Anyone tried the Bensonite bridge yet?

[RoaringTwenties]

Thoughts, reviews?

[IceBlueBoogaloo]

Crazy as it might sound to some, I’m considering selling my Staytrem to pick up one of these. Though that’s mainly because the new neck I’m swapping in is a 9.5” and my Staytrem is 7.25”. It looks like a really solid piece of kit.

[marqueemoon]

It looks pretty good. I had not heard of that one.

I do prefer the offset hex adjustment for intonation on the Staytrem though, and if I buy a new offset bridge it will need to be 7.25”.

[RoaringTwenties]

...the textured saddle grooves for better string grip seems like a nice feature.

[forestgreen]

I got the installation video recommended on my Youtube feed a couple of weeks ago. It seems pretty well designed and priced.

[mattc]

I just got mine. I was surprised how it made the tone less trebly - which is a good thing. I have a 40th Anniv JM

[lyair]

Just checked this brand. Their offset bridge design looks simple and great, along with a reasonable price.

I also found that their tele saddle offers a combo of 2 brass + 1 other. Can anybody tell me about the point behind this design? Thanks.
https://www.bensoniteproducts.com/store ... ddles.html#/

[alexpigment]

Just checked this brand. Their offset bridge design looks simple and great, along with a reasonable price.

I also found that their tele saddle offers a combo of 2 brass + 1 other. Can anybody tell me about the point behind this design? Thanks.
https://www.bensoniteproducts.com/store ... ddles.html#/

This is a combo that's known about in the tele world, but not exactly widely used. Brass saddles take away some of the bite compared to stainless steel. With a stainless steel E/A, you get back some of that bite so that you don't lose definition in the lower notes.

[lyair]

Just checked this brand. Their offset bridge design looks simple and great, along with a reasonable price.

I also found that their tele saddle offers a combo of 2 brass + 1 other. Can anybody tell me about the point behind this design? Thanks.
https://www.bensoniteproducts.com/store ... ddles.html#/

This is a combo that's known about in the tele world, but not exactly widely used. Brass saddles take away some of the bite compared to stainless steel. With a stainless steel E/A, you get back some of that bite so that you don't lose definition in the lower notes.

Thanks!

It seems I had some misunderstanding on brass saddles, because I've installed Gotoh In-Tune Brass Tele saddles before and found them very bright, bitey and harsh comparing to Fender stock saddles(although also brass). That's a strange experience. Maybe I'll try these Bensonite ones in future along with their offset bridge.

[alexpigment]

It seems I had some misunderstanding on brass saddles, because I've installed Gotoh In-Tune Brass Tele saddles before and found them very bright, bitey and harsh comparing to Fender stock saddles(although also brass). That's a strange experience. Maybe I'll try these Bensonite ones in future along with their offset bridge.

It's an "all things being equal" situation regarding metals and their effect on tone. I suspect you went from Fender non-compensated saddles, where the string goes over a smooth curve over the saddles (which would dull the attack of the string). The Gotoh In-Tune - which I am a big fan of - are compensated and have a bit of a 'point' in the groove for intonation, and that will affect the tone. Sometimes a change in saddles means your new "sweet spot" on your tone knob is 7 rather than 10. I also like the titanium ones from Gotoh, but I've never done a comparison on the same guitar to really tell the precise tonal differences in the two.

[lyair]

It seems I had some misunderstanding on brass saddles, because I've installed Gotoh In-Tune Brass Tele saddles before and found them very bright, bitey and harsh comparing to Fender stock saddles(although also brass). That's a strange experience. Maybe I'll try these Bensonite ones in future along with their offset bridge.

It's an "all things being equal" situation regarding metals and their effect on tone. I suspect you went from Fender non-compensated saddles, where the string goes over a smooth curve over the saddles (which would dull the attack of the string). The Gotoh In-Tune - which I am a big fan of - are compensated and have a bit of a 'point' in the groove for intonation, and that will affect the tone. Sometimes a change in saddles means your new "sweet spot" on your tone knob is 7 rather than 10. I also like the titanium ones from Gotoh, but I've never done a comparison on the same guitar to really tell the precise tonal differences in the two.

My Fender saddles are actually also compensated, but with a "slope" design. Their tonal feature might be close to non-compensated ones.

From your explanation, I think Gotoh's narrow groove design might be the reason for tonal difference.

[alexpigment]

Maybe so. It’s also possible/likely that it’s just a different alloy mixture. The more yellow the brass, I believe that means more zinc and less copper. No idea what that does to the tone.

[crazyzeke]

I just got mine. I was surprised how it made the tone less trebly - which is a good thing. I have a 40th Anniv JM

Ah I see - as much as I love the Mastery and it seemingly never needs adjustment, I always keep on eye on new(er) offset bridges to see how they compare but it sounds like this could be similar to the Halon bridge where it's taking away top-end rather than leaving it as is compared to the stock bridge, or adding a little on top.

[atomicwash]

Thoughts, reviews?

Thanks for the heads up! I had not heard of Bensonite.