Changed out locking saddles

[Andrew Paul]

For me the locking saddles that came on my Modern Eagle V. They are difficult for string changes and result in a stiffer feel with my normal string gauge. I never liked Floyd Rose locking trem saddles but we’re a necessity in the 80’s until PRS came on the market but I don’t want to debate that. I know Floyd’s provide a different sound/reaction using the trem. Anyway I never had trouble staying in tune with PRS traditional trem saddles.

Problem, matching traditional PRS saddles in smoked black finish are not offered to public in accessories yet. (Shawn tells me they will be added later this year).

So I turned to the great John Mann who makes PRS fitting saddles in black nickel that match the smoked black PRS finish and are polished.

When starting to replace that saddles I noticed the awesome attention to details that PRS pays to the “little” things so I made a hybrid of the two saddles.

First, I used the Hex height adjustment screws from PRS are brass and are rounded at the base to fit into the slotted gutters at the Trem bridge base. They are designed to come in more contact with the Trem base. Less subtractive. I’m not sure what metal the hex screws are made of from Mann saddles but they are not rounded at the base and have an actual concave design to with a flat bottom. I didn’t use them. See first photo.

Second I decided to use the saddle screws from PRS because they are brass but used the Mann springs because they were stiffer than PRS springs.

Overall it didn’t take that long to change them out, adjust string height/radius and intonate. Now I’m thrilled with the results.

 

[RickP]

That looks great! If you didn’t say so, I would think that was totally stock. Pretty impressive solution.

 

[Andrew Paul]

That looks great! If you didn’t say so, I would think that was totally stock. Pretty impressive solution.

Thanks, the Locking saddles were definitely more trouble than they were worth. I would’ve kept them on if I had a full time guitar tech changing my strings. Lol

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Bangin’!

 

[bodia]

Looking good! I've never dealt with those locking saddles, but if I did, I think I'd take your path.

 

[Rider1260]

That is really nice
I've been wondering what ( if ) a change in saddle for the Silver Sky might be like

 

[WA Paul]

I’m sorry, what did you say? I was too busy staring at that gorgeous top!

 

[stratlanta]

Thanks, the Locking saddles were definitely more trouble than they were worth. I would’ve kept them on if I had a full time guitar tech changing my strings. Lol

Haha yeah.... I was just changing the strings on my PS 594 the other day and thinking "WHY am I dealing with these things again?". Made me realize that I had put off changing the strings forever just because I didn't want to deal with them. Some of that of course is just laziness on my part. ;-)

 

[Andrew Paul]

That is really nice
I've been wondering what ( if ) a change in saddle for the Silver Sky might be like

I don’t know but that would be the first thing I’d do to a silver sky. I wonder if traditional PRS saddles fit.

 

[Andrew Paul]

Looking good! I've never dealt with those locking saddles, but if I did, I think I'd take your path.

I always have the option to go back to the locking saddles But playing it last night I had no problem with her going out of tune, like all my other PRS GUITAR’s.

 

[veinbuster]

Great job.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

Wanna sell your old saddles?

 

[Andrew Paul]

Wanna sell your old saddles?

Sorry I need to keep them. Original to the guitar.

 

[Bill SAS 513]

Yeah, I remember a bunch of banter over the locking saddles...and the Intonation screw getting pushed back as they were tightened down...or something like that.
Definitely neat design, but a little more patience is necessary when changing strings.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Definitely neat design, but a little more patience is necessary when changing G strings.

 

[FunkyFreeman]

For me the locking saddles that came on my Modern Eagle V. They are difficult for string changes and result in a stiffer feel with my normal string gauge. I never liked Floyd Rose locking trem saddles but we’re a necessity in the 80’s until PRS came on the market but I don’t want to debate that. I know Floyd’s provide a different sound/reaction using the trem. Anyway I never had trouble staying in tune with PRS traditional trem saddles.

Problem, matching traditional PRS saddles in smoked black finish are not offered to public in accessories yet. (Shawn tells me they will be added later this year).

So I turned to the great John Mann who makes PRS fitting saddles in black nickel that match the smoked black PRS finish and are polished.

When starting to replace that saddles I noticed the awesome attention to details that PRS pays to the “little” things so I made a hybrid of the two saddles.

First, I used the Hex height adjustment screws from PRS are brass and are rounded at the base to fit into the slotted gutters at the Trem bridge base. They are designed to come in more contact with the Trem base. Less subtractive. I’m not sure what metal the hex screws are made of from Mann saddles but they are not rounded at the base and have an actual concave design to with a flat bottom. I didn’t use them. See first photo.

Second I decided to use the saddle screws from PRS because they are brass but used the Mann springs because they were stiffer than PRS springs.

Overall it didn’t take that long to change them out, adjust string height/radius and intonate. Now I’m thrilled with the results.

Great decision. I myself have done several mods to my MEQ just because to make it 'feels right' to my personal taste as long as the modding is able to be carried out. In my opinion the locking saddles aren't necessary. I'm not a trem abuser but never have problem with PRSs standard trem and saddles.

BTW, do you notice any differences in tone so far?

 

[Andrew Paul]

Great decision. I myself have done several mods to my MEQ just because to make it 'feels right' to my personal taste as long as the modding is able to be carried out. In my opinion the locking saddles aren't necessary. I'm not a trem abuser but never have problem with PRSs standard trem and saddles.

BTW, do you notice any differences in tone so far?

The feel is so much better I believe the tone is slightly different because it’s slinkier now, the locking saddles gave it a stiff feel which in turn affects the tone.

 

[László]

Not that I’m saying you shouldn’t make the guitar yours, of course you should!

But...

I’ve done a lot of recording with my 20th Private Stock Anniversary model with locking saddles. I love these things for a couple of reasons:

The strings stay perfectly in tune longer during a session. Very important to me when recording, because I can concentrate on what I’m playing instead of re-tuning between takes.

More string vibration seems to be transmitted to the guitar. The sustain is incredible, and I think the lower notes have a more solid fundamental tone.

Yes, it’s true that the strings feel a little stiffer because they’re not sliding in the saddles. But the tone improvement is worth it, at least to me. Granted, I’m a little loony about my audio.

 

[Andrew Paul]

Not that I’m saying you shouldn’t make the guitar yours, of course you should!

But...

I’ve done a lot of recording with my 20th Private Stock Anniversary model with locking saddles. I love these things for a couple of reasons:

The strings stay perfectly in tune longer during a session. Very important to me when recording, because I can concentrate on what I’m playing instead of re-tuning between takes.

More string vibration seems to be transmitted to the guitar. The sustain is incredible, and I think the lower notes have a more solid fundamental tone.

Yes, it’s true that the strings feel a little stiffer because they’re not sliding in the saddles. But the tone improvement is worth it, at least to me. Granted, I’m a little loony about my audio.

I respectfully disagree about the tone, I like it better with traditional PRS saddles, my taste. I will agree staying in tune with locking saddles was incredible but I never had much trouble with traditional saddles but I understand regarding recording. Unless I really need a guitar with trem use on a recording I’d rather use fix bridge/stoptail guitars.

 

[dogrocketp]

And you’re both absolutely right. The subtleties of tone vary so much from instrument to instrument it’s amazing. The combination of woods, strings, players touch, picking technique and everything else make up what we like or dislike about what we hear and feel. The really good thing is that we’re aware of these differences. And there’s no better reason to own several instruments that float our boats. The best part of the forum for me is learning what other people observe about their instruments. It’s amazing.