Re: Talk to me about Graph Tech
I have graphite saddles on many of my guitars. My main reason was I kept breaking stings, so after a few questions back and fourth I decided to replace the saddles on my Strat. That was like 10 years ago and I have still not broken a string on this guitar. Some people will tell you that the graphite will change the tone..... I think it does a little, but its hardly noticeable to me. I also have replaced the saddles on several other guitars with the string savers. Same result. I now have graphite on almost all my electrics. I have them on all my Strats, all but one Tele (my vintage Tele has brass), both of my Les Pauls & my 335. I have a few other guitars that I have not had any trouble with so I have not changed them (yet).
Here is what I found.
#1. I never break strings anymore
#2. My guitars stay in tune better
#3. The graphite adds a little warmth to the tone.
There are a few products available. The String savers & The Ferraglides. The string savers are a simple replacement saddle made entirely from graphite., The Ferraglides are a metal saddle like the originals with a thin graphite insert under the string. The Ferraglides I feel sound more like an original Strat saddle then the string savers, but they both work very well. I use them both. The Ferraglides will look more like the originals as well.
I also have Graphite nuts on a few guitars. These will also help if you use a Whammy to keep the strings from pinching at the nut. I even went one step further & installed a set of locking Sperzels on my one Start that I use the whammy a lot on & the stability is very good, much better than it ever was before.
I know a lot of people also use the Tusq, which I thought was for replacement saddles & nuts for acoustics. I have no real experience with this product as all my acoustics are equipped with either bone or Ivory nuts & saddles. With acoustics its more about how it affects tone more so than string fatigue. I rarely break strings on acoustics (I use 13"s) so I usually consider the tone over performance. I have read that this is now available for electrics as well.
Here is where you can find a lot of info about the products.
http://www.graphtech.com/products.html?SubCategoryID=35
They also now make a drop in Tone Pro replacement bridge for a Les Paul. Just remove the old bridge & drop in a new one.
When I bought my Guild Bluesbird this was not available & the posts on the Guilds bridge were a little different, so I would up having to drill out the holes on an Old ABR I had so I could replce the saddles on it. The bridge that came with my Guild ( a Goto) the screws that are used to intonate the guitar would not come out, so I just replaced the bridge with this old APR with the string Savers. Same thing I have not broken a string on any of the guitars & the tuning stability is great I would highly recommend this product that has any of the above issues. These will definitely help!
Another point is the graphite & Tusq from what I understand is the same material, just that the Tusq is white, so if you are attempting to keep a Strat for example look "Vintage" Tusq might be a better choice. A Black Graphite nut on an old maple fingerboard Strat could look pretty funky IMHO.
