It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:54 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Saddle upgrade?
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:41 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:07 pm
Posts: 303
I'm looking to upgrade the stock saddle on my '91 American Strat Plus Dlx.
Options I'm interested in are stainless steel and Graph tech Tusq or String Saver.

Anyone tried these or others and prefer what you have over the stock saddles?

I'm keeping the OEM trem and want to upgrade the saddles, add 3 more spring as there are only 2 now, and looking at solid steel or brass sustain block.
Experiences and suggestions appreciated.
Thanks!


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Saddle upgrade?
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 11:37 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:50 pm
Posts: 7998
Location: ʎɹʇunoɔ ǝsoɹ pןıʍ
http://www.stratcat.biz/hardware-saddles.shtml

http://www.callahamguitars.com/partsstr.htm

_________________
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: Saddle upgrade?
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 2:27 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
Opinions, proceed with caution:

The stock saddles in your guitar already are high quality. Upgrading those (in a way that would make sense) means going real high end. Maybe go titanium?

You're going to add three more springs, so there will be five?
That's OK, if there is need for those additional springs - like if your strings need that much counterpull, or if you're going to deck the trem.

And you're going to replace the trem block, too. OK, here's a high end option: EKT Steel Baron

I usually replace saddles if there is "mechanical need" for it.
Soundwise, well... remember how many great songs were recorded with just standard saddles?

And then there's the question of originality. A 1991 Strat ain't vintage yet, but those am/plus/deluxes are already loved. Originals might be real collectors items in a couple of decades...

I'm not trying to talk you out of upgrades. Just seems to me the need for them is more based on feeling than real need. Think first "why", and after that "what" :wink:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saddle upgrade?
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 2:43 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
Posts: 14049
Location: Province de Québec, Canada
jmattis wrote:
[
I'm not trying to talk you out of upgrades. Just seems to me the need for them is more based on feeling than real need. Think first "why", and after that "what" :wink:



+1


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saddle upgrade?
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 8:16 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:07 pm
Posts: 303
jmattis wrote:
Opinions, proceed with caution:

The stock saddles in your guitar already are high quality. Upgrading those (in a way that would make sense) means going real high end. Maybe go titanium?

You're going to add three more springs, so there will be five?
That's OK, if there is need for those additional springs - like if your strings need that much counterpull, or if you're going to deck the trem.

And you're going to replace the trem block, too. OK, here's a high end option: EKT Steel Baron

I usually replace saddles if there is "mechanical need" for it.
Soundwise, well... remember how many great songs were recorded with just standard saddles?

And then there's the question of originality. A 1991 Strat ain't vintage yet, but those am/plus/deluxes are already loved. Originals might be real collectors items in a couple of decades...

I'm not trying to talk you out of upgrades. Just seems to me the need for them is more based on feeling than real need. Think first "why", and after that "what" :wink:


All good points, and good questions, and yes I have considered and thought about why I would do these things.

I'm considering the saddles and block more as an experiment to hear what the tonal differences may be rather trying to "fix" something.

This Strat is a great sounding and great playing guitar with no problems, other than the trem and warbling notes if I pluck a string too hard. This is the main issue I really NEED to fix.
I think there is not enough string tension to prevent the warble so I want to add some springs because right now it only has 2. 3 springs may do the trick, but I've read some comments that 5 springs gives a good feel. I can always take some springs off if it's too much. The additional springs are to stop the warble.
I don't want to deck the trem, I want it to work as designed both up and down.
If the additional springs don't do what I want, then I may go back and lock it down again.

I had blocked/locked the bridge for well over half it's life as I didn't use the tremolo.
A couple of months ago I decided to put the trem back in play and started enjoying using the trem again. I have other guitars with no trem for the harder stuff I play, so I wanted to put my Strat's trem back into play.
The problem is the warbling issue, which I think is due to not having enough counter spring tension, so hitting a note a bit harder pulls the trem forward/up too easily causing the warbling. That's the reason for more springs.

As for the saddles, I just want to try something made of different material to hear if it actually makes a difference in tone and/or sustain, for the better would be a great thing to happen, but I remain open minded.
Tusq is claimed to make a positive tonal change. Whether it will sound better to my ears or not can only be determined after I actually do it. But, that's why I want to hear from others who have changed the saddles to read what they think.
Titanium is way too expensive so I won't be going that route.
That's the same thinking for the block. The stock one I believe is a cast piece.
That's why I am looking into either a brass block or a solid steel one.

These are changes/mods that can easily be undone putting the guitar back to stock.
This a players Strat so I'm not that concerned about it's vintage originality as I plan to never sell this Strat.
When a guitar becomes "vintage" is an often debated question, but 25yrs old is a good average age to become "vintage".
That puts my '91 as vintage around 2016, but of course there are variable and debates as to when a guitar is truly "vintage".

Thanks for the input. :)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saddle upgrade?
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 12:45 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
OK, I think I get your point now.

For the warbling: adding more springs may help. Sometimes it takes a bit of experimenting - the trem springs also have their "sweet spot" where the spring pull responds optimally to trem use or bending. Also check the "usual suspects" like trem plate screws, contact points (string to anything), pickup height etc.

On the saddles/trem block change: the difference in the sound will probably very subtle (going from crappy parts to good ones would be more audible than going from good to different good). But you got the right starting point = where the string is always in contact with the guitar.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saddle upgrade?
Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2014 12:00 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jun 17, 2010 2:33 pm
Posts: 58
I have a partscaster that has a floating trem with 5 springs, GraphTech saddles (nut & string trees too) and a GFS steel block. I'm running flat wound 11's for strings. I really don't have anything else to compare with, but to me, my setup sounds good and stays in tune.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saddle upgrade?
Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2014 1:14 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:07 pm
Posts: 303
ras1500 wrote:
I have a partscaster that has a floating trem with 5 springs, GraphTech saddles (nut & string trees too) and a GFS steel block. I'm running flat wound 11's for strings. I really don't have anything else to compare with, but to me, my setup sounds good and stays in tune.


What brand springs are you using?
I just ordered a Fender "vintage" set with a new claw and 5 springs, nickle I believe.

I'd like to get a GFS block as they are reasonably priced compared to others, but GFS doesn't sell a block for a Fender 2 pivot bridge.
They have a whole 2 pivot bridge/trem set up in chrome that has a solid steel block and stainless steel saddles for around $42, which isn't a bad price.
I could take the block and saddles off of it and put them on my OEM bridge, that's an option. But they don't sell a block by itself that fits a 2 pivot, and I don't know if any of the individual blocks they do have will fit a 2 pivot trem.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saddle upgrade?
Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2014 1:34 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jun 17, 2010 2:33 pm
Posts: 58
I'm using the 3 springs that came with the guitar + 2 aftermarket springs. Unfortunately, I don't recall from where I purchased the aftermarket springs. It may have been StewMac.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] 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: