Best Strat Saddles Ever? | Highwood | Guitar Tech Tips | Ep.99 | Thomann
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!
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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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#Strat #Saddles #Highwood #Guitar #Tech #Tips #Ep.99 #Thomann
Originally posted by UCtvgPVBJ_r1vjN4mRuHCbog at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vYqYiiBohU
My stratocaster 2015. Wha a your strat 2012 -2015? My saddles width 10mm…
Doesnt really any notible difference in tone
On traditional saddles, honestly if the screws are sticking out and hitting your hand when you play, your action is too low. I always raise them up basically to their maximum point where the screw is level with the top of the saddle. Low action kills everything, sustain, tone, bending ability, etc. these instruments weren’t designed to have action like an Ibanez or jackson shredder. Just look at how high Stevie rays action was! Personally I think you’re better off working with high action as soon as possible, it also improves muting of notes at high volume (they don’t come into contact with frets making ugly harmonics or transients when you don’t want them to) and it heavily improves your dynamics and attack. You’re also way less likely to fret notes out of tune. Try it!
I love these saddles and I paid the 50$ for a set , then a week later I got the same saddles off Amazon for 12$ ????
ive just installed my highwood saddles,my only negative is that three of the saddle height screws dont work[the hex key just goes around and nothing happens.ive ordered some stainlees steel ones from amazon ,shouls sort the problem out.
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.
Newbie doubt, can you replace Block Saddles with Bent Steel ones without changing the whole bridge piece?? Thanks!
But it's buzzing! Cause it' s not constaint
Nearly all imports have 10mm long saddle screws and those are easily replaced with 8MM long ones for under $10. Problem solved!
The tone is different in a very “saddle” way ???? thanks Chris for making my day!
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?
Shesh! You rubes will fall for anything. Whenever some clown on Youtube uses the term "tone," RUN!
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….. ; ^ )
Does anyone know if these will fit a 1993 Fender Strat Plus with block saddles?
Thanks
Thank you so much!
The original saddles had more low mids and less treble
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 ????
I put a set of theses on my 1992 SRV strat I really love them I just wish they made them in gold.
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?
will those highwood saddles fit a standard squire strat also?
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)
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.
Tell your luthier to cut the screw flat with the saddles
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.
Thank you for that, I have just ordered a set from Amazon
John Cruz (before Senior Master builder at Fender Custom Shop) puts these Highwoods saddles on his signature guitars, which should tell us something.
Never had any trouble with the original saddles
Music first:) : Someone knows that lick please? Or something similiar to have fun playing? :). Saddles are great, have them too