Graphite/Tusq saddles

Bludave

Bludave

New member
Hello all.... It has been quite some time since I've been here.....

I've been using graphite saddles on my guitars for a very long time and they work great... Can't remember the last time I broke a string. Last year I bought a Firebird in Pelham blue... great guitar and I have broken a few strings since I've had it. So I ordered some Tusq saddles, dropped them in and all seems great.... no issues.... I was really more curious then anything else but does anyone know what the primary difference is between Tusq & the string savers (Graphite)? I tried looking up Info on Graphtechs website but couldn't really find anything specific..... Thanks in advance
 
I think Tusq is supposed to mimic, well, tusks or bone. Some people really like the tone of animal products on guitars (especially on acoustics) without using animal products. String Savers will have a different EQ (a little darker), and are formulated so breaking a string at the bridge or nut is eliminated.
 
One down side in using the Strat style full graphite String saver saddles is they can crack at the screw holes if you move them under full tension from the string. I bought a very nice Carvin DC 127 used that had them and every saddle was cracked at the screw hole. i contacted String saver on it as had run them before and never seen that. They were the ones that recommended loosening the string tension before adjusting intonation with the full graphite saddles. Were also super cool to work with an offered a direct sale discount on a new set of saddles even knowing that I had bought the guitar used like this.
The full graphite String savers add a little sustain and also will make your guitar sound a little different. They tone is more mellow but not muted and on a bright guitar can me really nice . On a well balanced guitar it can also be nice and make the guitar a little warmer and sweeter. It is only on a very dark guitar you may have any issues. Have absolutely never broken a string at the saddle on a guitar that has these and I have owned several. They also make a set that are metal with with just the area that is under the string coated in graphite that sound like a normal saddle. Solid product and a great company to deal with!! .
 
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Mincer said:
I think Tusq is supposed to mimic, well, tusks or bone. Some people really like the tone of animal products on guitars (especially on acoustics) without using animal products. String Savers will have a different EQ (a little darker), and are formulated so breaking a string at the bridge or nut is eliminated.
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Yep spot on here on the difference in the 2 brands I prefer the Tusq on an acoustic and the String savers on most electrics because of the tone. The Tusq saddles do sound very close to real bone the String Savers are a little more warm and mellow sounding.
 
I didn't like graphite on a strat, it seemed like it robbed it of its life and made it muted and too warm. I put a Tusq nut and steel saddles back on and it was great. I have always been planning to try brass saddle blocks but I think that will make me start down another wormhole of trying out different nut material to get a good sound.
My favorite acoustic has tusq nut & saddle and I love it.
 
I have String Savers on a few of my guitars and like them. They work well on Ibanez RGs and Kramer Baretta Specials. I doubt I'd put them on a SSS strat. As mentioned you should loosen the string before making intonation adjustments to prevent cracking. If you do a lot of palm mutes they're comfortable on your hand. Really smooth.
 
Only saddles I'll use are Tune-O-matic, stamped Strat real steel Callahams or Floyd Roses.

Those "sintered steel" (metal powder moulded by heat) block saddles on strats (started with the Fender American Stds) have always sounded like ass; "pingy" treble.
 
LLL said:
Only saddles I'll use are Tune-O-matic, stamped Strat real steel Callahams or Floyd Roses.

Those "sintered steel" (metal powder moulded by heat) block saddles on strats (started with the Fender American Stds) have always sounded like ass; "pingy" treble.
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I really have no experience with them except fot Fender, Callaham &, Schaller. The Callaham's topped the list with Schaller next, the Fender's are cheesy.
 
callaham makes great stuff for sure, not cheap, but ive been very pleased with every purchase from them
 
I use a graphtech bridge on a ES 335. It gives a nice rich warm tone without being toomellow or dull. I never have done a comparison with nylon saddles, which Gibson used in the 60ies on the ES guitars. But I guess it's in the same ballpark.
 
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In general I've found that the advantages of Tusc nuts are oversold by GraphTech's marketing department. I won't stock them, and while I used to install them if the client bought them - no more. I mostly insist on bone for new nuts, with few exceptions. Tusc works pretty well as a bridge or saddle material, with reservations.

GraphTech's NuBone nuts and bridges are OEM installations on several brands that have crossed my bench and I do like it. It looks, works, and sounds like bone. Heck it even stinks like bone when I rough shape it on the disc sander. I don't stock it, but I have no objections to it as a bone alternative.
 
Ascension said:
One down side in using the Strat style full graphite String saver saddles is they can crack at the screw holes if you move them under full tension from the string. I bought a very nice Carvin DC 127 used that had them and every saddle was cracked at the screw hole. i contacted String saver on it as had run them before and never seen that. They were the ones that recommended loosening the string tension before adjusting intonation with the full graphite saddles. Were also super cool to work with an offered a direct sale discount on a new set of saddles even knowing that I had bought the guitar used like this.
The full graphite String savers add a little sustain and also will make your guitar sound a little different. They tone is more mellow but not muted and on a bright guitar can me really nice . On a well balanced guitar it can also be nice and make the guitar a little warmer and sweeter. It is only on a very dark guitar you may have any issues. Have absolutely never broken a string at the saddle on a guitar that has these and I have owned several. They also make a set that are metal with with just the area that is under the string coated in graphite that sound like a normal saddle. Solid product and a great company to deal with!! .
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NONE of Kenny Wayne Shepherds guitars are "mellow" and he has these string saver saddles on every Strat he owns. Yall need to let that crap go. Smh. Thinking 12 grams worth of something causes an e tire guitar to sound different. Come on with that nonsense.

No one has ever proven any of this. It's all subjective and what you "think" you hear. It's akin to someone who clicks on a pedal and is sure it made a difference in the sound....right up until they realize their guitar isn't even plugged into that pedal so it doesn't sound ANY DIFFERENT WHATSOEVER.
 
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Out of five electric guitars that I own, five of them have Graphtech saddles. I like that they are smooth, feel nice under my hand, don't break strings and I think they look cool.

I won't comment on tonal qualities.
 
Dudeman7 said:
Out of five electric guitars that I own, five of them have Graphtech saddles. I like that they are smooth, feel nice under my hand, don't break strings and I think they look cool.

I won't comment on tonal qualities.
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You won't comment on tonal qualities because they completely rob it.
 
solspirit said:
You won't comment on tonal qualities because they completely rob it.
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Way to tell em sol!

Yeah, graph tech saddles aren't as bad as bone, but I do think they dull out the tone too much. I think having a synthetic material as the nut and having metal saddles is a good combo. Having plastic nut and plastic saddles is too much. Some people might like the muted tone tho.
 
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