SADDLE UP

I recently decided to upgrade my old Japanese‑made Fender Telecaster. It’s a ’62 Reissue, the Custom‑style guitar with double body binding. My Tele came with 60s‑style steel saddles. I’ve been considering swapping them out for 50s‑style brass saddles as I’m looking for a warmer tone. I want that ‘warm treble’ thing that people are always talking about. The thing is, I’ve been searching online and visiting forums, and noticed you can get Tele saddles in all different kinds of metals these days. What would you recommend I look it? Jay Morecroft, via email

Trust us, Jay. You can easily disappear down a tonal rabbit hole if you’re not careful with this stuff. No other model of guitar is so relentlessly tweaked in an attempt to create the perfect version. That said, it’s worth bearing in mind that

Telecaster geniuses such as Jimmy Bryant, James Burton and Buckaroo Don Rich created magic on what were essentially stock Teles.

Anyway, thanks to Danny Gatton, tweaking Teles is big business and bridge saddles are available in various metallurgist-approved specs, including rolled steel, brass, titanium, aluminium – you name it. Boutique manufacturer Glendale (https://glendaleguitars.com/) produces sets that combine saddles of different metals – for example, an aluminium saddle for the high E and A, and brass saddles for the remaining strings. If your tonal nerdery doesn’t stretch quite that far, then experiment with a set of brass saddles to see if they offer the improvements in tone that you seek. While you’re at it, make them compensated saddles so you can get better intonation. Happy hunting.