Educate me on Strat saddles, please.

[Rex Rocker]

I'm in modding mode for my new Strat.

It comes with the bent steel (I suppose they're steel?) Fender-branded saddles. No complaints tonally, but I wanted to explore other stuff. They also don't fit snug against each other, so if push one hard enough, it does slide around. That cannot be good.

So, wondering what my options are. And how do different saddles make the guitar sound different?

I got the trem blocked. Well, not really, but it's snug against the body with the claw screwed in tight and with 5 springs, so no intent on using it, LOL.

I realize there are youtube vids I can watch on the topic, just wanted to discuss what is you guys' experience.

Thanks!

 

[JerEvil]

I use the Highwood saddles on my Valkenburg sig model. I love them. Super comfy and no pokies from the screws.

 

[griff10672]

I've got Graph Tech saddles on my Strat ... love them ... especially paired with a Callaham Bridge

 

[cardinal]

The strings slide around on the bent steel saddles IME, especially if you use the trem, which is pretty annoying for tuning stability.

If I had a Strat anymore, I'd like to try some of these newer locking saddles like Gotoh has now.

 

[Dan Gleesak]

I think the cheap plinky ones sound more stratty

 

[PDC]

I got the Highwood saddles for 2 builds that have traditional style 6-screw trems. I swapped the bridges for Wudtone, which IMO are hands down the best 6-screw trems available. I find the Highwood saddles maintain side-to-side stability much better than the Fender saddles. And I love the fact that they solve the pokey-string-height-screw issue on the stock Fender saddles.

 

[thegame]

Brass saddles are warmer but also have an upper mid emphasis
Titanium are more hi-fi sounding with extended highs and flatter mids.
Steel is the most common and probably most balanced
I think stainless steel saddles are a bit tighter/crisper than the other grades of steel

Not a fan of synthetic materials for bridges, saddles, etc. Sounds less organic to me.

 

[Rex Rocker]

I've got some Gotoh brass saddles from a Tele bridge I was thinking about trying. You think I will get a bit more upper-mid spank from those? That sounds like something I'd dig.

However, not sure if they would fit. What is like the standard measurement for saddles? My Strat is MIM with the 6-point brige, if that matters any.

 

[JerEvil]

I got the Highwood saddles for 2 builds that have traditional style 6-screw trems. I swapped the bridges for Wudtone, which IMO are hands down the best 6-screw trems available. I find the Highwood saddles maintain side-to-side stability much better than the Fender saddles. And I love the fact that they solve the pokey-string-height-screw issue on the stock Fender saddles.

Yep. I’m on a Gotoh 510 but yeah, feels as comfy as resting my palm on a Floyd.

 

[Bardagh]

I definitely find my strings move around on the bent steel saddles, not just when using the trem but also from big bends. I don't like that but it also bugs me that this is a problem for me and not for all these other guys who have no problem using these vintage style bridges, so I persist with them on the couple guitars in my stable that have them. Gotoh does make a six screw 510 bridge though if you end up wanting to swap. They're great, I have one guitar with one.

 

[Rex Rocker]

I'm thinking I'm going to try to see if my Esquire's Gotoh saddle fit this bridge. I think they're brass?

From that, I'll decide if move back to steel or go for something else.

 

[SoooRad]

I think the cheap plinky ones sound more stratty

Yep, the "old style" are definitely a big part of a classic strat sound.

 

[VonBonfire]

I like the stamped bent factory Fender steel saddles. I hate the American standard ones. They are plinkier. If you want the most plinky, buy graph tech saddles. I had string breakage and everyone told me to get graph tech. Well, still had string breakage at the saddle. I'll stick with the classics.

And if you float that trem instead of blocking it your perceived tension will go way down, if that is important to you. I could never get along good with the 25.5 scale and strings thick enough to sound beefy on a strat. I sold all of them and never looked back.

 

[DrewJD82]

I can’t pick up on any perceived tonal differences between my Callaham trem and a standard 6-point Fender trem, but the weight and feel of the Callaham gave me a good security blanket in itself. Just a really well machined piece of kit that feels like quality. I’ve seen people say Callaham saddles are brighter than Highwoods, though.

Never had strings slip on the saddles, I’d have to think there’s a bridge angle/nut/saddle height issue going on there that’s removing tension from the angle of the string over the top of the saddle? I put a dab of Superlube over the top of the strings on the saddle and they still don’t move, even when divebombing.

If Floyd’s didn’t have a certain feel to them I love, I’d really have no problems with a basic, standard Strat trem. I posted this before, but a well cut nut and proper lubing removes all the tuning issues I’ve ever associated with a Strat trem.