software

What do you guys think of the String Saver graphite saddles?

I've been breaking alot of strings since I changed the angle on my tremolo. I have heard that graphite saddles quot;rob tone,quot; anyone agree/disagree?

Thanks.

The best thing since sliced bread. They're seriously the best $30 you'll spend. I got them just because of the string breakage problem, it ended up helping tuning problems I didn't even know I had. I thought you HAVE to tune between every song or every 2 songs.

I ended up getting them for all my guitars. I'd recommend not buying them directly from Graph Tech, you'll get them cheaper from Stew Mac or somewhere. However, the guys at Graph Tech were really good at helping me figure out exactly sets I needed. I spoke to one of the engineers with an English accent.

There's no quot;tone robbingquot; going on either.

even if you do think there might be some tone- robbing (not saying you are wrong, golden boy, just covering all the bases) theres these

Thanks for the input, guys.

They are great saddles. I've used them with great sucess, and no, I did not find that they changed tone in a bad way.

FWIW, You'll pay big $$ by going through Graph Tech direct. PM if you want them. I'm also a dealer for Graph Tech....

You can also only use the graphite on the top 3 strings that would normally break. I've heard they hurt your bass a little but I think they're an awesome idea.

Problem is getting the graphite to stick to your saddles.

Someone convinced me to mix some lip balm and graphite powder and lube my nut (huh, huh) with that. I hated it. I still just use graphite powder.

I really like them, but do something a little different. I put them only on the G, B, E strings, and leave the stock metal saddles on the wound strings. In my opinion, it creates the most pleasing tone on a strat, since it slightly warms up the plain strings, but leaves the wound strings with maximum clarity. They don't really change the tone, but on wound strings, I'd rather have the crisp sounding metal saddles. At least I can buy 1 set of Graphtechs, and use them on 2 guitars.
I haven't broken a string on my strats in years!
I Love that first Strat, GJ!

They'll warm up your tone a bit, which in my opinion, is not a bad thing at all on a strat.

GJ, is that a bare spot on your burst?

Actually, I've been breaking the A string the most, (mostly A, D, G, [fat]E sometimes) for some reason - I do pick/strum kinda hard/firm, but strings used to last me until they just too old.

My strat is already in the quot;darkquot; end of the spectrum, I hope they won't dampen the highs too much. (actually my amp is fairly bright ... so it may work!

About the prices ... I was planning on picking them up from GC or similar. Will they be priced fairly there?

Thanks again!

I need to do a Graph Tech upgrade on LesStrat. Sadly, that's not the highest priority at the moment.

MSS, I'll have to remember you when I order them.

Where do you break the string as it could be where it leaves the block, I do this all the time. Easy fix is to gently open up the hole with a curved/safety Number 4 countersink, my Old Strat had grooves where the strings came out of the block and they always broke at this point. Hasn't happen since.

Seems I recall something about SRV's tech using rubber wire insulation as the string breaks over the trem block.


Originally Posted by TrilogyActually, I've been breaking the A string the most, (mostly A, D, G, [fat]E sometimes) for some reason - I do pick/strum kinda hard/firm, but strings used to last me until they just too old.

I go through D (.26) strings like candy. I remember trying to keep track of about how long they lasted before the Graph Tech saddles- less than 3 hours of playing time. Yeah, I'm hamfisted.

The Golden Boy, I may be right on the money, the trem block is the source of the problem but after 25 of beating the sh## out of Strat things I should know.

The big difference is the strength of playing, when WE were young you hit like a sledge hammer but fumbled for the notes. Then as you get older the 'strength' and control takes over then you find new ways to break things. The reason I don't play anything then less than a 25.5quot; scale guitar is that I go mad Buddy Guy/SRV and try to create new laws of physics, awesome tone but a bin load of broken strings.

Q.E.D. Never give me a quot;shortquot; scale guitar to play, I'll trash it. And for the higher frets the ends of the digits won't fit.

I don't play Strats. So none of my string breakage is from a trem block or even the bridge plate on the Tele or the back 'ledge' of an ABR-1, all my breaks are on the saddles. It's mostly D strings, which is probably the quot;epicenterquot; of my strumming attack. It's all guitars, not just one or two.

I'm still in the 'hitting like a sledge hammer and fumbling for notes' stage after 25 years!

I have them on ALL my electric guitars except my 52' RI Tele. IMO a Tele needs Brass saddles. SInce I have changed these over I rarely break strings. Maybe 2 or 3 in the last 4 or 5 years. No change in tone that I can hear


Originally Posted by The Golden BoyI go through D (.26) strings like candy. I remember trying to keep track of about how long they lasted before the Graph Tech saddles- less than 3 hours of playing time. Yeah, I'm hamfisted.

That wouldmean a set a day for me... wow... that's no soooo cheap.