The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #1

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    I just got to say… $40 for six little pieces of nylon is a bit extreme… Even $20 shipped is a bit muchBut they don’t even fit a wired ABR1

    Thank you for listening! End Rant

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    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #2

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    Yeah vintage ones pop up on ebay now and then

  4. #3

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    What do they do?

  5. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by christianm77
    What do they do?
    They do the same job as the brass version , let you fine-tune your strings. But since they are made out of plastic you might hear a slight change in acoustic response/volume etc., all depending on string gauge, scale length, type + material of bridge/bridge base, and of course whether your guitar has plywood or solid top and how thick that top is. Too many variables for my taste and my ears, I stick to the brass bridges and leave that can of worms alone ....

  6. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by christianm77
    What do they do?
    Some players feel they soften the highs a little, reducing any shrillness from the unwound string. Joe Bonamassa is known to use three nylon saddles on his top three strings and brass on the bottom three. I think if you buy an abr1 bridge with nylon saddles it costs about the same as nickel coated brass, but yeah the cost of just buying the saddles is $$. If you have to have vintage, you’ll pay $$$$, which of course serves you right.

  7. #6

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    Quote Originally Posted by gitman
    They do the same job as the brass version , let you fine-tune your strings. But since they are made out of plastic you might hear a slight change in acoustic response/volume etc., all depending on string gauge, scale length, type + material of bridge/bridge base, and of course whether your guitar has plywood or solid top and how thick that top is. Too many variables for my taste and my ears, I stick to the brass bridges and leave that can of worms alone ....
    I seeeeee.... have to say I’m not crazy about the idea for archtop guitars.... would also seem to defeat the point of a telecaster,so that’s me lol.

  8. #7

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    My ES-175 is the most recent version (2017) & came with titanium saddles.
    I bought a replacement tunomatic with brass saddles and enjoyed instant increase in warmth, plus I was able to carve in my own grooves, which was useful to me in moving the high E string in a tiny bit without having to get a new nut. Win Win! I'm guessing the nylon saddles sound even warmer

  9. #8

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    StringSaver saddles seem to be very good. I haven't tried the TOM ones, but I really like the Tele/Strat ones for jazz. But you have to buy the right ones- I don't know what the difference is between the different kinds of TOM.

  10. #9

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    Got a bit of wood on mine. Tuning’s for the weak.

  11. #10

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    I also prefer wood. I just haven't heard a TOM that produced a sound I like. The intonation is close enough for jazz, or at least for me.

  12. #11

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    Sometimes it depends on the guitar .. I replaced the TOM on my 165 with which was a tad brighter than rosewood (and looks better on the guitar for some reason lol). The saddles i need to replace are for a casino. The string spacing on notched saddles (of which I have a ton) is always too narrow. So I just buy unnotched saddles. My rant is that 6 little pieces of brass or 6 little pieces of nylon should not cost 6$-7$ each (excluding titanium.. I guess)

  13. #12

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    Uh.... Sam, it's no longer the '70s. A cup of coffee costs almost that much. Also, capitalism means that the price for anything is whatever the market will bear, and actual worth or cost to produce has little to do with it. I feel for you, brother, and I hope the ranting helped, but unfortunately it won't change anything. I do agree that it depends on the guitar - they're all different, and react differently to different parts and pieces. The width issue is one of the main reasons I don't like TOMs. I prefer to set the spacing myself, and that's far easier to do with a wooden saddle. That probably looks odd on a Casino, though.

  14. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by SamBooka
    Sometimes it depends on the guitar .. I replaced the TOM on my 165 with which was a tad brighter than rosewood (and looks better on the guitar for some reason lol). The saddles i need to replace are for a casino. The string spacing on notched saddles (of which I have a ton) is always too narrow. So I just buy unnotched saddles. My rant is that 6 little pieces of brass or 6 little pieces of nylon should not cost 6$-7$ each (excluding titanium.. I guess)
    Yeah, and an inkjet printer's cartridge shouldn't be $30 ea either, which is why my printer has cobwebs. Supply and demand.
    But several of my old Gibson's have nylon saddles...priorities.
    Last edited by wintermoon; 04-09-2020 at 11:16 AM.

  15. #14

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    10 players, 11 differing opinions ....
    I just watched some Henry Johnson playing his Heritage model (an L5 basically) and it sports a large all-metal Schaller bridge with sideways-adjustable rollers. Does it make for an inferior sound ? You be the judge, it sounds mighty fine to my ears !



  16. #15

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    Put the original ABR-1 in the case and buy a Kluson ABR-1 with Nylon saddles for $26.12. These are nice bridges made in the USA.

    Bridge - Kluson, ABR-1, Nonwired Nylon Saddles, Nickel | Amplified Parts


    Here's aftermarket saddles for non-wired ABR-1 for $7.95.

