Zac’s Hacks - How to Compensate Your Vintage Tele Saddles - Ask Zac 159

[@stuartjoseph3438]

I've been doing this since the 70's here in the UK. Most often only on one or two saddle screws. Of course there are some that don't require it done at all. Simple and cheapest fix out there. Just don't twist and/or bend too much. Good to see this hack out there at last. Good on you Zac 👏

[@frantisca]

Hey Zac, what I don't understand is: if you bend the screw from the saddle up, 1. you risk damaging the thread 2. you'll have a difficult time raising or lowering the saddle by turning the screw for intonation, as the bending will create an angle... I have 2 types of saddles on my vintage teles: one is the type with grooves you have on your '67. these are asymetrically grooved and give them just the right compensation for a perfect intonation. I got them from Marc Rutters, they look, adjust and sound awesome. Another type is the angled saddles: the screw is straight, but the drilling in the saddle is angled, so that you get a compensattion but with no problem when adjusting the saddle up or down. There are a lot of makes available: Glendale, Joe Barden, Rebel Relic. I tried them all: Rutters is #1, Rebel Relic #2 Cheers Zac

[@vayabroder729]

I bought one of the first brass sets that came out many years ago; the drilling is angled. Can’t remember who made them or where I got them from but they were very inexpensive. Still have them.

[@jamesbruce8749]

I just bought a Fender Vintage II 51 Telecaster and it's old school saddles, yea extremely out of intonation on the E A saddle but perfect the rest of the way down. After watching this and seeing that you just bend the screw and you aren't afraid to do it on actual vintage Tele's makes me feel better about just bending my E A screw too. Thanks for the story as much as the tip.

[@musicmann1967]

I *immediately* ordered the saddledriver, before this video even ended! Every single time I have ever adjusted the saddles or did little tweaks on my guitars I ALWAYS think about how much better it would be to have some kind of driver as opposed to the little bent allen keys or those cheap tiny screwdriver sets in the plastic cases sets that everyone has!! But I'd get the job done then forget all about it until next time I had to make an adjustment!! lol Thanks for the info!

[@Vaf20]

After trying various compensated saddles (they all changed the sound of my Tele) i bent the original saddles today. Worked out great! Thank you for giving me the confidence to do so 😊

[@larryyork1146]

Hi Zac , been doing this for years on my 73 and 74. Works great and absolutely no problems , using 8,s and 9,s respectively.

[@b.rodclark334]

I did mine after getting into Danny Gatton and learned of his '53 Telecaster having bent intonation screws; I got compensated saddles three months later.

[@ThatHuskyisCrazy]

BP just went to Ukrainian with three US Senators. Danny Gatton was not only a great Tele player but a very good guitar repair guy. He built Arlen Roth’s Flamed Tele from Warmoth Parts. Stu Mac sells bridge saddles that are drilled off center. No need to bend the screw.

[@TheAdamBates]

The Saddle Drivers are ALWAYS in my gig bag! They’re absolutely perfect. They fit great in the Mono M80 bag at the top in the pen holder or I’m the Tick bag with the flap thing

[@vayabroder729]

I have a set of one of the earliest compensated Tele brass saddles that came out many years ago. Can’t even remember who manufactured them and where I got them from but they were very inexpensive and you can hardly notice the slant on them. In that case I believe they were drilled and threaded a little slanted; the screws are straight.

[@alexhuevera939]

Gatton adjusted the saddles for intonation with a flat screw driver and a hammer. He hammered them into position, which bends the bridge length adjustment screws. Mine was done in his guitar shop in 1978.

[@calebbhawkins]

My Tele was done like this when I found it. They guy who bought it from the shop I worked at put compensated ones on it and that’s how I got it from him… Zach I’d love to bring it by sometime when I’m in Nashville, it’s a 1982 Thurston and Koontz luthier built clone that was done really well. Someone really did a bang up job making this thing do the Tele thing.

[@calebmitchell4834]

Thanks!

[@AskZac]

Gracias

[@kevinandmandywinter8436]

I just love Joe , he seems like such a nice guy . I really hope to meet him someday. I made my living repairing and building guitars . My health is not good and taking all my money , but someday I'm sending my Tele body to him to get a bender installed as that's a bucket list item , brain tumors are more expensive than being a guitar addic 😅 I love your shows always interesting, informative and love the stories . I'm on the west coast and not as many Tele lovers.

[@AskZac]

Joe is a very kind and brilliant person.

[@bobmckenna5511]

I have never been a country guy, hoping to add some to my repertoire. I have always played on individually, insulated saddles, and I had concerns about the telecaster original configurations. This was an epiphany for me how you can compensate, or perhaps machine offset slightly the break for each string. Glad I watched today. Keep up the great work. Your interviews with all those guys are fantastic.

[@YouTubeHandlesAreMoronic]

I can heartily recommend the Three String Tree by Music City Bridge. I have them on all my Strats to kill the maddening sympathetic ring of the G-string afterlength.

[@nickjones3222]

Remember hearing about this years ago from a UK luthier who did it to Steve Cropper’s tele when he was touring over here and was struggling to intonate his guitar. Steve flew off the handle yelling about it being a vintage telecaster! The repair guy just replied calmly, “Steve, it’s just a screw!” 🤣

[@AndyH2O]

Intending to adjust the intonation on my '52 AVRI, didn't realise that it was that simple (or as brutal looking!) to bend the screw.

[@bflo5210]

Wilkinson wt3 tele bridge definitely has the best saddles in my opinion 2nd best is gotoh compensated....the wt3 bridge & saddles basically do what you're describing, it has a set screw in the middle of the saddle which allows you to pivot it left or right....I was kinda skeptical on the design until I bought a Suhr classic T which has it from the factory & the intonation is perfect...that being said my telecaster has the compensated gotoh saddles and the intonation is really good too!

[@davidstokes4630]

Gotoh "in tune" saddles are BY FAR the best! I bought some Wilkinsons, and they are okay, but I was constantly adjusting them. Bending the screw is a cheesy way to "fix" the intonation! Besides, replacing the saddles is an easy fix without messing up the original setup.

[@bflo5210]

@@davidstokes4630 yeah the gotoh in tune saddles are awesome... I bought the wilkinson wt3 and put it on my telecaster.... it does great for intonation, but the saddles are bigger than the gotoh saddles so the string height doesn't quite go low enough...so I'll stick with gotoh on the telecasters

[@davidstokes4630]

@bflo5210 What I like about the Gotoh saddles is the string grooves. One groove slopes from one side, and the other one slopes from the opposite side of the saddle. My Telecaster has almost perfect intonation, and the strings (especially the e,B, and G) don't drift side to side when I bend up 2 steps or more. I do agree that bending the screws would be a good way to adjust the intonation, and screws are cheap and easily replaced. But, I highly recommend Gotoh In Tune saddles!

[@bflo5210]

@@davidstokes4630 I did just get a bridge plate with compensated saddles from lucky dog, they have the slots in them like the gotoh saddles...I plan on setting that up today....I like how the plate gives it a kind of custom look.....I also recommend the bridge plates from Schroeder really well made, nice custom look & definitely helps with sustain

[@doctordox6278]

Man your channel is the best, thanks for all the videos

[@martinbourke7753]

Just did this to my 52 reissue tele what difference, that you so much zac

[@anthonymcgill8035]

Fender: the golden years 46-70 is a terrific read and includes incredible photos. Can’t recommend it enough.

[@achodesign]

Awesome video, as always! I'm doing my next saddles this exact way! In the meantime, I'd highly recommend Marc Rutters' vintage style saddles.

[@AskZac]

They are wonderful

[@richsackett3423]

The brass saddles on my 51 P Bass are drilled at 5 degrees. Works fantastic.

[@musicman1976]

Just put some Glendale saddles and Seymour Duncan's Five-Two pickups in my MIM Nashville Tele for the heck of it. Love it!!

[@fiddlix]

That little tweak to the bridge screwed makes all the difference when intonating a three saddle Tele bridge. I think I got the mod from Joe Glaser too.

[@davidkieltyka9]

I have one of those mid-1990s Cunetto Teles, and for many years I thought the slightly bent saddle screws were just part of the “vintage vibe.” ☺️

[@davidhoover3537]

I love story time! I also received my copy of Sixteen Tons and it’s as informative and entertaining as you said. Thank You!

[@waylondunn1315]

Thanks Zac. Great lesson! Keep ‘em coming.

[@AskZac]

Thanks! Will do!

[@RaxFx]

Wilkinson locking & compensated bridge (WT3) is a great option.

[@CrookCustomGuitars]

Thanks for the shout out Zac

[@matthunting1162]

Yeah,I'm definitely partial to blondes! Good tip on compensated saddles but it it were a valuable vintage instrument I would buy set of compensated saddles and store away the originals

[@tomk1tl39]

LMAO.....I bought a 2010 Fender Tele on e-bay, fully loaded for $210.......the saddles actually had the 'bent screw' on all three of the saddles....LOL !....tks for the tip Zak 👍👍

[@markburnham7512]

I copped out and replaced the bridge with a 6-saddle model. I know, I know, this is a mortal sin for Tele players. I did keep the ashtray.

[@stringlocker]

Fender also did that for like 30 years. On the worst guitar they ever made The American Standard. Please put those Saddles back In.

[@superbroadcaster]

​@@stringlockerThat's an ultra hot take

[@vayabroder729]

I found that I prefer the three saddles as well. Somehow the 6 individual saddle bridges sounded more sterile and generic to me.

[@jackthompson5863]

Thanks for the video. So the E & A tilt to the left, and the B & E tilt to the left, and the middle screw tilts right?

[@julianmetcalfe1070]

Thats cool always wondered ,cos some times they are really off ,cheers .,., it take confidence to do it as well

[@terryott8221]

On my 52 RI I just ordered brass saddles with a offset hole. Look right worked right did not change tone and was inenexpensive. Think I may have gotten them from Stewmac

[@telecasterbear]

Good one, Zac. Great story that I wouldn't have heard anywhere else.

[@AskZac]

Thanks, Tele Bear!

[@MrAnderswt]

Thanks! I ordered that book at once😊

[@stringlocker]

I like Steel saddles. I like the way they sound.

[@jasonaustin3270]

I remember my dad showing me this trick back in the 90s. Now I feel old. Lol

[@barrytrowbridge5067]

I have got a telecaster. body I was looking a neck on amazon and a lot of them are not 25.5 but smaller so doz that matter?

[@user-bi5pv5lu1r]

I've seen Danny doing it for the first time. I think Barden got this idea from him and made a Barden bridge out of it

[@MrNocaster]

Great video. I've noticed on 2 of my tele's, the string spacing is a little off. Is it ok for the string to go over the screw a little or does it have to sit on the saddle. I don 't think it's actually touching the top of the screw, just to the side of it.

[@AskZac]

Its ok

[@johnpandolfino8663]

I like the threaded screw saddles.....64 vintage.... Leo Fender was a genius....

[@TeleCaster66]

It's funny, I probably have 6 or 7 different sets of Telecaster saddles; 3 steel, and 3 or 4 brass, and they all sound quite different from each other. I know this because I've put every set on my main Tele and for that guitar the threaded sound best to me. I'm sure different threaded saddles sound different from each other too.

[@hobiegunn]

If the D is a thicker string than G, wouldn't the saddle be bent in the same way as the other saddles with similar thick-to-thin string configurations?

