Wanted - Fender MIM saddles

SnazzyGeezer · August 2021

Looking for some MIM strat saddles

Funkfingers · August 2021

Which style?

1) Vintage style stamped/bent steel
2) solid/machined blocks
3) cast blocks, shaped to resemble vintage stamped saddles from a distance.

SnazzyGeezer · August 2021

Good point,@Funkfingers
Vintage type,bent steel saddles

CasperCaster · August 2021

Mexican Std 52.5mm string spacing I take it?

The Mexican Std stamped/ bent steel ones are chrome plated which distinguishes them from saddles of the same width from guitars such as the American Special, or later American Stds (after they moved the intonation screw to the centre, NOT the offset ones), which are nickel plated. The American Special and later American Standard saddles will fit as they are the same spacing and also with centre intonation screw, just the different plating (Performer, Pro and probably other models will probably fit too, just make sure they are for 52.5mm and with centre intonation screw).

SnazzyGeezer · August 2021

@CasperCaster i bought some from ebay

And although theyre stamped Fender the quality is shocking.
The grub screws are so sloppy in the saddles that some of them are leaning at like 45 degrees just to grip the thread.

munckee · August 2021

SnazzyGeezer said:

@CasperCaster i bought some from ebay
And although theyre stamped Fender the quality is shocking.
The grub screws are so sloppy in the saddles that some of them are leaning at like 45 degrees just to grip the thread.

Can I ask which seller as I am looking for stamped saddles at the moment.

SnazzyGeezer · August 2021

Blackrockguitarparts

Clearly fake fender parts,or fenders quality control has taken a nose dive.

CasperCaster · August 2021

@SnazzyGeezer sorry to hear that, but at least we know who to avoid. Hopefully someone on here will have a set for you. I have seen some on ebay including Am. Std ones from @GluedtoMusic but they are a bit pricey to go on a Mexican Std bridge. For my part I think I have a set of block stainless steel ones you can have (Axecaster or Axesrus - can't remember which), but obviously not exactly what you are looking for.

BluesLover · August 2021

I've got a set off a 2014 American special. PM me if interested.

guitargeek62 · August 2021

CasperCaster said:

Mexican Std 52.5mm string spacing I take it?

The Mexican Std stamped/ bent steel ones are chrome plated which distinguishes them from saddles of the same width from guitars such as the American Special, or later American Stds (after they moved the intonation screw to the centre, NOT the offset ones), which are nickel plated. The American Special and later American Standard saddles will fit as they are the same spacing and also with centre intonation screw, just the different plating (Performer, Pro and probably other models will probably fit too, just make sure they are for 52.5mm and with centre intonation screw).

Interestingly the ones on my MIM Vintera Road-worn seem to be unplated steel - definitely not chrome! The spacing is 55mm on that trem too though, so maybe they’re just using US parts for that range?

CasperCaster · August 2021

guitargeek62 said:

CasperCaster said:

Mexican Std 52.5mm string spacing I take it?

The Mexican Std stamped/ bent steel ones are chrome plated which distinguishes them from saddles of the same width from guitars such as the American Special, or later American Stds (after they moved the intonation screw to the centre, NOT the offset ones), which are nickel plated. The American Special and later American Standard saddles will fit as they are the same spacing and also with centre intonation screw, just the different plating (Performer, Pro and probably other models will probably fit too, just make sure they are for 52.5mm and with centre intonation screw).

Interestingly the ones on my MIM Vintera Road-worn seem to be unplated steel - definitely not chrome! The spacing is 55mm on that trem too though, so maybe they’re just using US parts for that range?

Different horses for different courses.

Mexican Classic series were always 56mm and nickel plated steel saddles as that is vintage correct. Presumably the vintage style Vintera's are the same, and the RoadWorns just oxidised a bit?

Mexican Classic Players (with the two post trem) were 52.5mm spaced, and so presumably are the Vintera Moderns (or whatever they are called). Not sure if the Classic Players were chrome or nickel plated, but I seem to remember them being nickel.

@SnazzyGeezer just a thought, but I wonder if the saddles you purchased were shipped with the wrong grub screws i.e. a metric/ imperial mix up, hence poor fit? Got a few grub screws here of both varieties if required.

SnazzyGeezer · August 2021

Some fit,some dont,theyre all over the place tbh

munckee · September 2021

CasperCaster said:

Mexican Std 52.5mm string spacing I take it?

The Mexican Std stamped/ bent steel ones are chrome plated which distinguishes them from saddles of the same width from guitars such as the American Special, or later American Stds (after they moved the intonation screw to the centre, NOT the offset ones), which are nickel plated. The American Special and later American Standard saddles will fit as they are the same spacing and also with centre intonation screw, just the different plating (Performer, Pro and probably other models will probably fit too, just make sure they are for 52.5mm and with centre intonation screw).

The ones I’m looking for are for a us deluxe Strat which seem to be 52mm and offset. Assume the American standard are centered?

CasperCaster · September 2021

@munckee ;

From their inception in 1986 US Stds used offset saddles which were made of fused sintered steel and had a sort of satin appearance. If I remember correctly the US Dlx models had a similar saddle, but polished and/or plated.

When the US Std first moved to a stamped/ bent steel saddle (early 2000's?) they retained the offset screw arrangement. However, in 2007 the US Std then moved a stamped/bent steel saddle with a centred intonation screw, which it has retained through into the Pro models.

So, there are stamped/bent steel saddles out there with the offset intonation screw from US Std Strats, which will be from the early-mid 2000's. There have also been aftermarket replacements - Callaham certainly made them, though I'm not sure if they still do.

I hope that helps.

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Wanted - Fender MIM saddles

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