Tele Saddles - Brass v Steel

[tomjackson]

A while ago I changed from brass saddles on a Callaham bridge to steel saddles on a Glendale Bridge.
I though the Brass / Callaham combination was nice but there was not enough Tele cut and twang which is what the Glendale with steel saddles achieved.  The Callaham was fuller and smoother but I liked the leaner more wiry Glendale combination better.

However, I've always though the plain strings were a little too bright and sharp so to tone it down a little I've just got some cheap Wilkinson brass saddles to see if that would be the winning combination - thin Glendale steel baseplate (as opposed to the thicker Callaham) with brass saddles.  Swapped them over and the GBE are definitely a little smoother but I've lost something on the E and A.  So I put the steel saddle back on the E and A and there is a massive difference, miles more definition and twang, I really didn't think it could make so much difference!

So the winning combination is E/A Steel D/G and B/E brass.

I might swap the Wilkinson saddles for Glendale so it looks right but at £30 for 2 saddles I'll be in no rush.

But if your Tele needs some more low end definition and twang go for a steel saddle on the E/A. 

[martinw]

Interesting.
What pickups are you using at the moment, Tom?

(Just finished my partscaster, so am steeped in the ins and outs of Teles at the moment!  :) )

[AndyR]

Don't Glendale or Callaham sell mixed saddle sets for this very reason? (Er, no direct experience of this, I'm just regurgitating "tele lore" that I have acquired from TDPRI :lol:)

[tomjackson]

Interesting.
What pickups are you using at the moment, Tom?

(Just finished my partscaster, so am steeped in the ins and outs of Teles at the moment!  :) )

I've got the Blackguard flat 50's, the same ones we did the clips with.  You're welcome to borrow the Tele if you want to audition them Martin, just let me know.

[tomjackson]

Don't Glendale or Callaham sell mixed saddle sets for this very reason? (Er, no direct experience of this, I'm just regurgitating "tele lore" that I have acquired from TDPRI :lol:)

I think just Glendale do a set with an Aluminium E/A for that very reason. I didn't think the different materials would sound so different though!

[martinw]

Interesting.
What pickups are you using at the moment, Tom?

(Just finished my partscaster, so am steeped in the ins and outs of Teles at the moment!  :) )

I've got the Blackguard flat 50's, the same ones we did the clips with.  You're welcome to borrow the Tele if you want to audition them Martin, just let me know.

That would be good... I'll drop you an email.  :)

[gwEm]

Don't Glendale or Callaham sell mixed saddle sets for this very reason? (Er, no direct experience of this, I'm just regurgitating "tele lore" that I have acquired from TDPRI :lol:)

I think just Glendale do a set with an Aluminium E/A for that very reason. I didn't think the different materials would sound so different though!

i was amazed by the difference brass saddles gave me on my strat. thanks for the post about your experience of mixing saddle types!

[Philly Q]

Don't Glendale or Callaham sell mixed saddle sets for this very reason? (Er, no direct experience of this, I'm just regurgitating "tele lore" that I have acquired from TDPRI :lol:)

I think just Glendale do a set with an Aluminium E/A for that very reason. I didn't think the different materials would sound so different though!

Glendale make quite a few different sets with various combinations of brass, aluminium, cold rolled steel and even titanium!

[Ian Price]

Can't find clips for this. Have you posted any?

I do like the look of it - might try it myself when I've finished my tele/esquire build.

[tomjackson]

Well I didn't do any before and after clips Ian but If I get a spare hour this week I'll do some, will only take a few mins to change the saddle.  Not sure if you'll hear the diferences so well recorded but we'll see.

There's a few clips on the MJW Myspace page, the Roadstar 18W clip was done with the Glendale bridge /steel saddles / BG flat 50 combination as I remember.

[AndyR]

Don't Glendale or Callaham sell mixed saddle sets for this very reason? (Er, no direct experience of this, I'm just regurgitating "tele lore" that I have acquired from TDPRI :lol:)

I think just Glendale do a set with an Aluminium E/A for that very reason. I didn't think the different materials would sound so different though!

That's very interesting - I'm in the boat you were in, aware that it must make some difference... but....

However, if you've hit an "oh wow!" moment giving it a try... then, well, that's very interesting...

Thanks for giving it a go! :D

(Actually, I seem to remember that it might have been you that went for BG 50s and went "wow!" which then caused me to give them a go... so I might dig out one of the spare steel saddles I have lurking somewhere when I restring the Baja soon)

[blue]

i have a set of those wilkinson compensated brass saddles on my tele, i'd call them a definite bargain!  i may have to try a steel saddle on the E/A now :)

[Pete24v]

i put a complete Wilkinson bridge on my Baja, gave it a real snappy twang compared to the original fender bridge

[Philly Q]

i put a complete Wilkinson bridge on my Baja, gave it a real snappy twang compared to the original fender bridge

I'm surprised it makes much difference, since the Baja already has a thin steel bridge - but maybe the metal in the Fender's not the highest quality?

I think I lean more towards the "fuller and smoother" Callaham sound than the "leaner more wiry" Glendale.  I have a Callaham bridge which (of course) I haven't got round to trying yet.  I also picked up a couple of Highway One bridges really cheap - they're vintage style but again with a slightly thicker baseplate, so they'll probably tend towards a rounder sound.

[MrPring]

Fancy selling me the Callaham Bridge?  :D