[@sdr50]

Housekeeping tip: shield base of bridge from tips of nippers

[@AskZac]

Thanks

[@ChrisEffort]

Hi Zac - What tele is that first butterscotch one?

[@AskZac]

It's one Brad Paisley put together from parts he had.

[@brianrollins7275]

Hi Zac, Thanks for all the great videos. I was thinking about changing the saddles on my tele for compensated ones but I’m not sure if I should stick with brass or switch to steel. What is your preference brass, aluminum or steel? My guitar came with brass saddles and and I like them so I’ll probably stick with brass. I’m looking at compensated saddles from Philadelphia Luthier Tools. I did try Gotoh but I didn’t like the way the guitar sounded after I installed them. My main issue is string spacing not intonation so I’m hoping the saddles from PLT will sound better than Gotoh. Just curious as to what you prefer and if it depends on the guitar. Thanks

[@brianrollins7275]

Never mind, lol. I just watched your other video and it answered all my questions. Another great informative video. Thanks

[@prairydog8872]

I put Gotoh compensated saddles on my American Special. Best $30 I ever spent.

[@smoochie3331]

What year is the blackguard?

[@AskZac]

2023

[@bsquare6809]

Hey i just bought a set of comp saddles for my tele. I didnt think about it until i went to put them on but i am a lefty. Do these work both ways?

[@AskZac]

Yes. They can be flipped over too

[@rickgoughguitar]

I did this to my ‘52 AVRI but ive put those Advanced Plating saddles on everything else (at the suggestion of Mr Strain. I also have Joe’s three string tree on my Danocaster. his drivers have made life easier too. thanks Zac, great episode once again. ps: go put an ice pack on the head of the ‘67 😂

[@AskZac]

Good tip!

[@gingebrien2408]

Excuse my ignorance what exactly is compensated saddles and why would I want compensated? I have that Fender Vintage II 1951 Tele. So far it fells perfect. Cheers.

[@twkotb]

If you have six saddles, each string can be perfectly intonated by lengthening or shortening the string just the right amount. If you only have three saddles, you can’t intonate each string perfectly because you have two strings sharing each saddle. To “compensate” for this problem, there are companies who make saddles which have grooves for the strings placed in such a way that the lengths of the strings are closer to optimal. Google “advanced plating compensated telecaster saddles allparts” and you can see pictures of such compensated saddles. Notice the staggered shape of each saddle.

[@gingebrien2408]

@@twkotb thanks for the excellent explanation 😁

[@thomasrose7713]

I love lab assignments!! Thank you for this very informative guide to race theory, satisfying self mod.

[@thomasrose7713]

Hey folks, Siri got me there. Re trace history. Got turned into race theory.😮 not at all what I intended

[@RobertFisher1969]

If you have a wound third string, you’d want to angle the middle saddle the same direction as the other two, right?

[@AskZac]

I would check it and see before I started bending the screw

[@brianrollins7275]

Hey Zac just wondering if you ever tried the compensated saddles from Philadelphia Luthier Tools? I didn’t like the Gotoh’s I tried so I’m still looking. Thanks

[@AskZac]

Philadelphia ones are great. I have 3 sets

[@brianrollins7275]

@@AskZac thanks for the response.

[@brianrollins7275]

Just curious do you buy the 5/16 size or the 1/4? Does it make any difference? Thank you so much

[@TeleCaster66]

So Zac, my best sounding steel saddles are also threaded, are you saying you bent the screws and now the threaded saddles are at an angle??? If so, isn't that a problem being that the strings wouldn't go in the threads anymore?

[@AskZac]

I replaced my threaded saddles with compensated ones because of what you stated.

[@TeleCaster66]

@@AskZac thanks, I must have missed that. I've found that the intonation isn't far enough off to matter, in my experience. The saddles sound so good I'm leaving them be.

[@doctordox6278]

What pots does Dan-o-caster use? Do you know?

