Hardtail Strat Bridge

[Cagey]

My question is how do I decide what string spacing for the bridge? 2 1/16", 2 1/8", 2 1/4" and Callaham has one thats 2 7/32".

The decision is more or less made for you. Except for the "Super Wide" version, all Warmoth's necks are 2 3/16" wide at the heel. So, anything wider than 2 1/8" at the bridge is going to be unplayable.

 

[spaceranger]

I have those saddles on a Babicz vibrato bridge that I put on one of my Jazzmasters, but I haven't got much playing time on them yet.

They are comfortable, I can vouch for that for certain, and the guitar has better sustain and articulation than my other Jazzmaster, but I can't really say it's due to the bridge because it's the only bridge that's ever been on that guitar. Nothing to compare it to. So, improvements could be due to other factors.

Nice! I'd imagine an improvement over stock JM bridges in tuning stability if nothing else, given the vagaries with those. But yes, rather expensive saddles. One thing they have over the TOM bridges that I'm used to is easily adjustable radius. But since you should only need to set that just once (ideally), that's not enough of an incentive by itself, really.

Comfort's not too hard to come by on other bridges, though. If you're using TOM bridges, Wilkinson makes these replacements...

They're only $25 at Guitar Fetish, somewhat more other places. Nice part, though. Roller saddles, so no string hangups and less breakage. Solid brass, so better sustain. Downside is setting intonation is no fun. It's like on a Floyd Woes- you have to unlock the saddle by loosening a hex screw, move the saddle, then tighten it back up hoping you did good. Lather, rinse, repeat until intonation is right.

I love the brass roller TOM-style saddles on my Guild S-300. They stay put once adjusted, for one thing, unless you're not paying attention while changing strings. I've been leery of buying other roller bridges given all of the bad press I've found online (strings slipping off, sustain suckage), but I haven't actually checked any of them out in person, on an actual guitar, so I may be simply hysterical over hearsay.

If you're using a bridge with height adjustable saddles and the height adjustment set screws are eating your palm, you can get replacement set screws here pretty cheap. Buy an assortment of shorter ones to replace the weapons sticking up out of your current saddles, and you're good to go.

What an utterly simple, straightforward, and inexpensive solution. Obvious in hindsight, thanks for pointing those out!