Highwood HG Contoured Vintage Saddles - How to Pick the Correct Size

I simply love these saddles and think they are the best replacement saddles out there. In this video, I show you how to measure your existing Strat saddles so you will order the correct size. I made a mistake the first time I ordered these because I was basing my measurements on replacement saddles that were already on the guitar, e.g. Callaham. For vintage or reissue Strats, you should order the 10.80mm size. They are the exact size of vintage saddles. There SHOULD be a slight gap between each saddle. This gives you just enough space to push the saddles in to close that gap and move your E strings farther away from the edge of the fret board. Strats are known for the E string slippage problem and this is one way to minimize it. There is no loss of sustain and if anything, the guitar sounds better with the slight gaps. Leo pretty much nailed everything perfectly so why mess with perfection. From Highwood's website: Contoured you say? That's right. Meaning; without the screws sticking out the top of the Saddles. Our innovative Saddles are made from exceptional quality steel and are nickel coated directly onto the steel body to provide you with pure vintage tone! HG Contoured Vintage Guitar Saddles have more mass giving you longer sustain, clearer note separation and definition, improved harmonic response and touch sensitivity. These smooth feeling saddles still retain a lovely vintage look. Each HG Saddle set comes with stainless steel intonation and height adjustment screws and springs. An allen wrench is also included. Please note: our Saddles are hardened, but not as much as some other brands. We have noticed that extremely hardened Saddles can change the tone of your guitar, sometimes making your guitar sound 'pingy'. That's because they add upper mid and high to your tone. We believe Leo got it pretty darn right.