Why Steel On The 08' Americans?

[Murphy Slaw]

I ponder? Why not use brass saddles?

And, actually, the screws carry the tone, eh? Brass screws as well.

Just thinkin'......

Murph.

[AjayTele]

Why use Brass?

Why not use Bronze, or Silver or Gold?

Actually the steel ones seems to work pretty well to me. They keep the strings intonated really well, so the pickups capture and tranmit a great sound.

[rhinocaster]

I don't know where this post is coming from. Maybe something I missed.

I find it vastly amusing that I'm already hearing grumbling from the "Old School" 6 saddle fans that are offended by the Strat saddles on a Tele.

Come on. It's the next "Improvement"!

[nosuch]

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

Come on. It's the next "Improvement"!

A retrovation ...

[nosuch]

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

Come on. It's the next "Improvement"!

A retrovation or reverse innovation ...

[rhinocaster]

Originally Posted by nosuch

A retrovation ...

My lord, that's a great word!

[ramblinmike]

So if they went back to 3 brass saddles, would people moan the loss of the steel strat saddles? I'm sure some would.

I think the bridge looks far too long. I have no problem with 6 saddles, but I wish they did it like G&L.

[TG]

I suspect they did it just to 'make a change' so they could market a 'new' guitar. A gimmick. I very much doubt there's any amazing tonal improvement (have you ever heard of someone modding their American Series tele that way?)

[argent]

I think if there was any marked improvement in tone with the strat saddles somebody would've figured it out a long time a go and people would've been modding their teles with them for a while.

[AjayTele]

Who knows, maybe the new saddles are cheaper to manufacture and have nothing to do with tone...

Maybe they are less likely to break strings?

At the end of the day I'd be betting that the pickups used are having more of an effect on tone than any bridge you'd like to install in a solid body electric guitar...

[rhinocaster]

Originally Posted by AjayTele

At the end of the day I'd be betting that the pickups used are having more of an effect on tone than any bridge you'd like to install in a solid body electric guitar...

My experience doesn't support that.

[Gaber_771]

Originally Posted by AjayTele

Who knows, maybe the new saddles are cheaper to manufacture and have nothing to do with tone...

the new old "retrovated" saddles have absolutely nothing to do with tone as far as fender is concerned. its just cheaper per unit to make/buy 1,000,000 stamped steel saddles than it is to buy 500,000 stamped steel and 250,000 brass. That also leads to the use of the "vintage style" stamped saddle in the first place. it was a brilliant move for FMIC anyway. they simultaneously added more "vintage" to the new guitar, and lowered the cost by going from the solid brass to the stamped steel.

That said, there are faint tonal differences. And a 6 saddle doesn't look right on a tele. However, my #1 is a 6 saddle, as well as my #2, and #3. so it doesn't really make much difference to me.

[odiemann]

Whatever the reason, outcome, or effect of the "new" saddles, they were pure marketing genius. They have kept this guitar in CONSTANT discussion since it came out! And outside of the personal opinions of pro/con, that is what sells guitars in the long run. There are people who have given these guitars test runs who maybe hadn't touched an American Series.

Brilliant job FMIC.

[Tom S]

Originally Posted by Gaber_771

the new old "retrovated" saddles have absolutely nothing to do with tone as far as fender is concerned. its just cheaper per unit to make/buy 1,000,000 stamped steel saddles than it is to buy 500,000 stamped steel and 250,000 brass. That also leads to the use of the "vintage style" stamped saddle in the first place. it was a brilliant move for FMIC anyway. they simultaneously added more "vintage" to the new guitar, and lowered the cost by going from the solid brass to the stamped steel.

Yup, regardless of whether or not folks like the saddles, the underlying truth is that this is a cost-cutting measure being sold as an "improvement," and frankly it's a bit insulting that Fender believes people are that dumb.

If Fender was really interested in improvements, then why is it that on models with three saddles, they have only ever offered two models with compensated saddles (unless I'm missing one), something that actually can be useful and has been incorporated by end-users for many, many years? The answer is cost.

I don't blame Fender for doing their best to sell products, but c'mon....we're a little more savvy than that. Or maybe not?

[iorr]

Simple market strategy

[Murphy Slaw]

Actually, what I was wondering, since brass seems to be the bomb, why they don't make em' with 6 brass saddles, or if anyone will do them aftermarket.

Then it would be kind of new.

Sorta.......

Murph.

[Telarkaster]

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

I don't know where this post is coming from. Maybe something I missed.

I find it vastly amusing that I'm already hearing grumbling from the "Old School" 6 saddle fans that are offended by the Strat saddles on a Tele.

Come on. It's the next "Improvement"!

Actually I'm overjoyed! I'm one of those grumblers. Now I get to join the ranks of the 3 saddle fans and say "they did it better in my day" and "they had it right, why did they change?"

Give me these any day:



Now I have another reason to complain and be a grumpy old man. Now if I can only get those darn kids of my lawn...

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by Tom S

Yup, regardless of whether or not folks like the saddles, the underlying truth is that this is a cost-cutting measure being sold as an "improvement," and frankly it's a bit insulting that Fender believes people are that dumb.

It's almost as if they're in it for...the money.

[AjayTele]

Originally Posted by tiktok

It's almost as if they're in it for...the money.

A-Ha! Now we're getting down to it! I'm sure though, we do want FMIC to make some money, so they stay in business, I sure do.

At the end of the day though, why get insulted by any marketing hype? Life's too short to get hot under the collar about such things.

For me, I don't have any preconceived ideas about how a Telecaster should be manufactured or what components or materials it is made with. I just play each one and decide if I like it or not on it's individual merits.

The 08 AM Std was a pleasant surprise. I bought one basically just because it was a new model. I played it a few times at rehearsals and my local Jam night, just to show people the new guitar. I had intended to put it into storage before it got played too much and started getting scratches, bumps and bruises. What surprised me most was that I had multiple comments about how great it sounded, so as a result it is now a playing guitar. So now I am buying another one, to have as a collector...

[Geo]

Having both type saddles on Teles seems steel works really well with hotter
output pickups and brass with more medium or vintage like pickups.

[timmer114]

I put bent steel saddles on my MIM, I love it. I get a nice rich full sound with really nice string seperation. I like it better than my 3 brass saddle setup I had. It's still warm and balanced like brass, but has a nice tele twang/zip/zing on the upper notes if I dig in a bit. This is using generic bent steel *nickel? plateds from GFS.

I missed the 6 saddle bridge, but really didn't like the stock pot metal saddles. This was a nice improvement for me.

[3 Chord]

3 saddle, 6 saddle, bent saddle, modern saddle, threaded saddle, brass saddle, steel saddle, compensated saddle. They all have their pro's and cons don't they?

Rules of guitars and amps,

1) we all want what we don't have
2) the other guy's gear sounds better than ours
3) if I change this I will sound like them
4) we will never be satisfied

Fender know this. Now they can sell more modern saddles for folks to retro fit their new bent saddle design.

Personally it doen't matter to me. I put a vintage bridge on my Teles just becasue I prefer the feel of the old skool set up. I can't really notice a differnce in tone too much, it's just what I am used to.

What's next Fender, barrel saddles on a Strat?

[telepath]

I think maybe Fender accepted that those blocky looking (esp the sintered block) saddles looked out of place on any tele, and have tried to at least dial it back a bit - without losing functionality.

Revert to 3 saddles? - many would have an opinion about intonation if fender did that, and they may look odd on that elongated lip-less bridgplate

There are other models with three brass saddles too, I guess.

If it is about cost, even partly, then that - frankly - is keeping Leo's spirit alive!

[telepath]

Originally Posted by AjayTele

I bought one basically just because it was a new model. I played it a few times at rehearsals and my local Jam night, just to show people the new guitar. I had intended to put it into storage before it got played too much and started getting scratches, bumps and bruises. What surprised me most was that I had multiple comments about how great it sounded, so as a result it is now a playing guitar. So now I am buying another one, to have as a collector...

Personally, I'm glad to hear its getting played, like it was made for, and especially if it is giving others pleasure as a consequence - through your hands.
Again, as it was made for.

And - as it seems that you can afford to do so - (hey! - thats not a dig ), you are putting one aside so that a future generation can enjoy it.

[ADK Teleman]

I have Teles with both the 6 saddle and the 3 saddle bridges on them. Is there a difference in them...yes...The 3 saddle bridge sounds IMO more twangy..I get the traditional Tele tone I have always loved. The 6 Saddle bridge has IMO a bit more sustain. Ajay..am I on point here?? I agree with Ajay's point of the pups being the biggest culprit in this arguement. As for prices...guys lets be honest...compare a Fender with a Gibson...the Fender wins hands down on the price side. Not bashing Gibson...but...when I can buy a new AM Standard Tele for $1,800 US and go and get a Gibson LP and we are talking $3,000US starting..IMO the Fender is a better but. Especially when you consider the ability to mod/repair and cost it out...Fender takes the prize...again JMO.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by argent

I think if there was any marked improvement in tone with the strat saddles somebody would've figured it out a long time a go and people would've been modding their teles with them for a while.

I did that straightaway on a couple of mine. Very nice improvement in function and application; helped tide the guitar over until it could be retrofitted with a vintage box section 3 barrel bridge.

Originally Posted by Geo

Having both type saddles on Teles seems steel works really well with hotter
output pickups and brass with more medium or vintage like pickups.

Very well said. This (and uniformity with the "Command" model AS Stratocaster) were what motivated the sintered block saddles. It looked modern, to get some younger players on board, and it played modern - closer to the amp EQs of other guitars. Pointy guitars. Now that retrovation is the new "new", they can slip back into time to what works better for non modern music.

Originally Posted by telepath

I think maybe Fender accepted that those blocky looking (esp the sintered block) saddles looked out of place on any tele, and have tried to at least dial it back a bit - without losing functionality.

Revert to 3 saddles? - many would have an opinion about intonation if fender did that, and they may look odd on that elongated lip-less bridgplate

There are other models with three brass saddles too, I guess.

If it is about cost, even partly, then that - frankly - is keeping Leo's spirit alive!

Cost is key here. Otherwise, FMIC would have gone KEEF a long time ago and put 5 (plus a spare ) of billet brass, high end lead free brass center mount block saddles on most of these American Standard Teles (and Strats) with an option for billet no lead steel and billet titanium. While hopefully switching to a premium steel bridge plate ( optional austenitic steel ). But what would that cost?

[Ramblin Ray]

On any of the '08's I've seen, the E strings are terribly misaligned over the lead pup polepieces. That's a deal braker for me. Why couldn't they get that right on the "new improved" version?