect they have on tone is something I've always liked. I suppose it is more mellow than bent steel saddles, but it isn't night and day. My guess is that the issues with the Carvin can't be put down to just those. It is easy enough to swap out saddles on the next string change to find out, though.

Carvin used a solid machined steel saddle for these bridges not the fender style bent sheet metal saddle. The Graphtec saddles were a factory option on these. Never owned a guitar with them and have to replace at least 2 of these due to the cracks so wondering if others had swapped conventional saddles with the graphtecs and saw a loss of sustain and harmonics. My old KOA DC has the same bridge and it has more harmonics and sustain so? Just caught the cracks when i did maintenance on the guitar 2 saddles are cracked from the top into the screw hole for intonation so have to be replaced.That in itself may be killing some sustain and harmonics. Guitar plays like a dream just lacks a little something in the harmonics and doesn't have the sustain like my other hardtail Carvin Kiesels do.

 

[Ascension]

Just those two strings lack harmonics and sustain? Or all the strings?

It's overall. It's not bad but also not like my other similar guitars. Plays great looks are stunning but lacks a little tonally.

 

[Ascension]

It's this guitar.

 

[Blille]

I used to do half graph tech (top 3) and half stock for a while. It does mellow the tone a bit, I would not say it kills harmonics but maybe some overtones are softer and it gives the feeling of more warmth/mids.

 

[Chris Pile]

Cracked parts are an obvious problem. Can you replace the broken parts?

 

[Gtrjunior]

Yeah, it’s gotta be those saddles.
I put a set in my LP and I love them. I can’t say enough good about them.

 

[NegativeEase]

My Purple quilt Carvin DC 127 has a factory set of Graphtec saddles. I notice that 2 are cracked where the intonation screw is and also the guitar lacks sustain and sounds duller than my other Carvins.
She is a maple neck through alder body wings with the Quilt top but sounds much duller and lacks the sustain of my other similar Carvins. Guitar plays great and is stunning to look at but just lacks something in harmonics and sustain. I'm wondering if those saddles are a major factor in this? Have to replace at least 2 so?? Anybody have any experience with the graphtec full graphite saddles? These were an option from Carvin so are likely the originals but are the first of these I have owned.

I use Graphtec nut and saddles on my A and B guitar for gigs.... it has a slight what I consider mellowing of harsher bright string attack transients which makes for a pleasant very subtle effect in my experience, if there is any effects on the harmonics I wouldn't know because I went to NYXL strings at the same time which are very bright and have pronounce harmonics -so perhaps my string setup have hid that if it exists.

My purpose for using them originally was doing a lot of traveling with a guitar for gigs and the Graphtec product really does mitigate a lot of humidity, pressure intonation issues.... I've flown 10 hours before and my guitar was perfectly in tune when we landed -really can't say that about any other guitars I've had or have.

 

[Clint 55]

I definitely noticed a mellower sound when I used graph tech saddles. I prefer steel for this reason. There are also rough steel saddles which have a bit of a mellowing effect but not as pronounced.

 

[Ascension]

Cracked parts are an obvious problem. Can you replace the broken parts?

Yes could replace the cracked saddles alone. Before I order them wanted to get some info on what others had seen in tonal differences that had used the Graphtec saddles to replace regular saddles.

 

[Mincer]

There is a little softer sound, but it is a sound I've always really liked. I wouldn't say the change is radical, but I guess it might be for some people.

 

[ehdwuld]

it may be cheaper and better to just get the same type saddles that are on the other Carvins that you know you like

why got through the hassle of doing twice

say you change the damaged ones
and still dont like the mellow sound that everyone agrees it imparts

you know you like the sound of the other Carvins with out those saddles
just put those on and be done

intonation is a fiddly business
why put yourself through that twice

 

[Gtrjunior]

I Consider the tone change from the Graphtech to be a desirable thing.
And it’s really a minute change.

 

[NegativeEase]

I Consider the tone change from the Graphtech to be a desirable thing.
And it’s really a minute change.

It definitely reduced a touch of the edgy natural harshness of my Tele in a good way

 

[Ascension]

Well today I got my mighty sight lighted magnifying glasses out and really looked close at the saddles on the Purple DC 127. All 6 are cracked in exactly the same place. Dead center the section above the the intonation screw. Some are worse than others but all 6 are cracked so its no wonder the guitar lacks some life and sustain! Makes no sense as there it is no evidence of any type of impact and the saddles are not jammed up on the bridge nothing just a small crack in each saddle from the intonation screw to the top pf the saddle. Haven't a clue on this one guys so anybody got a clue on this?
Guitar is intonated perfectly and is solid as a rock in tuning but those cracks are definitely there so??
Won''t put full Graphtecs back on it I can guarantee you that!

 

[ehdwuld]

Well you have your answer
if you dont plan on using Graphtech again
you can order the OEM replacement set from Kiesel
You can get another set from a boutique supplier
You can get a set from ebay

Its a price thing now

Hey here's a thought
Have you considered piezo saddles?
Just putting it out there

 

[Gtrjunior]

Well today I got my mighty sight lighted magnifying glasses out and really looked close at the saddles on the Purple DC 127. All 6 are cracked in exactly the same place. Dead center the section above the the intonation screw. Some are worse than others but all 6 are cracked so its no wonder the guitar lacks some life and sustain! Makes no sense as there it is no evidence of any type of impact and the saddles are not jammed up on the bridge nothing just a small crack in each saddle from the intonation screw to the top pf the saddle. Haven't a clue on this one guys so anybody got a clue on this?
Guitar is intonated perfectly and is solid as a rock in tuning but those cracks are definitely there so??
Won''t put full Graphtecs back on it I can guarantee you that!

My best guess is maybe the guitar took an impact at the bridge at some point resulting in all six saddles getting cracked?

It’s a long shot explanation but it’s all it got!

 

[Ascension]

Well you have your answer
if you dont plan on using Graphtech again
you can order the OEM replacement set from Kiesel
You can get another set from a boutique supplier
You can get a set from ebay

Its a price thing now

Hey here's a thought
Have you considered piezo saddles?
Just putting it out there

Have the Carvin AE 185 with the acoustic bridge or would think about it on the Piezo set up. Don't know what to make of all 6 saddles having cracks from intonation screw to the top though. Two were obvious the rest you had to really look to find but are there. Has anybody else seen anything like this with the graphtec saddles?