Boston Joe
New member
I'm looking to replace the large brass saddles I have on a 70's Strat tremolo-- will large stainless steel saddles give more overall punch and harmonic overtones?
Thanks for looking!
Thanks for looking!
Saddle upgrade
- Thread starter Boston Joe
- Start date
LesStrat
Reining PunLowered
Re: Saddle upgrade
Hmm, I always thought brass did that...but what do I know? Someone will be along shortly, I'm sure.
Meanwhile, go to:
http://www.graphtech.com/product_display.asp
Highly recommended company for saddles, and if you use the "contact us" link, they'll email you within a day or so.
Hmm, I always thought brass did that...but what do I know? Someone will be along shortly, I'm sure.
Meanwhile, go to:
http://www.graphtech.com/product_display.asp
Highly recommended company for saddles, and if you use the "contact us" link, they'll email you within a day or so.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Saddle upgrade
I prefer the tone of the 50's/60's type Fender saddles for the E, A, D, G and B string.
But I use a brass saddle for the high E on my Strats because it sounds fatter and smoother and the skinny little .010 E rattles against the steel surface of the vintage Fender 50's/60's Fender saddle.
Alot of buzz that gets blamed on being "fret buzz" on the high E on Strats and Teles is not fret buzz at all: it's often the high E string buzzing against the steel saddle!
Polish that saddle smooth or try a brass saddle for the high E only.
Lew
I prefer the tone of the 50's/60's type Fender saddles for the E, A, D, G and B string.
But I use a brass saddle for the high E on my Strats because it sounds fatter and smoother and the skinny little .010 E rattles against the steel surface of the vintage Fender 50's/60's Fender saddle.
Alot of buzz that gets blamed on being "fret buzz" on the high E on Strats and Teles is not fret buzz at all: it's often the high E string buzzing against the steel saddle!
Polish that saddle smooth or try a brass saddle for the high E only.
Lew
Bludave
New member
Re: Saddle upgrade
I actually prefer the graphite saddles. I used to break a lot of strings and did all the obvious to eliminate this problem. I moved up to 11's on all my electrics, and have replaced the saddles with graphite and I haven't broken a string since. I did not notice any difference in tone either. well maybe the tone got a little smoother.
I actually prefer the graphite saddles. I used to break a lot of strings and did all the obvious to eliminate this problem. I moved up to 11's on all my electrics, and have replaced the saddles with graphite and I haven't broken a string since. I did not notice any difference in tone either. well maybe the tone got a little smoother.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Saddle upgrade
I've worked on guitars with the graphite saddles and they do sound good! Don't use them myself, but I don't have any issues with them either.
Lew
Bludave said:
I've worked on guitars with the graphite saddles and they do sound good! Don't use them myself, but I don't have any issues with them either.
Lew
Hellion
New member
Re: Saddle upgrade
I don't recommend brass at all. Brass actually binds up with steel and I've just always thought that the tone was harsh. I recommend you try GraphTech saddles. They're a graphite compound which are actually denser than brass, just as strong, and they even improve the tone on some guitars.
I don't recommend brass at all. Brass actually binds up with steel and I've just always thought that the tone was harsh. I recommend you try GraphTech saddles. They're a graphite compound which are actually denser than brass, just as strong, and they even improve the tone on some guitars.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Saddle upgrade
I don't agree with that at all! :laugh2: Replacing steel saddles on a Tele with brass has always resulted in a smoother tone on my guitars. Eric Johnson also uses a brass saddle on the high E for the same reason I do: smoother, fatter, less rattley tone.
Graphtech saddles are fine...I don't use them but they're fine.
Lew
Hellion said:
I don't agree with that at all! :laugh2: Replacing steel saddles on a Tele with brass has always resulted in a smoother tone on my guitars. Eric Johnson also uses a brass saddle on the high E for the same reason I do: smoother, fatter, less rattley tone.
Graphtech saddles are fine...I don't use them but they're fine.
Lew
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Saddle upgrade
Total agreement on that! :laugh2: I like brass on a Tele. Not on a Strat...except for the high E. Lew
Hellion said:
Total agreement on that! :laugh2: I like brass on a Tele. Not on a Strat...except for the high E. Lew
Boston Joe
New member
Re: Saddle upgrade
Thanks, guys! I like the brass, but I find that too much brass can choke the tone a little. After replacing the brass block with steel on a Srat, the tone was more alive, but the brass saddles still were hindering the harmonics and response. I added the vintage steel Strat saddles, and now the guitar is much more aggressive. Sustain is fine with brass (great for clean, but tend to interfere with overdriven sounds), but not at the expense of everything else. I really think large steel saddles is what I'm looking for for immediate attack, quick response and harmonic overtones.
I believe Allparts makes some good, large steel saddles.
Thanks, guys! I like the brass, but I find that too much brass can choke the tone a little. After replacing the brass block with steel on a Srat, the tone was more alive, but the brass saddles still were hindering the harmonics and response. I added the vintage steel Strat saddles, and now the guitar is much more aggressive. Sustain is fine with brass (great for clean, but tend to interfere with overdriven sounds), but not at the expense of everything else. I really think large steel saddles is what I'm looking for for immediate attack, quick response and harmonic overtones.
I believe Allparts makes some good, large steel saddles.
sosomething
Seymour Duncan Customer Support
Re: Saddle upgrade
I don't give all that saddles and such no nevermind.
I jus' use this: http://www.hipshotproducts.com/tremolo.htm
I don't give all that saddles and such no nevermind.
I jus' use this: http://www.hipshotproducts.com/tremolo.htm
