It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:03 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddles​?
Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2017 7:24 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:31 pm
Posts: 205
I know using the word better isn't the best thing to ask, but I have both a set of modern block saddles and a set of Fender stamped saddles in the parts drawer, and the following rig being pieced together: '62 Strat neck radius, stock nut, non locking Klusons (though in the future I might get locking), roller string tree, early six screw Highway 1 bridge with stock steel block. I always put lubricant on the saddles and nut slots every string change.

So....I simply need to figure out which of the two saddle types lends itself to better floating tremolo performance. Sustain and brightness always seems to be mentioned in comments on these different saddles, but I'll have good sustain from the pickups already being 3 Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounds.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddl
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 12:15 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
Any difference re: 'better floating tremolo performance' is theoretical and psychological.
IMHO. :wink:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddl
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 1:11 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:57 am
Posts: 2238
Location: UK
You can't swap Fender block saddles and bent steel saddles as the intonation screw is off set on the Fender block saddles.

Assuming they are non Fender then who knows?

I was a great advocate of block saddles, as that is what my original strat had and I liked the smoothness for palm resting. I am now probably more drawn to vintage saddles.

_________________
John

After all this time I should be better.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddl
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 3:43 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:57 pm
Posts: 1089
Location: Rossendale UK
warmachine wrote:
I'll have good sustain from the pickups already being 3 Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounds.


Really?
I'd always considered sustain to be the time it takes for a string's vibration to stop.
Sustain has got little to do with pickups, and poorly set up pickups can cause sustain to drop off.

_________________
Chris :)

Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddl
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 4:58 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:31 pm
Posts: 205
John Sims wrote:
You can't swap Fender block saddles and bent steel saddles as the intonation screw is off set on the Fender block saddles.


Thank you! Yes I certainly want the intonation and adjustment screws in correct contact with the bridge plate. This bridge was supposed to come stock with vintage saddles anyhow it came off a partscaster and they were missing. Glad I got substitutes.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddl
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 5:06 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:31 pm
Posts: 205
stratmangler wrote:
warmachine wrote:
I'll have good sustain from the pickups already being 3 Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounds.


Really?
I'd always considered sustain to be the time it takes for a string's vibration to stop.
Sustain has got little to do with pickups, and poorly set up pickups can cause sustain to drop off.


These pickups will be set low cause I never put high gain pickups too close to the strings which would kill sustain. These magnets are very powerful. The guitar had good sustain prior, but being the bridge plate has been decked the whole time I expect some loss now going to floating. Upgrading to a steel block should help some. Will see soon.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddl
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 5:52 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
In my experience, it's always a trade-off between playability and tuning retention. A single knife edge type vibrato is in my humble opinion easier to control and can be used for more subtle effects, but also means greater tuning instability and maintenance.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddl
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:10 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:50 pm
Posts: 7998
Location: ʎɹʇunoɔ ǝsoɹ pןıʍ
FYI

I have a Korean made Strat (the one pictured in my tagline pic below) which came stock with centre screw block saddles but I'm not having much luck finding the part number for them.
I believe the part number for the entire bridge assembly is:
0072874000
You can't use the whole bridge assembly because of different spacing on the pivot pins but if money was no object you could remove the saddles and use them on a bent steel equipped guitar.
The MIK (Cort) saddles are narrower than American Standard saddles because the MIK Strat has also a narrower string spacing but narrower would work where wider would not.


Callaham sells bent steel saddles with offset screws.

_________________
Image
Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddl
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:27 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:50 pm
Posts: 7998
Location: ʎɹʇunoɔ ǝsoɹ pןıʍ
Image


Looks are deceiving in the pic below.
The top bridge is the American Standard.
The bottom bridge is the MIK.
As you can see the pins on the MIK are spaced wider but the string spacing is about 1/32" narrower.
Both differences may well be due to a metric versus SAE thing.

Image

_________________
Image
Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddl
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 9:37 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:31 pm
Posts: 205
John Sims wrote:
You can't swap Fender block saddles and bent steel saddles as the intonation screw is off set on the Fender block saddles.

Assuming they are non Fender then who knows?

I was a great advocate of block saddles, as that is what my original strat had and I liked the smoothness for palm resting. I am now probably more drawn to vintage saddles.


Checked my parts bin and the block saddles are center intonation screws. So likely non Fender.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddl
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 9:45 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:31 pm
Posts: 205
BMW-KTM wrote:
FYI

I have a Korean made Strat (the one pictured in my tagline pic below) which came stock with centre screw block saddles but I'm not having much luck finding the part number for them.
I believe the part number for the entire bridge assembly is:
0072874000


Ends up the block saddles I have in my parts bin are center screw. I have two MIK Squier Bullets which have rather nice large blocks and 2 point bridges for an economy line guitar. The bent Fender labeled stamped saddles I have are actually off one of those.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddl
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:40 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
BMW-KTM wrote:
Korean made Strat (
I believe the part number for the entire bridge assembly is:
0072874000

I believe that's the same bridge as in Lite Ash Stratocaster MIK - should be 2 1/16" (52,5 mm, about) string spacing.
Part number BP-2333- (010/chrome, 002/gold, 003/black): cast saddles, center screw, 10.5 mm wide.

And the KTS Titanium Blocks are also 10.5 mm for any high enders.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddl
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 12:31 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:50 pm
Posts: 7998
Location: ʎɹʇunoɔ ǝsoɹ pןıʍ
warmachine wrote:
Checked my parts bin and the block saddles are center intonation screws. So likely non Fender.
I wouldn't be too worried about that.
Fender uses lots of parts that are non-Fender.

_________________
Image
Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: On floating trem which is better Modern or vintage saddl
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 12:34 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:50 pm
Posts: 7998
Location: ʎɹʇunoɔ ǝsoɹ pןıʍ
jmattis wrote:
I believe that's the same bridge as in Lite Ash Stratocaster
Yes.
Mine is the Koa Top version of the Lite Ash Strat.
Nice guitar for the money.

_________________
Image
Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: