Graphite Saddles: pros and cons

[benjammin420]

Im on the market for a replacement set of saddles for my strat. Ive read alot of different opinions, but there was no thread for this topic specifically. Im not particularly interested in maintaining vintage specs, but ive got no real compaints about the sustain/tone (they are worn though, hence why im replacing them) of the current stock saddles.

 

[Eagle1]

Surprisingly bright I like them .
Cons? they sound like themselves if you get my meaning and they don't look that great on a chrome bridge.

 

[testing1two]

My personal feeling is that there is absolutely no reason to change to a graphite saddle. If string breakage is an issue it only means that the string groove needs to be properly filed and polished. If you are set on switching saddles I heartily recommend switching to bent steel saddles (i.e. Callaham) and add a little vintage character to your axe. YMMV

 

[benjammin420]

Im not too interested in maintaining a vintage aesthetic, im curious what else is out there

 

[fr8_trane]

Why not solid steel saddles and some teflon lube?

http://store.guitarfetish.com/upststsafitr.html

 

[benjammin420]

so, is that a 'con' for the graphite question?

 

[fr8_trane]

so, is that a 'con' for the graphite question?

Nope. I use the graphtech compensated saddles on my MIM 50's tele. I like em. But the solid steel saddles are modern, not traditional, and you said you wanted to know what else was out there.

 

[9fingers]

Graph Tech makes the Feraglides, with a metal saddle body and a piece of graphite right where the string rests. They work like a graphite saddle but look more traditional.

 

[Eagle1]

Graphtech also make Tusq saddles for strats .

 

[Eagle1]

Saddle types
1.pressed steel ,Fender 11.3mm Gotoh 10.8mm
2.cast steel, Gotoh
3.milled steel ,Hipshot
4. brass, Gotoh
5.graphite, Graphtech
6.tusq, Graphtech
7.zinc (mazac) CBS Fender
8.composite steel graphite ,Graphtech Ferraglide.

 

[joemesser]

I had some Graphtech saddles made for an Alembic guitar once. They replaced brass saddles. I would say they darkened the tone a bit. I liked them for a while but then switched back to brass.

 

[testing1two]

Saddle types
1.pressed steel ,Fender 11.3mm Gotoh 10.8mm
2.cast steel, Gotoh
3.milled steel ,Hipshot
4. brass, Gotoh
5.graphite, Graphtech
6.tusq, Graphtech
7.zinc (mazac) CBS Fender
8.composite steel graphite ,Graphtech Ferraglide.

Don't forget titanium and cryogenically treated stamped steel.

 

[Eagle1]

Don't forget titanium and cryogenically treated stamped steel.

Oh yes ,and the ones dipped in fairy piss.:BEER

 

[fr8_trane]

Oh yes ,and the ones dipped in fairy piss.:BEER

Nah thats crazy talk. Pixie dust is much better