[@AskZac]

250k

[@doctordox6278]

@@AskZac I mean brand. Cts? I have bourns in my tele just curious

[@Docsjeff]

Where do I get the Buck Owens guitar book they used to sell on the Ranch shows.I think they were either a dime or a quarter back in the early 60’s.

[@AskZac]

Ebay

[@johnmahoney5393]

Instead of bending at wherever the saddles happen to be, wouldn’t the best method be to find the ideal saddle locations for each string on a shared saddle, then adjust the screw (still unbent) so the saddle is between those two spots, then bend the screw? I sure think so.

[@MacLuz]

After having bent the saddles, would I still be able to adjust them for different intonation (different gauges), screwing back and forth?

[@AskZac]

yes

[@brianturner8806]

Zac love all your content! I just noticed you’re using a Nobles ODR-1 as a bookend. Is this because you want it readily within reach or is it a backhanded commentary on the newer iterations of this now fabled pedal?

[@AskZac]

It's just there. I do use it at times, but it is not a fave.

[@jonnybeck6723]

Thanx Zac... I've noticed some Chinese adjustable compensating brass Tele saddles recently as well... Has anyone out there in TV land tried these (?)

[@AskZac]

Not that I know of

[@petermiller3774]

What tele bridge pickups do you think sound the best top 5.

[@AskZac]

Ellis 52T, Florance TE50 or TE60, Fralin Blues Special, Antiquity,

[@TyeeHox]

So with bent screw you have to adjust in full 180 degree increments? A partial turn leaves the saddle angled in wrong direction? Yes I'm telling, and asking.

[@BobbyCulpepper.srv3fender]

Zac, how do you set the position of the saddle, I feel like if you go too far in either direction you may be intonated but you also alter the scale length

[@AskZac]

You set the position so they are in tune open, and fretted at the 12th fret.

[@guitarguru4492]

Do you bend all three, or just the E/B saddle?

[@AskZac]

all 3

[@pcau]

Being that I am shopping for a Telecaster, would you recommend to get barrel saddles or individual saddles? I do not know enough about this choice. Thank you so much for your videos. They are so informative:)

[@AskZac]

I like the 3 saddle models.

[@Riverdeepnwide]

pcau, agreeing with Zac on the three barrel saddles. When you get a chance to try one of each style side by side you may notice the feel of the response has a bit of a kick on the three barrel and a smoother kind of response on the six individual Strat type saddles. It’s very subtle but there’s something happening there. I have both types and love ‘em both but do prefer the three barrels. There’s a third type with six intonation screws into six individual threaded barrels with two height screws in each. Trouble! They can flip over at the most inconvenient times.

[@robertcampbell6253]

Danny Gatton I think invented this technique and I know for a fact that’s where Fender learned about it because they were making Danny a Custom Shop Tele and Danny had them bend the saddle screws and the first time he started playing it he couldn’t figure out why he just didn’t like the tone and his Manager Ellis Duncan had a ‘69 Fender Telecaster and Ellis said “Danny let’s try the saddles from my ‘69 Tele and see how you like that” and that instantly fixed Danny’s problem. But Danny Gatton started this

[@robertcampbell6253]

Ellis’s Tele could have been a ’67 Tele but this was in the early 90’s and I don’t remember everything but I believe a guitarist named Clifton Cloud owns Ellis’s guitar now days but Danny played that guitar many many times it’s a good Tele

[@Riverdeepnwide]

Guys were doing it back in the ‘50s.

[@MAP448]

Zac great idea but it would have been nice to have pictures up close that were clear & in focus of each type of saddles that u spoke of.

[@AskZac]

Noted!

[@tonyshoe3131]

3:30.... "oh my goodness"..... ha, ha, ha, ha, ha

[@mattrogers1946]

I just swap them out for the compensated ones. Intonation is a compromise. No one on the audience is gonna hear your B string is a couple of cents sharp. Especially after a couple of beers...🤷‍♂️

[@ewm335]

Compensated saddles are a fairly inexpensive mod, but not as inexpensive as $0. No sense in throwing out a set of noncompensated saddles if this gets them to intonate sufficiently - sufficiently for those beer drinkers in the audience, of course.

