Are Gotoh Titanium Saddles "better" than brass?

[Rick]

Anyone have any experience with titanium saddles?  I know they are more expensive than brass and will probably last forever but ...  I'm thinking about my current build.

I had a telecaster with a Dimarzio bridge PUP and brass saddles and my recollection is that is sounded fine, but will titanium sound better? 

Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks

 

[Logrinn]

It will probably sound different, but better? Only you can tell.
I find steel sound better than brass, but that's my preference.

Don't forget that you'll probably experience more sound difference just by changing your pick. And those are cheap and easy to do experiments with.

 

[Rick]

Don't forget that you'll probably experience more sound difference just by changing your pick. And those are cheap and easy to do experiments with.

LOL, I don't use a pick, just my finger tips and nails!

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Don't forget that you'll probably experience more sound difference just by changing your pick. And those are cheap and easy to do experiments with.

LOL, I don't use a pick, just my finger tips and nails!

Brass, Steel, or Titanium nails?

 

[Logrinn]

:icon_thumright:
Ok, so another way to put it ...
You already know the difference in sound that you get when playing with your finger tips and when you're playing with your nails.
My guess is that that difference is much, much bigger than the difference in sound between brass saddles and titanium saddles.
So the question you have to ask yourself: is this difference worth the money that the titanium saddles costs?

For me - no.

(As a side note: I'm getting a new speaker cabinet and some different speakers for that. And those make a huuuuuge difference in sound depending on what kind you chose. And the placement. And the cabinet. Muuuuuuch more than that of amps, pickups, hardware, strings or wood.)

 

[DangerousR6]

Each of those particular metals have thier own unique tonal qualities, so I'd say it all depends on the individuals ear...

 

[amigarobbo]

I fitted some compensated titanium ones on my Esquire build thingy. I liked them, but I have nothing else to compare them too in any meaningful way.

Glad to be of help.

 

[amigarobbo]

Oh, and I did put some titanium string blocks on my Floyd Rose to replace the steel ones, me swear down it did make it sound a little brighter and more zingy, in a good way. For me.

A little bit, could I tell blind? Probably not.

 

[bassetman]

I have titanium saddle on one Tele...if anything they are very slightly brighter. They are also a major pain to modify in any way. I had a saddle that was breaking strings, ok let’s smooth it a bit...nope not happening...they sent a new saddle no questions and the breakage stopped.

 

[Rick]

@B-man
Thanks for the observation, so titanium is a mellow brass plus brighter sparkle sound ...

On my tele's I've put on steel saddles, and then swap them for string-saver classics on the B and e strings, which tames the zinginess ...

So I think sticking with the brass makes sense, and if I want to add some meat plus sparkle, rather than titanium's mellowness plus sparkle, then add a steel saddle to the E and A strings some time later ... if necessary.

Thanks, you saved me dough.