Members Karma1 Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 My 69 Tele Thinline reissue has the standard 3 saddle bridge and I'm considering changing it to a modern style 6 saddle bridge, with Graphtech FerraGlide saddles. Any thoughts as to the pros and cons of the 3 vs. 6? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tweedledee Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 My 69 Tele Thinline reissue has the standard 3 saddle bridge and I'm considering changing it to a modern style 6 saddle bridge, with Graphtech FerraGlide saddles. Any thoughts as to the pros and cons of the 3 vs. 6? The pro is more accurate intonation, the con is the general consensus that the 3 saddle bridge is part of what gives a Tele that distinctive twang and so replacing it reduces that. In my experience, the difference is noticeable, but not enough to say that you lose the true Tele character if you go for the modern six saddle bridge. Plus the three saddle bridge just looks cooler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Electric Blues Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 I used to think the 6 saddle was a better option because of intonation. Now that I've used both, I think the three brass saddle setup sounds better. I installed Callahan compensated (compensation can be adjusted) brass saddles on my 52 HotRod and intonation is perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Johnny Z Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 I like the 6 better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kid Klash Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 I like the 6 better. +1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 +1. Can you be a little more specific? Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kid Klash Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 Can you be a little more specific? Why? Intonation. And with the six GraphTech saddles, you get great tuning stability with great intonation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Help!I'maRock! Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 i have compensated wilkinson saddles on my 50s classic tele. intonation is dead on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bassopotamus Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 I use the callaham compesnated 3 saddle, and the guitar is properly intonated and sounds killer. I don't think 6 would be the end of the world, but I wonder, once you are switching to graphite too, how much of the tele sound is left there. For that matter, why would you even want graphite saddles on a hard tail. There really aren't any tuning stability issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Will Chen Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 For that matter, why would you even want graphite saddles on a hard tail. There really aren't any tuning stability issues. +1. I've had both and I lilke both. I think it's largely a personal preference. Really would like to try the compensated 3 barrel model though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ermghoti II Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 Compensated 3-barrel. I'd fiddle with the adjustable version that (IIRC) Wilinson makes, it pivots in the middle until fixed with a set screw. It should allow as close an intonation as any other bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kid Klash Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 For that matter, why would you even want graphite saddles on a hard tail. There really aren't any tuning stability issues. The older the steel or iron saddles and the more you bend the strings, the faster the leading and trailing edges of the string groove gets sharpened, which, at least to me, means that the wound strings get caught on those edges and won't slide back in tune as easily when you bend a string. It also means that I tend to break more strings, faster. The six saddle GT StringSavers eliminate both problems for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kid Klash Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 I Really would like to try the compensated 3 barrel model though... Yeah - me too, as long as they were made of brass (softer than steel, probably less likely to "hang" the string (tuning) or create sharp leading and trailing edges (breaking strings). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bassopotamus Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 The older the steel or iron saddles and the more you bend the strings, the faster the leading and trailing edges of the string groove gets sharpened, which, at least to me, means that the wound strings get caught on those edges and won't slide back in tune as easily when you bend a string. It also means that I tend to break more strings, faster. The six saddle GT StringSavers eliminate both problems for me. Well, I've got brass on my tele, which seems fine, and my strat is steel, with none of these issues either. I see the potential breakage issue (but this is a super easy fix) but I don't really see the tuning stability issue as the string shouldn't be moving that direction when you bend anyhow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members leopardstar Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 interesting thread, i've always wondered how you can set the intonation with the 3 saddle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dolf Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 Do not replace. Three saddles = real tele. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members caveman Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 I used to think the 6 saddle was a better option because of intonation. Now that I've used both, I think the three brass saddle setup sounds better. I installed Callahan compensated (compensation can be adjusted) brass saddles on my 52 Hotrod and intonation is perfect. I have the same bridge and couldn't be happier with both intonation and twang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alan Roberts Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 Stick with the 3 saddle bridge. If you can't find a luthier who knows how to compensate the saddles, buy a set that are adjustable. But, there's definitely more twang in a 3 saddle bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flintc Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 I wonder if there really is an audible difference, or if we only hear what we expect to hear. In any case, I have the 3-barrel bridge on my Esquire, and it works just dandy and sounds great. I don't see any reason to change a thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Karma1 Posted April 22, 2008 Author Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 Wow - I've never gotten so many responses so quickly. Thanks. Looks like there's a variety of opinions. As far as keeping the "Tele sound" - while I appreciate the traditional Tele tone, for me, twang's not my thang.I use the neck pickup most of the time for cleans, and use the bridge for high gain distorted leads. I'm probably going to drop a Seymour Duncan Lil 59 single space humbucker in the bridge for a thicker distorted tone. But I love the sound of the neck pickup, as well as the look and feel of a Telecaster. I've owned a number of Tele's over the years, but this is my first Thinline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Teranishi Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 3 is prettier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bassopotamus Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 Wow - I've never gotten so many responses so quickly. Thanks.Looks like there's a variety of opinions. As far as keeping the "Tele sound" - while I appreciate the traditional Tele tone, for me, twang's not my thang.I use the neck pickup most of the time for cleans, and use the bridge for high gain distorted leads. I'm probably going to drop a Seymour Duncan Lil 59 single space humbucker in the bridge for a thicker distorted tone. But I love the sound of the neck pickup, as well as the look and feel of a Telecaster. I've owned a number of Tele's over the years, but this is my first Thinline. Well, if you aren't going for the twang, then I don't think it matters so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tweedledee Posted April 22, 2008 Members Share Posted April 22, 2008 Well, if you aren't going for the twang, then I don't think it matters so much. +1 If you're not trying to retain the trademark Tele tone and you're going to put a Lil '59 in there anyway, then the modern 6 saddle bridge isn't going to be a negative for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members goodwater Posted April 23, 2008 Members Share Posted April 23, 2008 go with a three barrel intonated...trust me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sleepeatplay Posted April 23, 2008 Members Share Posted April 23, 2008 I replaced the 6 saddle bridge on my Squier VM SH with a wilkinson compensated bridge. (brass saddles). Intonation is dead on, it really added a lot of brightness and clarity to the tele. I also use my tele on the OD channel with a Rio Grande dirty harry in the bridge, and it's a favorite player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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