Strat saddle me up

EricTheWeary

I have filed down the saddles a couple of times but they keep being chewed up nonetheless. Could be lots of other causes but I'm fairly certain there is audible amplified noise coming from the high E and B saddles as this disappears after the filing down procedure. These saddles are the originals on my jap strat which is over 20 years old. Looks like I just have to check if it's 52 or 54 mm I need. Presumably I just unscrew the old ones and replace? Any recommendations? Where to buy ? What to buy? Not looking at the £150 ones made out of unobtainium but doesn't have to be the cheapest option either. Ta

Richardj

I put a set of titanium saddles on my American Deluxe Strat and it made a big difference. As well as being tough it was much livelier than the original block saddles.

ThePrettyDamned

I've got some callaham ones and I like them. Supposed to be vintage accurate hard steel, which should last, versus most import ones which are often plated copper or whatever.

Half the price of titanium saddles. Never tried titanium, but I know a lot of folk swear by them.

stickyfiddle

Callaham ones are nice. Well made and I've had no trouble with them on 2 guitars for almost 2 years now. Not sure on price but shouldn't be silly money.

DrBob

Have you seen these ones ;

http://highwood-guitarparts.com/

I like the way they look vintage but manage to avoid having the Allen screws dig into your right hand

stickyfiddle

DrBob said:

Have you seen these ones ;

http://highwood-guitarparts.com/

I like the way they look vintage but manage to avoid having the Allen screws dig into your right hand

That's nice enough, but feels like a solution looking for a problem. With the right shim and a set of varied-height saddles it's no issue.

EricTheWeary

Ooh, replies! Quite liking the look of those Highwood ones, the Allen screws digging in my hand is a bigger issue on my Pawn Shop than my strat so If they worked out...hmmm...The Callaham ones are from Chandlers in the UK and work out around the same as the Highwood ones. I'll have to check my saddles against the specs. Thanks all.

robinbowes

I use Graphtech saddles - sound great, and no string breakages.

R.

Fuzzdog

DrBob said:

Have you seen these ones ;

http://highwood-guitarparts.com/

I like the way they look vintage but manage to avoid having the Allen screws dig into your right hand

Just buy a bag of assorted little grub screws - job done.  All Strat owners should have a selection in the parts drawer, seeing as they cost pennies.

Headphones

I've a Wilkinson VG300 bridge on my partscaster with saddles just like those highwood ones...

The Wilkinson's a lovely bridge, wonder who's idea the saddle was.