Hi everyone! I recently watched a video on this site where a very knowledgeable custom shop tech takes you through various maintenance/clean up tips for the strat. Among these was to polish the top of each saddle where the string passes over it to eliminate the groove entirely. I always thought there was supposed to be a slight groove there to keep the string from sliding across the top of the saddle. In changing strings before the last gig I noticed that on both my MIM and 62RI that the saddles on each guitar had slight grooves under strings 1-3 and barely any at all under 4-6. I assume this is wear due to the wound vs. non-wound strings. My real question though is if the saddles are completely smooth as the tech suggests then what happens during string bending? I do bend pretty far at times. Sometimes as much as 2 whole steps. So I'd like to have the saddles smooth to eliminate hang ups while using the trem but I'm afraid that the string might slip sideways across the top of the saddle. Can anyone please advise me on this? Thank you all so much! Mark.

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I don't have an accurate answer but logic (at least mine) seems to say the grooves are okay. The block style saddles are designed with "grooves."

Also look at Gibson style bridges. Stewmac sells files and string type sand paper so you can file the grooves into the saddle.

ive not had this happen yet but its coming im sure.
i dont think you want grooves cut in the saddles.
slits are one thing though and needed.
that PING you'll get when bending is unwanted.
plus the groove gives you someplace else to get
your string binded up in. i could be wrong.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

let your saddles get grooves. As stated previously if you bend alot these grooves will only help. If you are heavy on the trem use a little oil or even chapstick on the saddles when you change your strings.

you just dont want the grooves to be to deep is all. a little "starter" groove is ok.
if you want them keep them well greased for binding.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."