6 saddle vs 3 saddle tone dif??

[revelator]

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!!!

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI which ROCKS!

[twiggymac]

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.

[Rob DiStefano]

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.

[Greg.Coal]

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

[Rob DiStefano]

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 ...

[boris bubbanov]

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.

[PinewoodRo]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

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

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by PinewoodRo

That must be what I like about them

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

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