Hardtail Superstrat: Steel or Brass Saddles?

[JOLLY]

Is there really any huge difference in tone between the two, or is it negligible? Mind you, pretty much everything that will be played on this guitar will be with a decent amount of gain.

 

[Artie]

I'm curious too.

 

[Securb]

I have one guitar with a brass bridge my Ovation Deacon 12-string. It is bright, alive, and chimney. I can not directly attribute the tone to the bridge but I have played the same model with nylon saddles and it was not as bright and alive as the brass. I have no idea how it would compare to steel.

 

[Demanic]

Steel would be brighter. Better yet, titanium.

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[eclecticsynergy]

There's a difference but IME it isn't night and day. There's some difference between bent steel and cast/machined steel, too.

Unless you already know this particular guitar leans toward the bright side tonally, I'd probably start with bent steel, the baseline norm.

You can always switch to brass later on if you feel that it could do with a bit more warmth.

 

[treyhaislip]

I notice a difference between the two–steel seems to have more "chime" and brighter than brass, IMO. I like both and use both...have noticed that Cobalt strings cut into Brass rather quickly. Would go with what works best for the overall look of the guitar and adjust with EQ.

 

[Mincer]

Brass is also softer, so it is pretty easy to eventually saw the grooves pretty deep over time.

 

[ColeJustesen]

I noticed a little bit of extra ping with steel saddles, not much, but it is there. The brass still has some nice chime, but a bit fuller. They both sound excellent.

Cole

 

[jeremy]

i agree, steel is a bit brighter than brass, nylon is less bright than either. id probably go with steel in your case

 

[JOLLY]

Thanks, everyone.

 

[Aceman]

Yeah - under high gain, I'm thinking it wouldn't matter. Clean, sure...

 

[VinceT]

Thankfully, it’s not a massive mod to switch saddles out, so I’d say understand the difference with your ears and experience!


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[Chris Pile]

Brass is also softer, so it is pretty easy to eventually saw the grooves pretty deep over time.

Depends on the brass. If the material is bell brass, it will get harder as it is abraded.

Also, a bunch of saddles that are chrome plated are NOT steel. The diecast saddles are pot metal or a zinc alloy.

 

[Mincer]

I even like the warmer sound of String Saver saddles, which work well in a hardtail, too.