Comparison---G & L Legacy & AmStd Strat

[jazzrat]

I have really been digging the two point trem with vintage saddles on my recently received '09 AmStd Ltd Edition Strat. Very resonant, loud acoustically, and very inspiring to play...well.....
I get to pondering....how would the two point trem on my Legacy sound with the same saddles. I bought a new set of Fender saddles off E-bay and installed 'em today.

I had no complaints with the Legacy at all but I've gotta say...what was an amazing guitar already rose to a new level, louder acoustically and with a new resonance. Very surprised, but thrilled.
The steel saddles lightened up the look of the bridge too. It is not as comfy under your hand with these saddles. If you rest your hand on the bridge the stock Legacy bridge is hard to beat.

Now....a comparison of the guitars in general.
You read a lot of stuff about how G& L's are Custom shop quality at
AmStd prices.....
Yup...that's my take at least comparing these two.
The American standard is superb in tone and playability but fit and finish is
only a A-. The Legacy on the other hand is A+++, from quality of wood used to neck pocket fit, you name it.

The difference in quality makes me no less thrilled to have the strat because I like to have one around and it does sound different than the Legacy.
I will say these bent steel saddles on the Legacy narrowed the gap between the two a bunch.
Anyway found this comparison interesting, thought others might too.
When it's all said and done my Legacy is a lifetime guitar....so glad to have it.
(Craig if this belongs in general topics please feel free to move it.)

Here are pics of the two contenders.

[offplanetfilms]

I've often wondered what would happen with Fender vintage saddles on a G&L vibrato bridge. The comfort would definitely go, but it still looks pretty darn cool ! Nice result.

[Miles Smiles]

I think the spring for the low E-string saddles needs shortening on both guitars.

The Dual Fulcrum seems to be not dual anymore. It looks like it's sitting flat on the deck. Does it move anyway? And if, wouldn't it grap into the deck on the neck side?

[stagecoach]

I think the spring for the low E-string saddles needs shortening on both guitars.

Yes, the luthier I use says with the Fender guitars he usually has to cut the spring to be able to get the saddle back enough to get the intonation correct

[jazzrat]

Good eye guys. The intonation on the low E is adjusted correctly on both guitars but if I needed more adjustment,
you are right...I'd need to clip a couple coils from the springs....very common with Fender style bridges.
These are 9's....you'd likely not have to go back as far with 10's
The bridge on the Legacy, in spite of how it looks in the photo is floating level with the body and has a great feel.
I do run my bridge studs lower than spec. I allows me to get the action I like (low, low) and still have the saddles
at their optimum height for tone and feel under the hand.

[offplanetfilms]

I just noticed the bridge pickup on your Legacy has staggered poles...(both my USA Legacy's are flat poles) ...is that the original bridge pickup inside the G&L cover?

[jazzrat]

Dang, you've got a good eye! That is not the stock pickup.
Nothing wrong with the original, I was just after something a little hotter for high gain stuff.
It's a Dimarzio Virtual Solo. Great pickup that balances really well with the stock vintage Alnicos.

[darwinohm]

Jazzrat. Interesting observation and makes me wonder why. Is it metal mass, the more confined contact point to the string or the metal itself? Fender has been hyping this saddle for the last couple of years. Maybe they are right! Is that Stat Surf green? Cool color. Darwin

[offplanetfilms]

The new Fender saddles are pretty good. I experimented with a set on a strat copy last year and haven't been able to take them off. (They will stay on too!) They came as a bonus with a replacement bridge plate, and they sounded better than the solid stainless saddles I was using. Nowhere near as comfortable, but teamed with a Callaham block, they really do have something. I'll leave my Legacy as is, because sometimes I need a holiday from the vintage palm cheese-grater effect.

[jazzrat]

Jazzrat. Interesting observation and makes me wonder why. Is it metal mass, the more confined contact point to the string or the metal itself? Fender has been hyping this saddle for the last couple of years. Maybe they are right! Is that Stat Surf green? Cool color. Darwin

Dar, not sure about the "whys" but it sure does something.....something good to my ears anyway.
The strat is actually Daphne Blue, they did surf also green in the same run of Ltd edition guitars.

[darwinohm]

I couldn't tell, but Daphne Blue is cool and my grand daughter wants me to get a Daphne Blue Strat. Blue is her favorite. -- Darwin.

[sirmyghin]

Neat Idea JR,

I would say try graphtech saddles though, they are supposed to be fantastic.

[jazzrat]

Neat Idea JR,
I would say try graphtech saddles though, they are supposed to be fantastic.

I love Graphtech saddles. They do sound a little like the block saddles on G & L and Fender bridges.
In this case i was after a particular tone that I've only been able to get with bent steel.

[sirmyghin]

Interesting, bent as in cold formed?

[jazzrat]

[img]Interesting,%20bent%20as%20in%20cold%20formed?[/img]

Not 100% sure of the process, but the other name for bent steel saddles is "stamped" so I'm guessing they have a big press that
die cuts the stock and shapes them in one operation.

[sirmyghin]

Thanks JR, stamping is likely cold formed, you are not heating, casting or molding, just using extreme pressure on already solid metal. It causes a lot of stress build up in the material, affecting its hardness (often hardening it, if it yeilded the material, which it has to to some extent). You can relieve these stresses with heat annealing. But harder is kind of what you want here I would think (less damping, if I am correct)