Replacing bent steel vintage saddles on Stingray

[tbd]

Just posting this up for anyone does not care for the vintage style bent steel saddles on their Stingray and looking to replace them with solid block saddles. I do not like the sharp edges when palm muting and just prefer the block saddles, since there is only 2-3 threads holding in the post on the vintage ones it is really hard to get the exact height posts without grinding down.

I've done this on my newer model sillhouette as well, I did not care for them on there either and like the block ones on my 90's silo anyway that MM used to use.

I called MM and they do not have replacement block saddles and did not have specs so took one out and got the calipers out, they are 10.81 width and 20.56 long. (Have read elsewhere that the official width is 10.82, so I am sure there is a slight variance or my tool is old)

So I ordered Gotoh S199C saddles that are 10.8 and 20 long. I had no info on the hidden allen screw for intonation adjustment so I just took a gamble that they would be interchangeable, and they were, so you can keep the originals screws and spring in place and bridge cover.

I also ordered some M3 metric 6mm saddle height screws so I can lower the high/low e strings and keep the posts from sticking out. These are also the same size on the stock ones and interchangeable as well.

Anyway, just wanted to post this up for anyone interested in changing these out. I have seen the question posted in other forums and FB groups, so maybe it can help someone out looking for info.

Here is is all strung back up and intonation.

 

[beej]

Hey- cool that you got it figured out.

Personally I prefer the bent ones on most of my guitars. Even though they're a little sharper, I find they have more 'zing' to them.

 

[tbd]

Hey- cool that you got it figured out.

Personally I prefer the bent ones on most of my guitars. Even though they're a little sharper, I find they have more 'zing' to them.

Yes excellent point, should have put a disclaimer, don’t change just for feel alone as they do change the tone. So that change might not be what you’re after. I grew up on the 90’s silo block saddles and those feel and sound at home to be so I’m biased towards that.

 

[NikolaK]

What was the difference tone wise?

 

[agt]

Personally I prefer the bent ones on most of my guitars. Even though they're a little sharper, I find they have more 'zing' to them.

+1!

I perceive them to be a bit brighter and sparklier. More attack and clarity.

 

[DrKev]

Great post and info, tbd. Thanks for sharing!

 

[GWDavis28]

Cool!!! I for some reason have a preference to the solid over the bent saddles and are in the process of replacing them on all my guitars. I personally find the bent saddles too twangy for me, but again that's me.

I really was happy to see this post because just last week I was wondering if this could be done and you proved that it could!!!

Thanx, congrats, looks great by the way are you still loving it?

PS, I heard you can buy them from EBMM, I'll have to see what the cost difference is. I wonder if EBMM buys theirs and if they do from whom?

Glenn |B)

 

[tbd]

PS, I heard you can buy them from EBMM, I'll have to see what the cost difference is. I wonder if EBMM buys theirs and if they do from whom?

That's cool if you can get them from Music Man now. Last I checked from an email and phone conversations with them was in 2016 and was told that they did not offer replacements back then, so had not asked recently. I would have preferred going with factory stuff to take out some of the guess work if they were going to fit under cover and be compatible with hex intonation screws. But it appears they use common metric stuff found on a lot of gear and is interchangeable and I am happy with that.

I did this to my 16 stingray and my new stingray RS and the gotoh stuff was pretty easy to find,

 

[telemike]

I replaced bent steel on my SBMM Valentine with some generic stainless steel block saddles.