Hardware help, please...

johnnylaw · April 21st, 2008, 10:42 AM

Hello Folks!

Share your wisdom:

I saw Stewart MacDonald offers a low-cost set of compensated saddles. Has anybody used them, and what are your opinions?

Wilkinson makes a Kluson klone vintage-style tuner set. Has anybody tried these, and what might you opinions be?

Isn't this just the best website?

Thanks everybody.

Johnny Law

eryque · April 21st, 2008, 12:20 PM

I use the Stew Mac saddles and am pretty happy with them. I haven't tried the other brands, but I'm not convinced that at 4 or 5 times the price they are worth it.

boris bubbanov · April 21st, 2008, 03:33 PM

Johnny, I like the # 5167 brass saddles from Stew Mac, I've installed quite a few and I really think they sound great, excellent value for money as well especially when bought in multiple sets.

For tuners, also through Stew Mac; the Gotoh "klusons" vintage tuners are precisely the same ones used on many Fender Custom Shop guitars; they are my first choice, even over Schaller or Sperzel lockers. These, too, are a crazy bargain at Stew Mac when purchased in multiple sets (3 or more sets, $ 28.04).
Made in Japan.

Thanks for reminding me. I just called Stew Mac and got 6 more sets of these tuners.

johnnylaw · April 25th, 2008, 10:11 AM

Looks as though the wily Boris beat me to Stew Mac, as they're now out of stock on these puppies!

Perhaps that is the endorsement I was looking for.

While I wait for them to restock I can ruminate on this virtue that is patience.

reddogbass · April 25th, 2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

While I wait for them to restock I can ruminate on this virtue that is patience.

I'm not sure building tele's and patience go hand in hand- at least not in my basement.

jwc5 · April 25th, 2008, 12:39 PM

bubbanov, I am not finding the tuners you reference. What is the item number?

yegbert · April 25th, 2008, 03:19 PM

I've used the Stewmac angled compensated saddles. In my experience:

1) the inner ends need to be cut down a bit in order for them to align properly. You can do that with a grinder, file or cutting tool. The last saddles I did that kind of tweaking to, I had figured out a Dremel fine cutting wheel was the best way for me.

2) the strings have an increased tendency to slip sideways, compared to saddles the "barrel" of which is at a right angle to the intonation screw: either non-compensated saddles, or saddles that are compensated via a "shelved" shape. You can make grooves in saddles to eliminate this slip, but if you do, do it very carefull because imperfections in the groove can result in inducing sitaring.

Graphtech, Callaham, Wilkinson and RS Guitarworks are all sources of the "shelved" shape compensated type.

Among those, the ones from Callaham are the prettiest. But the ones from RS Guitarworks are pretty enough and are the best price. I think the price of the RS Guitarworks saddles is competitive with the Stewmacs.

And RS Guitarworks has them available in your choice of brass, steel or aluminum.

I don't have any affiliation with RS Guitarworks or any other gear manufacturer or seller, just a satisfied customer. I bought one set in steel to try and liked them enough I recently bought two more sets for a couple other Teles.

PJ · April 27th, 2008, 06:47 PM

I've used the AllParts compensated brass saddles. What I liked about them, is:

They butt-up to one another nicely
The compensation is correct
They use the vintage slotted screw adjusters vs. hex
Good quality springs & length screws
Reasonably priced - (if I remember, <$20).

April 21st, 2008, 10:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
johnnylaw Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New England Age: 51 Posts: 286	Hardware help, please... Hello Folks! Share your wisdom: I saw Stewart MacDonald offers a low-cost set of compensated saddles. Has anybody used them, and what are your opinions? Wilkinson makes a Kluson klone vintage-style tuner set. Has anybody tried these, and what might you opinions be? Isn't this just the best website? Thanks everybody. Johnny Law __________________ Its not how long you make it, its how you make it long.

April 21st, 2008, 12:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,127 44 Photos	I use the Stew Mac saddles and am pretty happy with them. I haven't tried the other brands, but I'm not convinced that at 4 or 5 times the price they are worth it. __________________ my blog: eryque.blogspot.com Updated 9.17.08! Subscribe_____________________

April 21st, 2008, 03:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 8,579	Johnny, I like the # 5167 brass saddles from Stew Mac, I've installed quite a few and I really think they sound great, excellent value for money as well especially when bought in multiple sets. For tuners, also through Stew Mac; the Gotoh "klusons" vintage tuners are precisely the same ones used on many Fender Custom Shop guitars; they are my first choice, even over Schaller or Sperzel lockers. These, too, are a crazy bargain at Stew Mac when purchased in multiple sets (3 or more sets, $ 28.04). Made in Japan. Thanks for reminding me. I just called Stew Mac and got 6 more sets of these tuners. __________________ Bubban0v

April 25th, 2008, 10:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnnylaw Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New England Age: 51 Posts: 286	Looks as though the wily Boris beat me to Stew Mac, as they're now out of stock on these puppies! Perhaps that is the endorsement I was looking for. While I wait for them to restock I can ruminate on this virtue that is patience. __________________ Its not how long you make it, its how you make it long.

April 27th, 2008, 06:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
PJ Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,082 4 Photos	I've used the AllParts compensated brass saddles. What I liked about them, is: They butt-up to one another nicely The compensation is correct They use the vintage slotted screw adjusters vs. hex Good quality springs & length screws Reasonably priced - (if I remember, <$20). __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

April 25th, 2008, 12:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
jwc5 Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft. Worth Posts: 250	bubbanov, I am not finding the tuners you reference. What is the item number?

April 25th, 2008, 03:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
yegbert Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland (US) Age: 54 Posts: 4,858 85 Photos	I've used the Stewmac angled compensated saddles. In my experience: 1) the inner ends need to be cut down a bit in order for them to align properly. You can do that with a grinder, file or cutting tool. The last saddles I did that kind of tweaking to, I had figured out a Dremel fine cutting wheel was the best way for me. 2) the strings have an increased tendency to slip sideways, compared to saddles the "barrel" of which is at a right angle to the intonation screw: either non-compensated saddles, or saddles that are compensated via a "shelved" shape. You can make grooves in saddles to eliminate this slip, but if you do, do it very carefull because imperfections in the groove can result in inducing sitaring. Graphtech, Callaham, Wilkinson and RS Guitarworks are all sources of the "shelved" shape compensated type. Among those, the ones from Callaham are the prettiest. But the ones from RS Guitarworks are pretty enough and are the best price. I think the price of the RS Guitarworks saddles is competitive with the Stewmacs. And RS Guitarworks has them available in your choice of brass, steel or aluminum. I don't have any affiliation with RS Guitarworks or any other gear manufacturer or seller, just a satisfied customer. I bought one set in steel to try and liked them enough I recently bought two more sets for a couple other Teles.