Saddle up

A set of new Graph Tech saddles for my Fender Sixty-Six. Are these upgrades?

I don't consider the previous bent steel type saddles a grade lower than these. The previous version sports that vintage design & has a marked depression on the top surface. I find this very uncomfortable especially when peddling bass notes; it pokes into the picking palm. These are minor changes that I won't hesitate to undertake as my instruments should serve my needs. 

Intonating pinky

There are 2 reasons why re-intonation was done for my Fender Pink Paisley tele:

1. Bridge saddles were swapped out.
2. I decided to fix a set of .0095 in there as opposed to the default .009

Intonation refers to the tuning correspondence at both the 12th fret & open strumming, please do not confuse this with a regular tuning exercise. Why should this be the case? If you have any bridge saddle movements (to/fro), it would mean that the distance between the 12th fret & the saddles was disrupted, even slight changes necessitate an intonation check.

For the sake of accuracy, a plug-in tuner is preferred. As depicted above, my Korg Blackout was in use. The standard is not exactly strobe-type but it offers a wider tuning division compared to a clip-on tuner. Not all plug in tuners offer a wider degree of accuracy compared to their clip-on counterparts, we need to scrutinize what each manufacturer has to offer. In the case of Korg, its Blackout range indicates tuning changes both in division markings & colour indicators. This is the standard you should employ when dealing with small distance increments when adjusting bridge saddles. Majority of the clip-ons are unable to detect minor changes because they interpret tuning through material vibration transfer, unlike the direct signals from the strings. 

Intonation activity could take a while, depending on the bridge saddles you are dealing with. More often than than not, the one-string-per-saddle case is a more enjoyable process. The 2-strings-per-saddle cases such as the vintage/ traditional Telecaster bridges for instance, is a more painful episode. A movement to address one string intonation issue affects the other because they are both sitting on the same saddle. If a tech charges you quite a bit for intonation adjustments, you should understand the situation.

Gotoh tele saddles

Tele fans, we are frustrated because our preferred 2-strings per saddle assembly feature stiff saddles which cannot be slanted to our needs as depicted above. This of course, affects our intonation.

Good news- Gotoh has the BP-2329 seen here.

Note the movable bit, fixed by the allen screw there, so this lets you swivel that crucial portion for intonation purposes. I came across this product while searching for a brass replacement for my TL-71, so it's double bonus for me- brass + intonation-friendly.

Graphtech: Whites

These are the default string saddles in my Fender Marauder. They aren't defective in any way but those action adjustment screws protrude to jab my picking hand palm during play so...

... they made way for a set of Graph Tech units & this time, I've gotten myself a sextet of whites.

Graphtech-ed

The guitar in question is my Ibanez GRGR010, a budget GIO model with no bling factor at all. Recently, the bridge saddles turned dodgy due to rusty action adjustment screw. I could have easily replaced the affected screws only but went all the way to replace all saddles with the Graphtech version. Some would deem my decision wasteful; why spend too much on a budget guitar but I treat all my instruments with respect. I give them due attention because they serve me well regardless of the lower tier the are in. Imagine having a child & giving him/her secondary treatment just because he/she isn't as smart or capable as his/her siblings. It reflects very much on you- are you stroking your ego or treating your property with due care because you know it's your responsibility to do so?

Return of the Graphtech

My (Fender) ST-72 now gets a set of Graphtech saddles.


What's so good about them?
They are not 'so good', mind you. They just serve their purpose- to ensure smooth contact between the strings & the saddle.

How much?
$40 per set, available @ Davis GMC

Does it kill tone?
I don't hear any tone deterioration, my Strat still sound as snappy as ever. However if you love your default pickups but wish for a less protruding treble end, the graphite helps.

Graphtech: Ferra glides

Since I'm at it, I might as well replace the bridge saddles of my Fender ST-72. I've had the Graphtech graphite saddles in two of my other guitars so it's time to try something different but I'm sticking to the Graptech brand name. This time, it's a set of Ferra Glides.

The Ferra Glides saddles feature a graphite insert between each individual saddle's action adjustment area (those small screws you see at the pickup end of the component). This would prevent string breakage & better response to tuning adjustments as claimed by the manufacturer. It would also mean each saddle weighs less than an average steel unit so there's an impact on tone while retaining the steel's brightness. However, I have not re-strung this guitar. Yet.

Graphite saddles

I have a set of graphite saddles in the bridge of my Highway1 Strat. There were initially Graphtech units in there but those were replaced with the Allparts version you see in the pic above. Despite the former being the more preferred brand name for their graphite related replacement hardwares, I would urge fellow guitarists to try out other brand names which might not be as well known but offer a serious performance alternative. The Allparts products certain cost less...