Best Strat Saddles Ever? | Highwood | Guitar Tech Tips | Ep.99 | Thomann
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- Опубликовано: 30 июл 2024
- What if you don't like the modern "block saddles" on strats but you keep on hurting your hand with the traditional ones? Are the round and safe Highwood saddles any good? Is this the ultimate upgrade for strats? Let's figure it out together! Enjoy Guitar Tech Tips!
Gear used: tho.mn/lsfc9
Recorded and mixed with Universal Audio: tho.mn/uadx1
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Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Intro
0:27 The different types of strat saddles and respective issues
1:15 What are Highwood saddles?
1:36 Replacing the saddles on a strat
1:57 Tone comparison
2:31 Conclusion on the sound
3:11 Conclusion on the playing feel
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Видеоклипы
*Hello! Here's a 4€ trick:*
I bought different height adjustments screws with different length, 9 mm to 7,5 mm from low to high. So the screws would turn entirely into the saddles.
On the standard Fender bridges, all the screws are 10 mm.
Problem solved. 😉
I did the same thing, works a treat! I had a nice mixture left over to do my tele as well!
@@cowieson 😉👍
Yeah that's a great tip! It doesn't work on all strats though unfortunately. Depending on the fret hight, the action preferences and the bridge angle even the "compensated" screws can stick out. I have these shorter screws for the two E strings on my ABM strat bridge, still they are slightly sticking out. As told, I'm totally fine with that so Idon't mind that. :) But if none of the screw tricks work on your strat and you can't stand that, the Highwoods come pretty handy. Cheers buddy!
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses Ok, thanks for all these infos, I didn't know. That's the difference between a beginner like me and a pro. 😉👍
@@Oilid the difference is that a pro knows that those screws are available in a bunch of lengths and there is always one that works. i use them on all my guitars.
I'm using these on my Strat for a while now. Not only are they more comfortable to play, the valleys where the string sits also help with tuning stability. It's crazy how much better they are. I'll never use anything else.
I’d assume they help against string breakage too?
@@gunkanjima3408 Maybe? I can't say from my experience because I never break strings. In Millstap's video, he makes an argument how the Highwoods don't develop wear grooves. so they're easier on strings in that regard.
I use these and they are awesome. Shows you don't need rocket science tech to make a comfortably playing guitar. This should be a default instead of those horrible bent vintage ones.
I use these Highwood saddles on one of my guitars and they are so good!
I put those on my parts caster Strat and find the design great while retaining a traditional look! Thanks for the video! 👏🏻🎸❤️
I use the Highwoods for years now. Great stuff!
3yrs ago a fellow RUclipsr put Highwood saddles on his '59 Strat when i was figuring why my MIM '95 Strat Special wasn't sounding exactly like a Strat should after i swapped the HSS layout to the traditional SSS and it dawned on me: it was the dullness of the Graphtech String Saver saddles. I was originally going to order Highwood saddles for my Strat but in the meantime I deburred the edges of the steel saddles, put em back on and that bright bite brought my Strat back to life. However I'm still intrigued on how enhancing these Highwood saddles would be for my tone so, in due time, there's only one way to find out...
Ep.76 was my favourite one. Congrats for reaching 100 episodes.
Thank you so much!
why does the original saddles not have a string slot on, does it makes string breakage happen more often? or does it make bending more easier?
Not hearing too many comments about tuning stability here! My issue with the trad saddles, is the more recently offered ones, seem very soft and the strings seem to bind up… I can actually hear the bridgecsaddles ping when tuning etc. These saddles don’t do that nearly as much. That’s a huge difference to me.
Thanks, you are probably the only one that is able to answer the simple question of "is the tone of the instrument affected by the new saddles" so thankyou. I played a 65 strat for more than 19 years and never got a scratch from a protrudung grub screw. I do like the build quality of these and they do add a bit more sustain, so before any of you Stratocaster owners think about passing your guitar on give these saddles a go cos this review can't make you "Feel" the improvement. Like the Man says; " learn ti be your own Guitar tech".Must thank you for the video , great work highwood..do you make springs and trem arms?
I too rarely get hurt by the saddles., so these look good but I don't need them. I have graphtec string saver saddles on the strat that I play aggressively, and they do indeed "save some strings" but the tone loses a lot of the stratiness. It gets too warm and bassy. Would love to find something that works just as good without sacrificing traditional strat one.
I put a set of theses on my 1992 SRV strat I really love them I just wish they made them in gold.
I heard the same thing - the Highwood sounded cleaner and "rounder". I like them.
Thanks for the straight forward video, no beating around the bush.
