Members jds22 Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 I was just wondering if there is any difference in tone between bent steel saddles or solid steel saddles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Catfish-Killa Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 That solid steel looks like cheap pot metal that will eventually wear out and bind resulting in broken strings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jds22 Posted September 10, 2010 Author Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 That solid steel looks like cheap pot metal that will eventually wear out and bind resulting in broken strings The pics are just for reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 I used to always be about the bent steel saddles. Had a lot of strats and almost was always was happy with how they sounded. Several years ago, I bought a JV Series Japanese Squier strat. 70s style, big headstock, bullet trussrod adjustment, nice steel block saddles. Probably my second favorite guitar I've ever owned. Thought I'd spruce it up a bit... installed different pickups, pots and switch, mini toggle (going for the Gilmour vibe, cause I'm a fanboy ), different pickguard, shielded it. Played it like that for a couple years. Then I bought a partscaster that had a Callaham trem with the short Gilmour arm. I installed the entire unit and LOVED how it felt, but felt the tone took a step back. I thought about putting the original trem back on thinking it was something about the block. They were both steel and attracted a magnet. We took a vacation and I stopped at a shop in Florida and after complaining about the situation, an old timer asked if I had gone from block saddles to bent saddles and like a light switch, I realized that was almost definitely the thing. Got home, put the block saddles back on... and I was happy once again. So overall I don't know if one type is 'better' than the other, assuming both are quality pieces... but I know on that particular guitar the saddles almost ruined the tone for me. But out of 12 or so strats, I think I have block types on two, Graphtechs on two and folded saddles on the rest and I really like how all of them sound, but for the bigger, ballsy, fatter tones, I'd go for the block types. And since, 'pics or it didn't happen': Block type: Bent saddles: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scuzzo Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 sound wise i cannot tell a difference.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 I got the impression from playing a bunch of strats that the bent variety might add a little more twang, but never put them on the same guitar to compare. So, my estimation could be off. cratz2, Does that match your experience with saddle swaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 I preffer block saddles on teles and strats. Solid and work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jds22 Posted September 10, 2010 Author Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 Thanks for the replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Orange Jackson Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 I find that the bent steel sounds a little more open to my ear. I like them both though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nickeroo Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 Yup, I find bent steels sound more twangy, jangly and steely. Block ones = more midrange/growly. And whilst we are one the subject, when I removed by Graphtech saddles from a US strat and put the old ones back on, there was a big leap in "presence". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members poolshark Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 Block saddles have always sounded brighter, snappier and more aggressive to my ear. Bent saddles, on the contrary, are sweeter and more mellow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WRGKMC Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 Completely optional. The rest of the bridge and its material, the block will have affect on the string tone, so will the nut and neck which provides the other 50% of the tone to the string. The strings has two ends and they equally affect the tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 Block saddles have always sounded brighter, snappier and more aggressive to my ear. Bent saddles, on the contrary, are sweeter and more mellow. That's exactly the opposite of my experience. Well... kinda. I'd call the block saddles more rounded, fuller and more ballsy and aggressive. The bent saddles snappier and brighter and twangier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NHLfan2010 Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 From what I've heard (playability-wise) is that it is easier/more comfortable to play palm muted stuff with block saddles... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BoneNut Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 From what I've heard (playability-wise) is that it is easier/more comfortable to play palm muted stuff with block saddles... A lot of folks say that because the saddle height adjustment screws stick out of the saddle and dig into the heel of their palms. Truth is though, if the neck angle is correct, the screws don't stick out at all, so they're just as comfy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ST-III Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 I don't have either. But if both were made from the same material, I'm thinking the block steel would have more sustain and a bigger sound because of the extra mass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members poolshark Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 That's exactly the opposite of my experience. Well... kinda. I'd call the block saddles more rounded, fuller and more ballsy and aggressive. The bent saddles snappier and brighter and twangier. I think it's an issue of semantics, which I always manage to run into when quantifying sound with text. In my experience, block saddles mean more mass, which means less vibration transfer from the strings, which generally means more overall volume, sustain and 'presence.' For me, they breathe life (and add a little beef) into a Strat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vintage clubber Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 From what I've heard (playability-wise) is that it is easier/more comfortable to play palm muted stuff with block saddles... this for me. I have three strats set up with graph tech string saver block saddles. I have one strat with a wilkinson vintage trem that has unique saddles. Overall, I prefer the feel of the graph techs. better view of the Wilkinson on the black strat: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hondro Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 this thread reeks of elitism. How can you honestly claim that changing saddles changes the sound significantly? Some of the words you guys have used Block Saddles: rounder fuller ballsy aggressive brighter snappier more midrange growly Seriously? What does rounder mean? ballsy? aggressive? growly? These don't mean anything! Bent Saddles: Snappier Brighter Twangier sweeter mellow twangy jangly steely sound more open Brighter and snappier were used to describe block saddles as well. In fact a lot of these words were used to describe both types of saddles! What does steely mean? What does it mean if something sounds open? I think a lot of you guys are getting lost in the variables of the guitar. My guess is a lot of bent saddle guitars are vintage style strats with vintage voiced pickups and we think of the music played with old strats, and a lot of block saddle strats have modern voiced pickups so we think of the music played with modern strats. Either way, {censored} guys, read what you're saying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bsman Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 That solid steel looks like cheap pot metal that will eventually wear out and bind resulting in broken strings FYI, I have had a Route 101 Solimar Custom since 2000. This guitar has an el-cheapo bridge with solid saddles, and last time I replaced the strings I didn't see any discernible wear... :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 FYI, I have had a Route 101 Solimar Custom since 2000. This guitar has an el-cheapo bridge with solid saddles, and last time I replaced the strings I didn't see any discernible wear... :poke: I've had cheap saddles wear and cause breaking. It's a legit concern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bsman Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 perhaps the saddles ain't as cheap as I'm thinking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 perhaps the saddles ain't as cheap as I'm thinking... They may not be. The hardware on cheaper guitars seems better now than when I got that one, mid 90s. I played the {censored} out of that guitar though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rex Machete Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 this thread reeks of elitism. How can you honestly claim that changing saddles changes the sound significantly? Some of the words you guys have used Block Saddles: rounder fuller ballsy aggressive brighter snappier more midrange growly Seriously? What does rounder mean? ballsy? aggressive? growly? These don't mean anything! Bent Saddles: Snappier Brighter Twangier sweeter mellow twangy jangly steely sound more open Brighter and snappier were used to describe block saddles as well. In fact a lot of these words were used to describe both types of saddles! What does steely mean? What does it mean if something sounds open? I think a lot of you guys are getting lost in the variables of the guitar. My guess is a lot of bent saddle guitars are vintage style strats with vintage voiced pickups and we think of the music played with old strats, and a lot of block saddle strats have modern voiced pickups so we think of the music played with modern strats. Either way, {censored} guys, read what you're saying I agree completely, but getting lost in the variables is basically why this forum is here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PunkKitty Posted September 10, 2010 Members Share Posted September 10, 2010 I suspect that the block has more to do with tone than the saddles. But the real factor is the player of the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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