Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

[Rainmaker]

I have a Yamaha Pacifica and I'm thinking of spending some money upgrading the nut and the saddles. I've heard what difference these parts can make to a guitar, but how much do they improve the tone? I'm not going to bother upgrading if the only advantage is less string breakage. Please help me out, Graphtech users, and talks to me about the improvements in tone!

Bee

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

The Graphtech graphite series will darken the tone of the instrument a bit. I had one set of the saddles on an old Epiphone. They do prevent string breakage bigtime, but the guitar was a bit too dark from them, so I ended up not being happy with the instrument.

The new line, the Ferraglide, looks great. Seems to keep the top end as much as stock saddles with the benefits of longer string life (like their previous graphite ones).

 

[Morior]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

They worked great on my Strat. More sustain and thicker tone.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

Personally, I added them to cure chronic string breaking on my MIM Strat. The next time I change strings, I may go with Gearjonser's approach and put the stock saddles back on the wound strings. This guitar needed a slightly warmer tone on the G/B/E strings, so I'll keep the GraphTechs there.

Chip

 

[some_dude]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

I put them on my Strat as a replacement for the crappy stock metal "S" saddles. The stock ones would buzz against each other all the time, but the Graphtechs don't.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

the effect on tone was minimal, but they prevent your right hand from getting cut up. and it stays in tune better. worth it? what are they, under $20? yeah, they are worth it.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

the effect on tone was minimal, but they prevent your right hand from getting cut up. and it stays in tune better. worth it? what are they, under $20? yeah, they are worth it.

+1

I don't think the focus on what they do for you is a tonal change, as much as it is a functional one. I have the Ferraglide saddles on my Strat, and combined with the LSR roller nut and Sperzel locking tuners it's pretty much got bulletproof tuning stability.

 

[pac112]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

bee dude, i own a yamaha pacifica too. and the stock saddles on the bridge can hurt your right hand, especially on mine axe, since i have the action really really low.

if thats your main axe and you plan to keep it that way for some time, i'll say graphtechs are worth it.

but if you plan to go get another axe soon,dun do it.

 

[Frantic_Rock]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

I have a Yamaha Pacifica and I'm thinking of spending some money upgrading the nut and the saddles. I've heard what difference these parts can make to a guitar, but how much do they improve the tone? I'm not going to bother upgrading if the only advantage is less string breakage. Please help me out, Graphtech users, and talks to me about the improvements in tone!

Bee

Uhhhm. A pacifica is generally a lower end guitar - no matter what kinda sunburst it has... I have a pacifica and they have very skinny necks. The notes are really bright and not sustainy. I'd just recommend to invest in a good jap fender or something with a fatter neck. Graphite saddles are not going to make a drastic improvement.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

Uhhhm. A pacifica is generally a lower end guitar - no matter what kinda sunburst it has... I have a pacifica and they have very skinny necks. The notes are really bright and not sustainy. I'd just recommend to invest in a good jap fender or something with a fatter neck. Graphite saddles are not going to make a drastic improvement.

Not necessarily. There are high end Pacificas out there made from Warmoth parts, Wilkinson bridges and Sperzel tuners, and Duncan pickups.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

I tried some Graphtech saddles on a Les Paul once and didn't get on with them at all. Totally different guitar (and therefore saddles) to a Pacifica but my reason for posting is to say that they have an excellent "no quibble full refund if not satisfied" return policy. They were good helpful guys to deal with.

 

[JoyDivision24Hours]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

The difference in sound isn't big to me. A little smoother tone perhaps. You can prevent string breakage by polishing the bridge saddles a little now and then. I do it and it works fine.

To me the biggest advantage with the Graphtech saddles is that they FEEL amazing compared to vintage style saddles. Very comfy palm muting ahead..


Some say the sustain is better -Sure but you lose a some "cut" and attack in your tone IMO.

 

[JoyDivision24Hours]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

They should be GREAT with a Jaguar/Jazzmaster bridge as they are less prone to buzzing.. Nevermind.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

* struggles to understand how I is less than 3 Bjorks * :boggled:

 

[martinsixstringcustoms]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

The new line, the Ferraglide, looks great. Seems to keep the top end as much as stock saddles with the benefits of longer string life (like their previous graphite ones).

+1

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

just get sand paper and sand the crap out of your saddles. I did this on my strat after i had a string breakathon and i havent broken one in 2 months! I then put this oil all over the saddles and the nut, and it's all good now!

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

Thanks for all the replies, fellas!

Any other comments?

 

[philthis]

Re: Graphtech Saddles - Are they REALLY worth it?

heres a little advice. strats sound like strats becouse of a combination of things on it and the wood they sit on and the neck wood. I have taken a strat and upgraded it so much that it lost its tonal quality and nolonger sounded like a strat anymore. if you love that spanky, sparkely, treble tone then do not mess to much with your guitar. I found that a roller nut and upgraded tuners didnt hurt the guitar's tone but messing with the bridge is where you will start to change the guitars tonal charictoristics. Anyone who disputes this should listen to the differance between a standard american strat and a floyde rose equiped strat. the differance on the cleans is huge. so be carefull also be carefull about upgradeing to diff pots in the electronics. this can also change the tone alot. if i want to change my tone I start with pickups more than anything else and then work from there. you may like the differance. if all you do is play distortion type stuff and dont realy care much about your cleans then knock your self out and experiment alittle and see for your self. i have done this as well and I did learn alot by trying different things. :beerchug: