Brass Saddles Glendale, Callaham or other

[swampash]

My first partscaster build. I'm all set with the neck and body and finishing stages. Now on to the hardware and pickup choices. The (3) components I believe will give the results I'm after are the neck, pickups and saddles. Is it worth the extra money to buy Glendale, Callaham, Rutters etc compensated brass saddles. Happy to spend less if anyone can advise me on a great sounding option for less. Educate me. I played blues a little jazz and classic R&R. Thanks

 

[Phrygian77]

I like the Glendale saddles for a number of reasons. They have small angled set screws that won't poke your hand, and short intonation screws that also don't get in the way. They're really expensive for what they are though.

 

[yegbert]

Got a bridgeplate already that fits the body? What kind? Do you want/need top-loading or through-body? Are there certain saddle types you especially like, or dislike?

 

[swampash]

No bridge plate yet through-body. Not a Tele player yet. Can't comment

 

[ChicknPickn]

Gotoh Brass Compensated.

 

[VintageSG]

The basic Wilkinson brand compensated brass saddles are fine, but they're no lookers. Check the aesthetics of each brand before deciding.

 

[tfarny]

There is probably not going to be a functional or discernable difference among high-end boutique parts that are basically the same in design and function like the brands you mention. I have Gotoh compensated and they work great, I also have a Hipshot bridge which seems to not be popular, and the comp brass saddles on that are also great. no real difference. I've owned a couple of Rutters and Callaham parts in my time (not the comp saddles) and they were all / both great. It's just a simple machined piece of metal at the end of the day.

 

[newtwanger]

Got ‘em all, many times over.
Callaham: meh.
Rutters: top quality, great intonation, well finished.
Glendale: best screws, like the look, flat-wounds scoot on them though.
Gotoh compensated: well made, not better than Wilkinson but cost more.
Wilkinson compensated: best if you prefer not to waste money.


I am fortunate to be able to waste money on Glendale and Rutters….

 

[swampash]

This is great info thank you all!

 

[bobio]

I have tried lots of the brands mentioned and "for me" Rutters Brass Straight Compensated are my go to...
Marc makes them by hand and I am all about supporting small builders whenever I can.
I have never had an issue getting them to intonate perfectly.

Rutters Brass Straight Comp Saddles

Individual discrete grooves to get that intonation right while retaining the vintage straight look. No string wandering; precision cut to vintage 2 1/8'' string spacing.

ruttersguitars.com

 

[MickM]

While half of my Teles have the stock Fender saddles which I have no gripes about, I prefer saddles that have a string locating groove or Rutters straight compensated. Just no threaded stock type saddles.

 

[El Tele Lobo]

5/16@ compensated ones from Philadelphia Luthier Tools are pretty good and won’t break the bank. Plus, you can choose brass, steel or aluminum, or mix-and-match them. Some people prefer either aluminum or steel on the low E and A strings. I have a telecaster that has an aluminum on the low E and A strings and brass for the rest. Really like the way they sound.

 

[Phrygian77]

Since there are a lot of mentions of Marc's saddles. I like a lot of Marc's stuff. I have his knobs, strap buttons, and jack cups on most of my guitars. However, I've had issues with those saddles breaking strings (compensated broadcaster set), or causing wolf tones (compensated brass set). In both case, the saddles had to be tweaked with some filing. Of course, YMMV.

 

[Phrygian77]

While I haven't tried the Philadelphia Luthier Tools saddles, I did get one of their USA made bridge plates. It's very nicely made. It's a little more than twice what the Fender plate costs. My only complaint about it is that the pickup route shows slightly on each side.

Here's a Fender stamped bridge for comparison.

 

[ping-ping-clicka]

iF YOU ARE PLAYING, a six saddle bridge , GRAPH TECH saddle are super.

 

[rjtwangs]

Glendale....

RJ

 

[WingedWords]

I've tried boutique, but I've settled on standard Fender Vintage bridge plate with Gotoh or Wilkinson compensated brass saddles. Expect to waste a little bit of money experimenting to find what your ear, eye and wallet prefer.

 

[pbenn]

Standard Fender Vintage plate.

 

[GRAVITY-LHP]

another vote for Glendales

 

[Si G X]

I'd buy a bog standard fender/gotoh/whatever bridge with brass saddles and see how you get on before buying anything else, at this point you have no idea which you will prefer. Your question was "Is it worth the extra money" to upgrade the saddles, it may be but until you know what you are looking for and what you don't like about the ones you have, who knows? It might not be worth it at all.