[@gda08]

Does Joe still do plek jobs? Going to be sending him a tele in a few months for a bender and figure I might as well go all in.

[@AskZac]

He does

[@brianbard3410]

Always Zac

[@billkallas1762]

Are brass compensated saddles accurate enough, for lazy players, if you have a more modern Tele?

[@AskZac]

They are fine. This is for non-compensated saddles

[@walterrizotto8668]

Gotoh GTC-201 six-saddle bridge, anyone?

[@AskZac]

Totally changes the sound. It's not bad, but not the same

[@ParaBellum2024]

@@AskZac I have a Gotoh 6 saddle bridge on my Tele. It's a 1996 Mexican toploader which I converted to string-through. I'd assumed the Gotoh bridge was steel, but it's actually brass, so contributes none of that mystical tone magic found with standard bridges. I also have a Tonerider bridge pickup, with a steel plate on the base. My Tele does sound like a proper Telecaster, and its sustain is legendary. I'm happy with the Gotoh bridge (and my intonation).

[@walterrizotto8668]

@@AskZac Fender do offer a six-saddle bridge that's otherwise pretty similar to the three-saddle model (part n°0990810000). They used to throw it in with AVRI '52s until 2012, I think. Gotoh offer compensated saddles (part n°In-Tune BS), which you can fine-tune and a modern bridge with six steel saddles (part n° GTC-202).

[@totallyunmemorable]

No disrespect, Zac, but I'm so glad I don't have the vintage infection. (I'd just buy some Wilkinsons and call it done.) It's been said that atheism is just a reaction to, and not coincidentally sort of the opposite of, Christianity. That's sort of me where equipment is concerned - a guitar playing iconoclast. That is my path, and my doom. And yes, I've made this all about me. Sorry, didn't mean to.

[@AskZac]

I am offended, I have many infections!

[@totallyunmemorable]

@@AskZac Yes, but what about reflections? I've long suspected you were ... um, Transylvanian. How do you feel about garlic?

[@AskZac]

I am pale, but like my beer dark.

[@cmjingjo]

Just buy compensated saddles.

[@DimaMirnyOfficial]

Don't bend saddle screws!!You wont be able to remove saddle later

[@37BopCity]

Hey Zac--- here's my method for how to compensate your vintage Telecaster saddles. This works absolutely perfectly and gets you perfect intonation on each string with minimum hassle for the rest of your life. First ---- remove those dumb old vintage brass saddles. Either stash them away, or throw them away. Second ---- order six brand new individual Tele saddles. There are lots of suppliers that sell high quality ones. Install the new saddles. Adjust your intonation perfectly. Be happy and realize the old ones were a bad design and they totally suck.

[@tdmckee-mm8wn]

I would NEVER bend the screws on a guitar! Spend th $15 and buy brass compensated saddles.

[@ewm335]

I guess Vince Gill was OK with Glaser doing it to his prized blackguard but I can understand not wanting to do this. If I had a reissue Tele with noncompensated saddles and wasn’t interested in switching from brass to steel etc., I’d opt for this vs. buying new saddles. Those $15 saddles don’t look stock either - not something that’d concern me at all but might bother some folks.

[@TAM-gz5tc]

I HATE GUITARS THAT ARE UNTUNABLE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INDVIDUAL STRING SADDELS IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE PERFECT INTONATION. A SET OF STRINGS WILL REQUIRE 3 ADJUSTMENTS OVER THE LIFE OF THE STRING SET. SO MANY GUITARISTS ON UTUBE ARE OUT OF TUNE. IT IS SO UNPROFESSIONAL.

[@scotthart7620]

Thanks!

[@AskZac]

Muchas Gracias!!!!!!