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Hey guys, I've been thinking about trying a set of graphite saddles on my Hamer's TOM bridge. It's a tad bit brighter than you would expect given that it uses the same mahogany/maple/rosewood construction as a Les Paul. It sounds great with darker pickups, but I wouldn't mind adding a bit more warmth, and I thought maybe graphite saddles would be an inexpensive way to do that. Can anyone comment on how much of a difference there is in tone between metal and graphite saddles? Thanks.

Ryan

I Put a set on my Gibson SG and it warmed it up ever so slightly,but in a good way for me...I used the Graphtech saddles.

I didn't notice much of a marked difference. I did all my guitars from the LPs to the Tele to the Olympic. The new gear honeymoon is long, long over, and I'll still tell you they're the best $30 I ever spent on guitar gear.

I have them on almost evary guitar I own. I did not notice any major difference in tone. I haven't broken any strings since either.

My '77 strat got warmer in comparison to the stock saddles that were in there before.

They do have a drawback, I can't put my finger on what it is exactly, but they make your sound a bit ... 'smaller' (imo)

Overall, the increase in sustain, the improvement in note defintion and reduced string breakage make the swap (from steel to graphite) worthwhile.

they just came out with them for floyd rose trems i think i may grab a set .

On plain strings, I really like the way they take the pinginess off the sound. They're warmed up just right, making them balance better with the wound strings. On the wound strings, the difference isn't really audible when you put new strings on. The difference between graphite and metal becomes more noticeable, the longer the strings are on the guitar. Basically, month old strings will sound a little deader and pluckier w/Graphtechs. Still, they're the best upgrade you can do to strats. I don't think I've ever broken a string on a Graphtech saddle, now that I think about it.

I think the difference would be most noticeable on a Strat, but they would probably do a pretty good job of taming the highs on any instrument. It's a very subtle change in tone, but definitely noticeable.

The #1 reason to use graphite saddles IMO is to prevent string breakage, and for that purpose they are a HUGE improvement.


Originally Posted by shred-dogthey just came out with them for floyd rose trems i think i may grab a set .

I just saw a picture of those FR Graphtechs in Musician Hotline magazine. Those are gonna sell bigtime! Floyds that have the icey edge taken off, and no more broken strings! Yeah, those are gonna go over huge! I even found a pic!!bump


Originally Posted by GearjoneserBasically, month old strings will sound a little deader and pluckier w/Graphtechs.

Hey GJ; Can you elaborate on that a bit? In my mind, I would take quot;deaderquot; and quot;pluckierquot; to be opposites. Also, if I never break strings, would Graphtecs still be worthwhile?

Thanks;
Artie


Originally Posted by ArtieTooAlso, if I never break strings, would Graphtecs still be worthwhile?

Thanks;
Artie

The biggest unintended benefit of the Graphtechs is that my guitars actually stay in tune. I was used to tuning between songs, or between every few songs. I could never go a full set, or the better part of a full set without tuning. Suddenly, I realize I'm using my TU-2 as a mute more than I'm using it to tune with! Unless your saddles are that well notched and lubed, you don't realize how much your strings bind in the saddle.


Originally Posted by GearjoneserI just saw a picture of those FR Graphtechs in Musician Hotline magazine. Those are gonna sell bigtime! Floyds that have the icey edge taken off, and no more broken strings! Yeah, those are gonna go over huge! I even found a pic!!i will be getting a set soon to try out on one of my superstrats !! i just don't know if it will look cool on the one i have with gold hardware .


Originally Posted by ArtieTooHey GJ; Can you elaborate on that a bit? In my mind, I would take quot;deaderquot; and quot;pluckierquot; to be opposites. Also, if I never break strings, would Graphtecs still be worthwhile?

Thanks;
Artie

If you never break strings, you don't really need them, they'd just be a luxury purchase. I like the effect they have on the plain strings the most. They sound a little smoother on the top end, and never ice pickey. On the wound strings, they sound fine, especially when the strings aren't old, but you notice the effects of dead strings quicker on the Graphtechs. Maybe plucky wasn't the right word....maybe thuddy? Still, not noticeably bad.

I have a different story than most of my forum brothers:

My experience with Graphtech saddles on a Gibson Nashville Tune-O-Matic ('91 SG Standard) was that it incressed the highs and sustain, and decreased the amount of thick mids and warmth. And of course it solved the string breakage issue immediately (the reason I installed them).

This made the guitar brighter and thinner, kind of piezo-ish - not what I wanted at all. The sustain was increased, and that was good, but I took em off and am very happy I did.

I took some fine grade sandpaper and smoothed out the slots in the original Gibson saddles. This solved the string breakage problem immediately, just as good as the Graphtech saddles.

That was 3 years ago, and the guitar is still great and the best sounding guitar I own.