Trying to liven up my DIY tele

People will call me a liar until they try it for themselves but in my case, Budz saddles changed my guitar sound 100% for the better. Give them a try. I highly recommend them. They made more of a difference than pickups and/or bridge plate. You also might try some neck inserts, if I'm calling that the right thing.

 

As a "Guitar Detective"...that don't tell you anything ??

 

It could be an intonation problem. You might check out some compensated saddles. Haven't tried Budz but hear they're good.

 

I thought the whole idea in alum and steel saddles was to give a more twangy sound, particularly for the bass strings?!?

I'm doing a project as well on an existing Tele, and I'm replacing the E/A brass saddle with alum. So I guess I'll soon find out.

 

Before you start spending serious $, spend $5 on a set of Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Slinkys. I found the stainless alloy really increased the snap and articulation on the E and A strings.

 

Since you have access to machine tools, why not thy some other materials for your E/A saddle. A harder aluminum alloy, or even steel. You could heat treat the steel or case harden it.

 

Well that do make a difference !...I was picturing a chunk of Reynolds, and you w/ a Hand file and Hacksaw.....

 

Maybe it is the body. The HWY1's use alder which is not the problem, but it might matter where HWY1 alder bodies are finished. Does anyone know if they are outsourced? Maybe satin nitrocellulose lacquer can be done wrong.

I ask because I have a '04 Lite Ash Tele (Korean made). It was my first Tele and after two years I realized I wasn't satisfied with it's tone. In particular, like your git, the low E/A were a bit dead. So I purchased a new '06 Standard Series made of alder. What a difference. The Corona model just sings beautifully.

So now I am turning the L-A into a project. About 1-1/2 years ago I stripped and sanded the gloss clear finish off and had a friend who does custom residential painting/finishing (and a handful of guitars) put a few thin layers of a custom mix of PPG automotive lacquer on it. The coat is thin enough that the grain is still visible. After 4 weeks of drying I put the guitar together and found it to be no better and probably worse in the A/E. For at least a year I would open the case and would be greeted by the faint smell of paint. This even after letting it spend about 6 months hanging on a wall. Finaly, I let it sit in the case for the last 6 months until I decided it was time to think about buying a body from Warmoth to mount to the nice birdseye maple neck.

EXCEPT, suddenly I find the bottom end now has tons of pop! It is totaly projecting at all strings. And mysteriously there is no more scent of paint when I open the case. Did the paint finaly set up allowing the body to resonate? That's my guess. But long story short, depending on how your body was finished this could be the culprit.

 

Here's another data point: I made a tele with a Fender Highway 1 body and a musikraft neck (1", fat neck), SD broadcaster pickup, fender bridge plate, and glendale saddles ( the old version where the saddles don't touch). It has the sweetest tone that I've ever heard on a tele. What I've found is that there might be nothing wrong with the body or the neck, but maybe you should try swapping either the neck or the body. How much does the body weight and what is the neck profile?

 

As far as saddles I had Glendales, Bardens and Fenders. A little difference in the brands but not so much I'd think there was much difference to be made. The Budz rock. I'm not kidding.

Well, ok, next question, what amp do you use?

 

This.

Before spending $$$$$ on various parts, try swapping out a body or neck. I recently dialed in a guitar that was an absolute, miserable DOG with its first neck. No electronic or harware sub would have given it life. With a new neck, it's pretty rockin'.

 

HBamps,

Sounds like you did some thorough testing of your saddles. Can you give us some pics?

What didn't you like about the steel versions you tried?

 

Could you please post some sound samples, to hear those dull sounding strings?

 

I'd be tempted to try a different pickup.

Don's pickups are great; it is just possible this pup is not a match for this guitar.

Another approach might be a Glendale bridge plate. How about that Titanium one? Been meaning to try one, I just hadn't found the right guitar for it, yet.

Also, you could try the Titanium saddles.

 

Dare I ask what type (Brand) of Strings are you using ?