    Non-wired ABR-1 Nylon string saddles,set of 6 - Philadelphia Luthier Tools & Supplies, LLC

  17. #16

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    Quote Originally Posted by sgosnell
    Uh.... Sam, it's no longer the '70s. A cup of coffee costs almost that much. Also, capitalism means that the price for anything is whatever the market will bear, and actual worth or cost to produce has little to do with it. I feel for you, brother, and I hope the ranting helped, but unfortunately it won't change anything. I do agree that it depends on the guitar - they're all different, and react differently to different parts and pieces. The width issue is one of the main reasons I don't like TOMs. I prefer to set the spacing myself, and that's far easier to do with a wooden saddle. That probably looks odd on a Casino, though.
    You know you can get un notched saddles right? Set set strings where you want them them give a small whack with a small mallet, then chuck the strings for a new set.

  18. #17

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    Yeah, I know. But wood is cheaper, easier, and sounds better. I have plenty of TOM saddles sitting on the shelf after I removed them and replaced them with wooden saddles. I don't think I'll ever need to buy any more.

  19. #18

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    OK sgosnell, maybe I haven't been paying full attention, but can I buy wooden saddles for my ABR?
    Where?

  20. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by sgosnell
    Yeah, I know. But wood is cheaper, easier, and sounds better. I have plenty of TOM saddles sitting on the shelf after I removed them and replaced them with wooden saddles. I don't think I'll ever need to buy any more.
    IIRC an owner of a Monteleone guitar gets several separate bridges (sometimes out of different woods) with his instrument so he/she can choose which one sounds ‚better‘ to her/his ears. Meaning : ‚better‘ is up to your preference and yours alone. Just sayin‘ ....

  21. #20

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    I replace the entire saddle assembly, not just the individual saddles. The ABR/TOM goes on the shelf, and a standard wooden saddle goes on the guitar.

    And Gitman, I agree, it's a subjective subject, what sounds good to me may sound terrible to someone else. All I'm sayin' is that I prefer wood. YMMV.

  22. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jimmy Mack
    OK sgosnell, maybe I haven't been paying full attention, but can I buy wooden saddles for my ABR?
    Where?
    I have not yet seen any individual saddles for the tunomatic-type bridges that were made out of wood - could be done with stabilized wood maybe but just think about the size and the stress that this (brittle hardwood) material would have to withstand ... you can get them in various types of nylon , brass, steel, titanium
    , Graphtech makes them in several high-tech synthetic materials and - of course - unobtanium
    I also am very sceptical that the sonic difference between a wooden bridge-insert and one made out of nylon etc. would be audible enough to justify the hassle. Why not just take your well-intonated wooden bridge and paint it with gold lacquer or have it gilded ? If looks are that important that is .....


    String Saver Originals Gibson Nashville Post 2000 (Fits Resomax)
    – Graph Tech Guitar Labs Ltd.


    https://www.amazon.com/Graph-Tech-Tu.../dp/B0043NQWLQ

  23. #22

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    Quote Originally Posted by MaxTwang
    Put the original ABR-1 in the case and buy a Kluson ABR-1 with Nylon saddles for $26.12. These are nice bridges made in the USA.

    Bridge - Kluson, ABR-1, Nonwired Nylon Saddles, Nickel | Amplified Parts


    Here's aftermarket saddles for non-wired ABR-1 for $7.95.

    Non-wired ABR-1 Nylon string saddles,set of 6 - Philadelphia Luthier Tools & Supplies, LLC
    Just following up.. The Philadelphia Saddles arent a good fit on a wired bridge (at least that is what they told me.. super fast response from them btw.. I have ordered from them before and really like them!). And even with exchange and shipping (22$ total) I would have been very comfortable with that.

    Ultimately ordered the Kluson.. havent put it on yet. It just sucks that I have a nice 60s ABR-1 sitting in a drawer because I dont like being anally screwed (but that is my choice.. )

  24. #23

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    Quote Originally Posted by sgosnell
    I replace the entire saddle assembly, not just the individual saddles. The ABR/TOM goes on the shelf, and a standard wooden saddle goes on the guitar.
    I actually have a rosewood saddle with the correct post spacing.. tried it on my other Casino.. wasnt spectacular lol...
    Attached Images Attached Images Nylon ABR-1 Saddles (Rant)-img_8891-4mp-jpg Nylon ABR-1 Saddles (Rant)-img_8891-jpg 

  25. #24

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    No, with a Bigsby it's not likely to be spectacular. I like wooden saddles, but I don't like Bigsbys, and don't have one installed on any guitar I own. I do have one in a closet somewhere, removed from a guitar I inherited. But I do understand that some people like them, and if you use a Bigsby, a wooden saddle is not going to spectacular. Good luck in your quest, but I resign as Sancho.