Piezo saddles

Ray · 2013-01-18T17:08:52+00:00

So, I've been waiting for the exchange rate to improve. And it hasnt and I've gauged that the way things are now and will be for quite some time, it isnt goi...

Piezo saddles

Norman86

The cheapest option is the Graphtech, if only getting the saddles and accessories from my quick google..

The other 2 options are the X Bridge from LR baggs and the Fishman Powerbridge VMV Vintage Strat Piezo Bridge.
Those are full bridges though, not just saddles, and im not sure about what else is needed..
and yes Ray, you can order graphtech stuff direct ?

AlanRatcliffe

Graph Tech, LR Baggs, Fishman and RMC are the only ones you need to be concerned with. While you might see other makes around, they are usually fitted with Graph Tech (or Schaller... meh...) saddles.

Baggs and Fishman are full bridges, while RMC and Graph Tech are saddles. Graph Tech have by far the widest range of saddles (four different ones for Strats alone) and sound the best. RMC are often used by companies such as Godin for their Hexaphonic 13-pin systems, but Graph Tech have that option too and still sound better.

Remember to factor in a preamp, which is essential to getting a decent sound from any system (regardless of what they might tell you). The rest is optional.

Ray

Thank you very much. Yes the preamp is planned for.

AndyInnes

I'd go the Graphtech option, but I didn't see you mention which guitar. I have guitars with the Graphtechs, Fishman and LR Baggs. I tried to get RMC saddles in one of my guitars, but they are difficult to obtain - it seems a bit mom and pop shop there. I gave up after my third attempt to get the stuff ordered and paid for.

Graphtech ship their stuff fast, have great installation manuals and faq's and (last time I checked) great support. With Graphtech saddles, you also get an acoustiphonic pre as part of a kit install for your guitar (they have kits for most common types - strat, LP, PRS, Parker). For a bit more, you can spring for a piggyback kit, which includes a hexaphonic board that literally clips onto the back of the acoustiphonic and gives you hexaphonic 13-pin "midi" capability. These things track like a dream too. I have a Parker fitted with a piggyback system. I ripped out the stock GK1 and put in the Graphtech - vast improvement for tracking.

You won't be sorry. Like Alan, I can't live without my piezos now. I put piezos into my PRS custom 24 the day she arrived (Graphtech kit) and bought the PRS P22 as soon as they came out (that's a L.R. baggs). I also have several types of Parker.

Go piezo or go home ?

AlanRatcliffe

AndyInnes wrote: I tried to get RMC saddles in one of my guitars, but they are difficult to obtain - it seems a bit mom and pop shop there.

It's a Pop shop ? and geared much more towards OEM. Richard can be difficult to speak to...

Graphtech ship their stuff fast, have great installation manuals and faq's and (last time I checked) great support.

+1. But everyone knows I'm a GT fanboi. ?

AndyInnes

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
+1. But everyone knows I'm a GT fanboi. ?

LOL

Norman86

hey andy..
he wants them for his warmoth strat!

Ray

Yip a stratocaster but not a Warmoth. And I take all the input and advice with much gratitude people. And I am going the GraphTech way. But I'm Schnoep and waiting for the exchange rate to get better and it's getting wuss. So I think I'll order today or tomorrow. Jirre what's happening to the money?

Cheers - Ray

Norman86

Ah, sorry Ray! thought it was going into that one :-[

AndyInnes

Ray wrote: Yip a stratocaster but not a Warmoth. And I take all the input and advice with much gratitude people. And I am going the GraphTech way. But I'm Schnoep and waiting for the exchange rate to get better and it's getting wuss. So I think I'll order today or tomorrow. Jirre what's happening to the money?

Cheers - Ray

One caveat - is it a standard or S1 switching / deluxe HSS?

Ray

Gearhead wrote: Why buy GraphTech through StewMac and not through GraphTech?

Graphtech StewMac
Acoutophonic for guitar $79-95 $61-16
Saddle pickup set $124-95 $97-35

Gearhead

??? ??? ???

AndyInnes

Ray wrote:
Gearhead wrote: Why buy GraphTech through StewMac and not through GraphTech?
Graphtech StewMac
Acoutophonic for guitar $79-95 $61-16
Saddle pickup set $124-95 $97-35

That's amazing!

peterleroux

The price difference stands to reason - Graphtech are primarily a manufacturer, not a retail store. If they were to undercut their wholesale clients, the wholesale clients would drop them. Hipshot's online pricing is the same

Gearhead

peterleroux wrote: The price difference stands to reason - Graphtech are primarily a manufacturer, not a retail store. If they were to undercut their wholesale clients, the wholesale clients would drop them. Hipshot's online pricing is the same

It would be more reasonable to expect a uniform pricing strategy, considering quantity discounts will still make wholesalers get a margin. I would also expect StewMac to not be satisfied with that and raise their prices even more - just look at their silly price level for tools.

@Ray: sorry for putting you on the wrong track. As it turns out, StewMac is not more expensive with everything.

Ray

No problem. When ordering form overseas you've got to do the necessary investigation hey. Anyway, I found a few other things on the GraphTech site that are going to take the food out of the little chillun's mouths.

Cheers.