Quick Brass saddles question

Hi all,ive noticed tele replacement brass saddles are without the 'slot' for the strings to 'sit' in,can i know why and will the strings slip?Thanks!

I think the main reason that strings drape directly over the top of smooth brass saddles (three with no groove) is that that design was found to contribute very strongly to the very distinct 'twang' a Telecaster has and has become a part of the guitar's tradition. It allows for the string to contact cleanly and directly with the brass metal without anything to rub against like the side of a slot or groove. (If you have both a brass saddle and a brass nut on your Telecaster, you would then have a very sharp and distinctive clear sound when your strings are plucked.)

No, the strings will not slip if the guitar is strung correctly and in tune on such a bridge. The string tension when the Telecaster is tuned up will keep the strings from slipping off.

If you like the look of having a grooves in the saddle you can get vintage-style bridges with grooves in them (the following is listed as a 60's classic style bridge):

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/0058384000.jpg
http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/0056038000.jpg
http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/gbridge_genuinefendertele.htm

They aren't my cup of tea, but you can get them.


This Mexican style bridge also has a single slot for a string to sit in:

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/0053679000.jpg

Thankyou so much,that was great help,actually i wanted brass saddles in place of the original slotted ones in an attempt to tame the piercing highs,i'll give them a try then.
cheers!

Thankyou so much,that was great help,actually i wanted brass saddles in place of the original slotted ones in an attempt to tame the piercing highs,i'll give them a try then.
cheers!

If you have saddles with no groove, and string slippage is a problem, you can file a small groove around the back of the saddle, but not on the top (someone here posted about it a while back). That way, the string is held, but the contact point with the saddle remains unchanged.

If you have saddles with no groove, and string slippage is a problem, you can file a small groove around the back of the saddle, but not on the top (someone here posted about it a while back). That way, the string is held, but the contact point with the saddle remains unchanged.
Sorry,i dont know eactly where, can u help me identify the back of the saddle where the small groove is to be filed?thanks!

Sorry,i dont know eactly where, can u help me identify the back of the saddle where the small groove is to be filed?thanks!

The string contact area, measured conservatively (short). You only need a small notch, it doesn't need to cover the entire length contacted by the string.

It would be a good idea to install them first without grooving them. Maybe you'll find you don't need to groove them. But if you do, you'll be able to see exactly where the grooves need to be. You can use an extra fine Sharpie or similar to outline the string contact area, with the strings installed.

alright,thanks!

I like to be free to microadjust the location where the string breaks over the saddle. It is great to be able to use the same product on guitars with slightly different string arrays. I've had no problems with slippage even on the slant compensated type, but I tend to play hard on those strings up closer to the neck not right near the bridge, and I like 10's and don't tune down. I think slippage could be a factor with a top load bridge played real energetically with 9's or flatwounds.

Bubbanov

You might check with Fender Customer Service - Last time I called them with a part question, I asked if the grooved brass saddles used on the Lite Ash Tele could be purchased, and I was told they were going to offer those as a replacement part. Don't know if that ever happened, but they would solve the porblem you desribed. My 9.5s slide around a little, and occassionally need some re-aligning, but it's infrequent. But, I'm with you - the grooved saddles on my 1970 Tele do a much better job of keeping the strings where they belong. That's a feature I came to like over the past 37 years.

Hi,

I have questions related to this old thread .

Could anybody describe it a little more detailed, better yet - show a pic?
If you have saddles with no groove, and string slippage is a problem, you can file a small groove around the back of the saddle, but not on the top (someone here posted about it a while back). That way, the string is held, but the contact point with the saddle remains unchanged.

Another question - I have not discovered any web shop in EU to sell the simple brass barrels, just straight/perpendicular brass barrels without any compensation, but with grooves for strings . Does anybody know a place ?

Thanks for any help and suggestions!
telbert

Another question - I have not discovered any web shop in EU to sell the simple brass barrels, just straight/perpendicular brass barrels without any compensation, but with grooves for strings . Does anybody know a place ?

Hosco makes them. One place that comes to mind is Beatman in Finland.
http://www.beatman.fi/product_catalog.php?c=140&page=3

Axesrus UK has those too (scroll down):
http://www.axesrus.com/axeteleh.htm

varakeef,

thanks for the hints.

I have taken a look to both of them already, though. The Axesrus, being a UK supplier, assumably deals with GBP only, which means extra 23 EUR fee for just a ´non standard EU transfer´, besides the product price+shipping. They havent answered my questions on the possible alternative paying methods (asked couple days ago) . I wouldnt wonder if they´d never answer, because british companies, in general, are not often known as the most responsive ones, at least with the potential customers from outside UK.

With the Hosco (beatman.fi), it is unknown what thread type they adopt. I dont know, will the screws from my Baja tele original saddles fit/match or not. They (beatman.fi) havent answered my question yet, as well. In this context – I find the 19 EUR for just 3 x plain barrels too much to pay for a ´blind date´.

Hoscos include screws and spring so no problem about that.

Axerus has always replied my questions in no time, strange. I haven't found any special fees except the postage when ordering from them... which is actually a bit steep if you order just a few saddles. Which is why I always include some tele saddles when I order anything music related anywhere.

sorry, my mistake! Yes you are correct - i translated it more correctly now - the Hosco (beatman.fi) does have screws and springs inlcuded, (suomini on liian huono :-) )

About the Axesrus - how have you paid them ? Paypal (which I aint got) or Bank transfer ? In Estonia, one must pay a stupid extra fee while doing a non-standard bank transfer (UK is non standard because of not having EUR) , even within EU, if the recipient is not using EUR for currency...

I use credit card, but actually with the new EU-payment rule you should be able to transfer money to another EU country bank account without any extra fees (euro or not). I do it quite often from Finland to Sweden, mainly for Hagström parts.

Beatman may be you ticket, they send stuff in a letter if the object is small enough - and saddles are. I don't know if they ship into Estonia but I don't see why they wouldn't.

19 euros is reasonable for three saddles. That's what they tend to cost anywhere in Europe.

Yes I agree that 19 eur for whole brass set is very reasonable. But Beatman.fi just answered. They don´t ship outside of Finland. :-)

Edit: damn - the Axesrus not willing to ship to EE as well! Its not my best day today

The string contact area, measured conservatively (short). You only need a small notch, it doesn't need to cover the entire length contacted by the string.

It would be a good idea to install them first without grooving them. Maybe you'll find you don't need to groove them. But if you do, you'll be able to see exactly where the grooves need to be. You can use an extra fine Sharpie or similar to outline the string contact area, with the strings installed.

Is this for String-Through guitars only?
i'm looking at my top-loader and it doesn't seem to be able to be worked the way you describe....

Sorry,i dont know eactly where, can u help me identify the back of the saddle where the small groove is to be filed?thanks!

you will break the strings easily if you file a groove in the brass. not recommended.