6 saddle vs 3 saddle tone dif??

I've got a blacktop tele that I'm doing some heavy modding to. Lately I've been kickin around the idea of swapping the strat style hard tail bridge out for a cut tray style tele bridge from GFS. I'm mostly looking at it cause I just love the look of a tele bridge but I'm wondering how it will alter the tone?? Anyone have any experience w/ going from a strat to a tele style bridge?

THANKS!!!

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since this has been gone over a billion times, and i am no expert, i will say that the tone will be different, but i couldn't say better or worse.

in my experience the best part about 3 saddles bridges are
1) twice the downward pressure on each saddle, making they stay in place and i would assume add a bit of sustain (also from more mass per saddle)
2) with compensated saddles (love them by the way) it takes about half the time to intonate the guitar
3) the 3 saddles just have a really good feel to them.

my squier 51' had a strat style bridge on it and i modded the bridge (bubba mod) to accept 3 compensated saddles (wilkinson i believe). feels great, intonates great, and sounds great. i think improvement in tone is from guitar to guitar.

in all it is doable, and if you want 3 saddles do it, because it isnt that hard at all. if you have a hand drill on you with assorted bits you could probably swap bridges (or perform the bubba mod) in 5-10 minutes.

i play with a LOT of tele bridges daily, of all styles, makes and materials. imho, 3 or 6 saddle and the materials don't make any real world difference for "tone" to save anyone's life, but will from a functional perspective.

True, this has been gone over approximately a billion times BUT I began thinking about the 3-saddle bridge (don't have one) differently last night: a few of my guitars have a high frequency rattle on the first string or so that comes from where the string leaves the individual saddle (of a 6-saddle bridge).

In one case, I had put "centered" saddles where a sort of offset saddles were used: naturally, each string left the saddle at a less then perpendicular angle (I had to replace the bridge, too). On another T-style guitar the first string just simply rattles at the saddle: pressing on it from the side can alter the rattle. For that one, I'm thinking of a new bridge with a 3 barrel saddle.

My thinking is that the strings merely have to have a take-off point where they cross over the saddle rather than pass through a "guide" which, if not done right, can rattle. Can anyone comment on my way of thinking here?

Thanks,
Greg

six saddle bridges that are "vintage style" with offset saddles and long springs are a known culprit of the buzz, as the strings touch those springs ...

http://www.allparts.com/v/vspfiles/photos/TB-0033-001-2.jpg

Rob is right about this 6 hammer saddle bridges.

But in addition to strings making contact with these small parts and exciting them, a collection of small pieces parts around these vibrating strings in just a recipe for a collection of subtle but junky "traishy" sounds coming through the speaker

At show volume, you might never hear it though.

But in addition to strings making contact with these small parts and exciting them, a collection of small pieces parts around these vibrating strings in just a recipe for a collection of subtle but junky "traishy" sounds coming through the speaker

.

That must be what I like about them :lol:

That must be what I like about them :lol:

Yeah, no question, some people love that low tech effect!

The more rattles and buzzes, the better. Look at Seasick Steve! :cool: