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Post subject: Bridge Saddles on the Highway 1
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 5:29 pm
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 12:39 pm
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Location: Birmingham UK
Anybody know what the saddles on the Highway 1 are made of?

I was having trouble with a dull sounding G string on my (revised model) Highway. That string was also coming back flat after trem use, despite my careful setup of the trem system. Obviously related problems I thought.

An extremely detailed examination of the saddle showed me that the string was cutting light grooves into the surface of the saddle. I solved both my problems by polishing the saddle with a Dremmel and some light mineral oil. However, that work clearly revealed the saddle to be plated - possibly with copper underneath. It's certainly gold coloured anyway at the point where I polished off the damaged plating.

I assumed these were ordinary pressed steel, but obviously not. They just look like it! Some sort of cheapo Fender equivalent? No big deal, I'll just change them when I can be bothered.

It's all working and sounding flawlessly now, but it left me wondering both about the saddles and therefore probably the Bridge as well. Budget hardware like the MIMs? Or is it the same as the higher end US strats? :?

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Post subject: Re: Bridge Saddles on the Highway 1
Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 3:19 pm
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Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:43 pm
Posts: 445
Location: Land Of Misfit Toys
I have 8 Highway One Strat HSS's and I changed the saddles on EVERY one of them. I found the stock ones to be crappy and cheap.
I put Graph Tech String Saver saddles on ALL of them and I'm much happier now!
No string breakage and better tone to my ears!
When ordering....I had to get the IMPORT model saddles because a lot of the Highway parts are Mexican...and there's a fraction of an inch difference.

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Post subject: Re: Bridge Saddles on the Highway 1
Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 6:53 pm
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 12:39 pm
Posts: 1466
Location: Birmingham UK
HWY1Strat wrote:
I have 8 Highway One Strat HSS's and I changed the saddles on EVERY one of them. I found the stock ones to be crappy and cheap..
..When ordering....I had to get the IMPORT model saddles because a lot of the Highway parts are Mexican...and there's a fraction of an inch difference.


Yes, encountered this before. PRS Graphtec saddles also fit perfectly!

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!


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