Hardware Advice - Need to get brighter with my Telecaster HH!!!!

[gepetto33]

Greetings! Looking to swap out the Korean poo poo hardware that came with my Tele HH. I've searched all around the internet, but there seems to be a sheer lack of pragmatic advice. Here's where i'm at -

This is a dark guitar that i want to further brighten up by changing the hardware. There's plenty of tonal benefits to this in many regards, and i just want to get some input from you guys. I've heard GraphTech TUSQ saddles/nut is supposed to make things brighter on your guitar, but i've also read a few things saying their stuff isn't great, hence why i'm here... You guys always shoot straight. 

The bridge is a modern tele/strat style, with 6 individual saddles, and not the vintage barrel style. Here's an included pic of what i mean, so any/all recommendations would be most welcome... Thanks!

[Dave Sloven]

The TUSQ saddles will brighten your guitar across the range but will actually reduce the 2K spike.  The guitar might thus seem to have slightly less 'presence' but the lows and mids will seem a bit brighter with more harmonic content.

I installed a ResoMax bridge on my SG Junior, which was already very bright and resonant.  I think the sound is more detailed and rich across the board, but I am not convinced that it is brighter.  It is easier to play and is easier on striings

[gwEm]

what material are the saddles now?

if they aren't steel you could fit steel saddles.

if they are steel you could try titanium.

have a look at the pot values too.

[Telerocker]

I would say: start with pots and capacitorvalues.

[Philly Q]

I don't think there's very much you can do with hardware changes other than trying different saddles, as already discussed.  That guitar's basically a Tele-shaped Les Paul so it's no surprise that it's not particularly bright.

I wouldn't go with Graph Tech String Savers, they certainly won't brighten things.  I haven't tried Tusq, I'm not sure how different it is.

gwEm's suggestion of steel or titanium saddles is good.  I'd try vintage Fender style bent steel saddles if you can find some which match the spacing - the saddles from a current American Standard Strat or Tele might work, I think they're around 52mm spacing.

[Lucas]

The TUSQ saddles will brighten your guitar across the range but will actually reduce the 2K spike.  The guitar might thus seem to have slightly less 'presence' but the lows and mids will seem a bit brighter with more harmonic content.

I installed a ResoMax bridge on my SG Junior, which was already very bright and resonant.  I think the sound is more detailed and rich across the board, but I am not convinced that it is brighter.  It is easier to play and is easier on striings

Exactly  I have the same set up in my Dean Cadillac (Resomax Bridge and Hardtail but natural bone nut). Stainless steel frets will make it a bit brighter as well. It does the job in my Dean anyway.

As far as I remember Resomax bridge gives you 2K spike.

[gepetto33]

Thanks for all the replies, gentlemen.

The TUSQ saddles will brighten your guitar across the range but will actually reduce the 2K spike.  The guitar might thus seem to have slightly less 'presence' but the lows and mids will seem a bit brighter with more harmonic content.

I installed a ResoMax bridge on my SG Junior, which was already very bright and resonant.  I think the sound is more detailed and rich across the board, but I am not convinced that it is brighter.  It is easier to play and is easier on striings

Exactly  I have the same set up in my Dean Cadillac (Resomax Bridge and Hardtail but natural bone nut). Stainless steel frets will make it a bit brighter as well. It does the job in my Dean anyway.

As far as I remember Resomax bridge gives you 2K spike.

Welp... I can't exactly use a Resomax bridge with this tele, which rules this out immediately.

Pots and capacitorvalues.

Pots are 500k already, i checked. Not sure if capacitors will do much, if i already run it wide open all the time... right? I never use the tone knob anyway.

I don't think there's very much you can do with hardware changes other than trying different saddles, as already discussed.  That guitar's basically a Tele-shaped Les Paul so it's no surprise that it's not particularly bright.

I wouldn't go with Graph Tech String Savers, they certainly won't brighten things.  I haven't tried Tusq, I'm not sure how different it is.

gwEm's suggestion of steel or titanium saddles is good.  I'd try vintage Fender style bent steel saddles if you can find some which match the spacing - the saddles from a current American Standard Strat or Tele might work, I think they're around 52mm spacing.

Cool. The saddles/nut are the same ones that came on the guitar... all the product description says is "chrome" hardware. It's Korean made, so i can't imagine the hardware it came with is very high quality. I see the American bent steel saddles for sale... do you think these would be better, or should i try and seek out Titanium ones?

The guitar might thus seem to have slightly less 'presence' but the lows and mids will seem a bit brighter with more harmonic content.

Couldn't make much sense of this line, mate. Lows and mids are lows and mids.... and brightness is brightness, haha. I haven't ruled out TUSQ yet, for it's alleged brightening qualities... but I don't think i'd want to lose any attack (2k) at all....

So would steel saddles be better then?

[gepetto33]

Also... how can i even tell my saddle spacing!?!!

The two Tele saddle sizes are 2 1/16" and 2 3/16"... i don't know which ones my guitar is, or how/where to measure it.....

[Telerocker]

 A 1-meg pot could do a bit.

[Lucas]

Also... how can i even tell my saddle spacing!?!!

The two Tele saddle sizes are 2 1/16" and 2 3/16"... i don't know which ones my guitar is, or how/where to measure it.....

I think, Graphtech produces direct replacements in comparison to all popular bridges/sadles.

[gepetto33]

Also... how can i even tell my saddle spacing!?!!

The two Tele saddle sizes are 2 1/16" and 2 3/16"... i don't know which ones my guitar is, or how/where to measure it.....

I think, Graphtech produces direct replacements in comparison to all popular bridges/sadles.

And there's two sizes that i saw them selling.... knowing which one mine is was the question......

[Philly Q]

Also... how can i even tell my saddle spacing!?!!

The two Tele saddle sizes are 2 1/16" and 2 3/16"... i don't know which ones my guitar is, or how/where to measure it.....

Two ways:

1. Measure the distance between your E strings at the bridge.

2. Measure the exact width of one of your saddles and multiply it by 5 (for example if the saddle's 10.4mm the spacing is 52mm, if it's 10.8mm the spacing's 54mm).


With the Graph Tech saddles, the 2-3/16" (55.5mm roughly) will fit a vintage Fender, the 2-1/16" (52.5mm) will fit most modern Fenders and a lot of modern guitars generally.

There is one common size Graph Tech don't make, 54mm which is found on quite a lot of Gotoh bridges.  I'd guess your bridge probably isn't a Gotoh but it's a very similar design to their hardtail bridge and might (I say might!) be the same size.

[gwEm]

get a magnet and see if the existing saddles are magnetic and therefore steel.

people say that not all steel is magnetic, but in my experience with many guitar saddles: magnetic always = steel

[Philly Q]

get a magnet and see if the existing saddles are magnetic and therefore steel.

people say that not all steel is magnetic, but in my experience with many guitar saddles: magnetic always = steel

Stainless steel isn't magnetic, but I don't think I've seen stainless saddles so I agree, if the saddles are magnetic they'll be steel! 

Is titanium magnetic?  I can't remember.

[gwEm]

get a magnet and see if the existing saddles are magnetic and therefore steel.

people say that not all steel is magnetic, but in my experience with many guitar saddles: magnetic always = steel

Stainless steel isn't magnetic, but I don't think I've seen stainless saddles so I agree, if the saddles are magnetic they'll be steel! 

Is titanium magnetic?  I can't remember.

No idea, however titanium saddles aren't really standard fitment on Korean axes.

I've had a close look at those saddles in the picture, and I think they could be some sort of zinc alloy, or steel.