I would really love these Highwoods with the offset screw configuration…do they make them? It seems not boohoo 😭
Kris I have a few scars from an old strat
Bridge
Like this idea
Simple but great I think
I’ve had a “problem” with two Strats and their saddles: the intonation is fine generally but tightening them also raises the base of the saddles off the plate beyond the point of the grub screws contacting the bridge plate. The action then becomes too high. The intonation screws remain parallel to the bridge but the saddles resemble a rearing horse. As these saddles have the lower grub screw holes lower, they may be the better choice.
Yes, these saddles are good, but whether they are the best? Have they also in, however, I bought mine at Thomann - little Joke...
A good price, which actually tipped the scales.
Music first:) : Someone knows that lick please? Or something similiar to have fun playing? :). Saddles are great, have them too
Never had any trouble with the original saddles
i just adjust the bridge saddles so the screws are not "showing" too much 😎
(sanding paper for metal would work to round the edges if they are too sharp)
Does anyone know if these will fit a 1993 Fender Strat Plus with block saddles?
Thanks
I assume the 1993 has the offset block saddles, these ones are only center screws, so while they may fit size wise they will shift all your strings upwards.
Newbie doubt, can you replace Block Saddles with Bent Steel ones without changing the whole bridge piece?? Thanks!
yes
Hi Chris, I had a question.
Can I put Ernie Ball slinky top heavy bottom in tremolo guitar?
Not the Chris you wanted but I think I can help. I would say you're fine using heavy bottoms for a tremolo guitar. Keep in mind you'll have to adjust the springs in the back to level the trem, and check your neck for bow.
@@Choji11 thanks man😄
will those highwood saddles fit a standard squire strat also?
Yes, absolutely.
The tone is different in a very “saddle” way 🤣 thanks Chris for making my day!
Haha, any time! Thanks for watching! //Kris
The tone sounded deeper with the new Saddles which was good because the original tone was too bright
Just callus up!!!
Is it so difficult to just machine set screws that don’t have sharp edges???
These do look pretty cool.
Who makes a lp style 3 way switch I can … get rough with and it still works?
My fat hands seem to be going through these generic ones a bit fast.
Just be less rough with your highly calloused hands bro
Wilkinson/Gotoh has the best design with the VS-100. Comfortable saddles that are also locked down to improve tuning stability.
Floppy saddles will always throw off your pitch everytime you use the vibrato arm.
I’ve had a vs100, but my Chinese tremolo with the Highwood saddles has better tone and is very stable. No issues.
Here's the issue with what you said about modern saddles. They're the same dimensions as vintage saddles. That, means that the height adjustment screws stick out of those just as much as they stick out of the bent steel saddles. I know this because I measured them and you can clearly see it when sat next to each other. 🤔🤷 So having modern block saddles is no different than having bent steel saddles. The screw still sticks out and digs into your hand.
Thanks for the video! I cant stand the saddles on my 3 Strats, they are awful! I am used to a Les Paul and its super comfortable to rest your hand on the saddle. I will give these a try! (I also very much dislike the position of the volume knob on a Strat! I should have started off playing a Strat I suppose..... ; ^ )
awesome...that in bell brass please \m/
Thank you for that, I have just ordered a set from Amazon
Episode 100# thanks for the tele 😅
Tell your luthier to cut the screw flat with the saddles
I'm more interested in if/when the Harley Benton "TeCarty" will be out
Nearly all imports have 10mm long saddle screws and those are easily replaced with 8MM long ones for under $10. Problem solved!
I heard night and day difference
The 2nd was better. Just something in the soup
It's all in your head.
I struggle to hear difference.
The first one sounded lower/deeper to me. After all he’s removing thick block saddles& replacing with the opposite🤔
@@joybuzzer You wouldn't be able to hear the difference from a Strat to a chainsaw, you are just in it for the beers and some male friends, right ?
The original saddles had more low mids and less treble
🤣😅
But it's buzzing! Cause it' s not constaint
My problem with sharp Bridges and saddles comes from playing a lot... When I record, it wasn't nothing to be holding my guitars for about 15 hours a day and you lose a lot of hide over that period of time.
That's probably why heroin addicts from Nirvana to Stone Temple Pilots made some of the best music. Each time they start playing is separated by a little comatose nap and it was always a fresh take... 🤔 And any cuts were never cared about?
Yet another reason to play a Tele! Just sayin...🤪
Haha, you got me there. :D I gotta admit though, the screws are pretty pointy on my tele saddles too. I don't hurt my hand with them, so it's fine for me. The answer is always tele. 😂 //Kris