String-saver saddles?

[Danster]

Curious as to whether those graphite (I guess) saddles you see advertised are used by anyone here. I break strings like crazy, and so I wonder if those would help out. They are supposed to reduce string breakage and give you longer sustain. Anyone had any experience with them?

Cheers,
Dan

[Bizarro]

I really like the Graph-Tech's on my main 'band' guitar. I bend like a maniac and play fairly hard so string breakage has been a constant battle for me for years. I always filed down burrs in the bridge pieces, oiled parts, put chapstick on the parts where the string rubbed, put graphite in the bridge, and so on. (many of these tips are on the Fender Mr. Gearhead website) I still broke strings!

I decided to spend the $40 on the saddles and I'm pleased with them. They are very well crafted and the adjustments are precise. The tone was 'dulled' a little bit but I needed a little bit of that on an alder strat w/ a maple neck. They were a snap to install, but it took some tweaking to make it just right. In hindsight, I recommend measuring and marking everything before you take the old saddles off!

This solved my problem nicely, and I would replace them in a second if anything happened to them.

I did break a string once since then, but it was up on the string tree. I had the, IMHO, crappy stock Fender tree with the two sharp edges. I replaced it with the nice Fender version ($5) which has a roller type configuration and only makes contact with the string at one point.

Now I have a guitar that I am very comfortable using in live situations.

[nateman]

...whereas i have Bizarro's old "beater" guitar, with burrs and grooves on the saddles and the original Fender string trees. lucky for me, i'm a much gentler player than B and i bend strings maybe once a day...on purpose, anyway. ;)

[Bizarro]

Very true... :cool:

But that guitar has a lot of style and charisma! Plus it's nearly 20 years old so it's practically a classic. At least I fixed the strap buttons so the guitar won't fall off while you're jamming...

It's perfect for a funkster such as yourself, especially considering you finally gave up the false pretense of buying an electric guitar of your very own!:eek:

he-he-he... I'll probably pay for that comment at work tomorrow...

[nateman]

why i oughta...

[EricV]

LOL...
Easy now, guys, no fighting ! :)
Eric

[Danster]

Originally posted by Bizarro
I really like the Graph-Tech's on my main 'band' guitar.Yer not on their payroll are ya?:D
In hindsight, I recommend measuring and marking everything before you take the old saddles off!I just ordered a set of Graph-Tech saddles. Thanks for the tip. I'll do that. I've broken three strings since I started this thread a just a few days ago.
I did break a string once since then, but it was up on the string tree. I had the, IMHO, crappy stock Fender tree with the two sharp edges. I replaced it with the nice Fender version ($5) which has a roller type configuration and only makes contact with the string at one point. If ya don't mind my asking, what's a string tree??

[Bizarro]

Danster,

A string tree is a device which holds down the strings on the headstock of a guitar before the string goes into the tuning peg.

Strats usually come with one for the B&E strings, and sometimes another one for the D&G strings. The purpose is to maintain downward force on the string as it passes through the nut. This prevents rattling, intonation problems, strings popping out, and so on.

A picture is worth at least a thousand of my words! The strat headstock on the top of Fender's web page shows a 'nice' string tree. http://www.fender.com/

[Danster]

OK, I'm sold on the Graph-Tech saddles. They've been on my guitar over a week, I've been banging the heck outta my strings, and no breakage. I had been breaking a string at least every other day. I couldn't detect any change in the tone of the guitar due to the addition of these saddles, although my ear for different tones is not good.

...and Bizarro, thanks for the tip about marking the saddle position, I probably wouldn't have thought of that. Intonation adjustment was minor.

[Bizarro]

Danster,

I'm glad they're working for you! They are a great invention and well worth the investment.

Nateman, we might have to get you upgraded one of these days... :p

[nateman]

unlike you and Danster, i seem to be able to get a full and useful life out of the strings before i break them. ;)

[szulc]

I have never had any problems like this with my wilkenson bridge.
The Floyd rose tends to break the string at the bridge.
What string gauge do you use? I use .010-.046.

[Bizarro]

Well, the Wilkinson tremolo system is very well designed and is made out of high quality steel. It is less prone to forming burrs at the bridge which ultimately are the cause of broken strings. It's probably the best tremolo bridge available, IMHO... You were very wise to put it on your guitar!

The point where the string touches the saddle must occasionally be sanded and/or filed down to remove the burrs. Bending strings will accelerate the deterioration. I've had this happen with traditional Strat and Floyd Rose bridges. It took about 10 years for my Schaller Floyd Rose bridge to form burrs, but Strats can go bad in a year or less.

String guage doesn't have much to do with this phenomenon. All the plain steel strings will break quickly if there are burrs.

I traditionally have used heavy strings, but I have gone lighter recently because of playing live (I now use 10-46). My style of playing sounds better with 11-58's or 12-58's , but it just wears out my hands and demolishes my callouses. I still broke strings with those cables! (as did SRV);)