When I get rich ...

[Lazarus1140]

'm going to have a machine shop fabricate a jillion brass 3 saddle bridges ... each with different spacings of their two ridges so that each barrel has a spacing a mini-micro measurement different from all other pairs.

Then I will go through as many of the jillion as is required until I am abkle to find the three that will allow my Tele to be intonated.

I bought my first Strat because a song demanded it, and now I need my Tele to play in tune with mixed open and fretted notes and frteed in various positions on the neck.

I have three different types of 3 saddle bridges. None work.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: When I get rich ...

Well...no 3 saddle guitar will ever be in tune...for that matter no 6 saddle guitar will ever be dead in tune but let me ask...

What saddles have you tried so far??

What string gauges are you using??

 

[LReese]

Re: When I get rich ...

Tried the Wilkinson style saddles? - the ones that pivot

Rutters makes a good saddle - can't really use them on mine due to a Parsons-white. The G pops out constantly. Using straight Gotoh Titanium saddles at the moment. Close enough to satisfy me.

 

[ErikH]

Re: When I get rich ...

Christian has said what I was going to.

And I'd like to add that to get what you are going for, you may need to just swap the bridge out for a 6-saddle. Now, there is someplace that makes brass saddles for a 6-saddle but I can't remember who. It's an option worth looking in to.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: When I get rich ...

I have tried the vintage 3-saddle bridge, the 3-saddle bridge with compensated saddles, and Wikinson's adjustable compensated saddles. To be honest, the Wilky comes closest, but I don't like the idea of the strings crossing the saddles at an angle.

I know six saddles would restore my "sanity", but I feel like the three saddle bridges make an important contribution to the Tele vibe and sound. IDK, I may break down and try six saddles to see if I can live with the difference in tone.

 

[thespricket]

Re: When I get rich ...

Being ever-so-slightly out of tune is worth it for that tone. It's too small a difference to go crazy about it, I love the way those old tele bridges sound. That's why I can't dig the US standard Teles. I think the compensated brass saddles are a good idea.

I've played quite a few vintage (and not vintage) Teles that sound incredible with their impossible to intonate bridges. But next time I'll have to have a tuner handy and check that intonation, because I've never actually seen what the difference is.

Also, I didn't mean to just contradict you. This is just an issue that often gets discussed at my store and I like to weigh in. It seems to be like Floyd Rose bridges. It may be cool to have use of a trem that almost always stays in tune no matter how hard you wank it, but it doesn't seem worth it to me to have a contraption mounted to the guitar that requires such a great deal of up keep.


Guitar->pedals->amp

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: When I get rich ...

I have tried the vintage 3-saddle bridge, the 3-saddle bridge with compensated saddles, and Wikinson's adjustable compensated saddles. To be honest, the Wilky comes closest, but I don't like the idea of the strings crossing the saddles at an angle.

I know six saddles would restore my "sanity", but I feel like the three saddle bridges are an important contributor to the Tele vibe and sound. IDK, I may break down and try them.

If you're willing to try once or twice more I have a few suggestions.

The 3 saddle bridge is a big part of the Tele tone to me to and it's not just the brass part...3 big saddles with 2 strings each is just different than 6 small saddles with one string each.

I am sure you understand that a fretted guitar will never, ever be dead on in tune but if you want to get as close as possible maybe try the Callaham Enhanced Vintage saddles:

Or maybe the Rutters Brass Straight Comp Saddles:

Both are great, well made saddles and these are supposed to be 2 of the best in terms of comepsated saddles.

They are $40 and $45 a set respectively but could very well be worth it.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: When I get rich ...

Thanks for the tip, Christian. I never thought of Callaham for Tele parts. I will order those today.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: When I get rich ...

Cool deal!

I have not tried those so update this thread when you get 'em in and try 'em out

I have straight saddles on my Broadcaster and Esquire and compensated on my Telecaster but I don't love 'em...been thinking about trying the Callahams myself but most days I feel like it's only rock-n-roll plus I always remember what Jimi said..."what the hell, cowboys are the only ones who stay in tune, anyway."

That said if they are as good as I hear I might get a few sets!

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: When I get rich ...

Part of my problem is the nut is not cut perfectly so those chords close to the nut mating open with fretted notes grind terribly. Something as simple as a D/A drives me up a wall. As usual, the G string is the most offensive culprit. I have a set of files but rather than working on it I intend to take it to an excellent tech in town to have him replace the plastic nut with an unbleached bone nut.

I mailed the order form to Callaham so I doubt I'll have the saddles before next Saturday. Frankly, if I like the saddles I'll order the actual bridge next. After all, everyone need three bridges for one guitar, right?

This is going on my HWY 1 Tele which sound incredible with the JD in the bridge, the custom Phat Cat in the neck and a 4-way switch.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: When I get rich ...

What about an Earvana nut???

It'll only help on open strings but those are more often than not the biggest issues!

http://www.earvana.com/fender_retro.htm

In regards to the Callaham bridge know that they do not sound like a vintage Tele bridge...Bill makes them from stiffer/thicker metal. The idea is do end up with a bridge that is perfectly flat and is less prone to squealing at high volumes but in doing so they do sound a bit different. I'm not saying it's better or that it's worse, it's just different if you are used to stamped Tele bridges.

Cool guit BTW...interesting side not...I also have a HW1 Tele and it is also pretty heavily modded!!!

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: When I get rich ...

I am familiar with Earvana nuts but I want to see how close I can get with a good set-up and a decent bridge first. If I didn't have a song that required what Teles do worst I wouldn't care.

 

[tubecrunch]

Re: When I get rich ...

I got the Callaham saddles. Gets me close enough.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: When I get rich ...

I got the Callaham saddles. Gets me close enough.

Mine shipped USPS today.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: When I get rich ...

Do you have a time table for this getting rich thing?

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: When I get rich ...

These things are supposed to be the answer?;

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: When I get rich ...

These things are supposed to be the answer?;

Post #5...he's tried them.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: When I get rich ...

Do you have a time table for this getting rich thing?

Of course I do. Do you think I'd mention it if I didn't have a plan?

I will be rich as soon as I hit the lottery or someone gives me a truck load of money. I'm predicting early 2015.

 

[LReese]

Re: When I get rich ...

I've seen ads for a Gotoh with compensated (al a Rutters - straight) Titanium saddles. Been debating getting one of those.

 

[ErikH]

Re: When I get rich ...

Do yourself a favor and get the nut taken care of pronto. That will take care of a lot of issues. Having a well cut nut is so important. When I started cutting and working my own, I took my time to get it right and measured a lot along the way. I've messed up a few but who hasn't. In the end it is so worth it.