Fly Saddles through the years

[vjmanzo]

Ahhh--I've had that issue. Bummer, but not a hopeless case--you can deburr the saddles if you're able to determine where they're catching...or just swap 'em

[Noodler]

Although the Graph Tech saddles worked physically better than the USM saddles, they didn't pair well with anything but the newer Graph Tech preamp. I think they may have had some kind of mismatch with the Fishman preamp (learned that the hard way).

The USM saddles require some "clean-up" over time as the strings will create a rough deeper groove over the saddle which can cause binding (tuning issues) and intonation problems (especially the saddles with the chrome plating).

I've had tuning issues with my USM saddles (thought it was the nut for quite a while) so I got some Graph Techs. I don't use the piezo often, so tuning stability is the priority, but it would be nice to have piezo ability just in case. I'd rather not replace the pre, so did you find any tricks that improved the Graph Tech / Fishman pairing at all? Is it an EQ thing I could partially compensate for?

Thanks!

If I remember correctly it was a levels mismatch. The Fishman preamp expects a stronger piezo signal to be generated (or maybe it was the other way around, can't exactly recall many years later). I just remember dealing with weird distortion being created and tried so many things before I realized that mixing and matching between the old and the new was the cause for my misery.

[jester700]

If I remember correctly it was a levels mismatch. The Fishman preamp expects a stronger piezo signal to be generated (or maybe it was the other way around, can't exactly recall many years later). I just remember dealing with weird distortion being created and tried so many things before I realized that mixing and matching between the old and the new was the cause for my misery.

Thanks!

[alienfreakout]

Hi Fellow FlyCloners,
New to Parker Flys this week; just picked up a 1998 MIDIFly and having some problems with the stainless steel dogbone bridge: when dive bombing with the tremolo the high E and B strings come out of the dogbones and then go back in when released. The alignment of E and B dogbones is off and causing this. There doesn’t seem to be any side to side adjustments on the string saddles to move them closer to the treble side of fretboard. Does anyone have any fixes or ideas for this problem?

Thanks,
Alien Freak Out

[vjmanzo]

Hi @alienfreakout and welcome!

Hmmm—that’s a tricky one; maybe this post might give some insights? What string brand and gauge are you using?

Please keep us posted.

[mmmguitar]

Is it high e and B, or the low E and B? A simple experiment would be wedging some sort of thin shim between saddles while the string tension is off of them (such as while divebombing), to see if they can be nudged toward an alignment that alleviates this issue.

Strings falling off saddles with trem use is a pet peeve of mine; and I’m saddened to read that this is occurring with a Parker trem (No Fly I’ve owned has done this). Would you be willing to post photos, @alienfreakout? I don’t currently own a Fly with dog bone saddles - But I’d be happy to post photos of any of my four Parker trems, for reference.

[alienfreakout]

9 - 42 Boomers, high E and high B strings are slipping off towards the center of the bridge. The strings pictured are the old strings that are larger gauge than 9 - 42.

Thanks,
AFO

[mmmguitar]

@alienfreakout, were the heavier set of strings coming out, as well? Could we get an angle more from in front of the saddles, to see if the e and B strings look like they could easily roll out of the groove between bearings? Most importantly, did you intonate the saddles for the new string gauges? It looks as though the anchor points for the ball ends are sufficiently far from the high strings’ saddles that the strings are slackening enough to roll right up and out of the channel between the saddle bearings. A quick test to narrow down the cause would be to loosen each string by a turn or two, loosen the intonation screw, move the saddle as far back as possible, fasten it in place with the screw, then tune back up and see if the issue is still occurring with that extra length behind the saddle minimized.

[Laughinglarry]

I'd like to point out that, while the OP mentions approximate dates saddles were used, that I have pre-refined instruments as late as 2002 using the original screw saddle. (Fly Deluxe S2 dating from July 3rd, 2002 - 20th birthday coming up soon!) Of the 7 Flys I've owned, none have had anything other than the screw saddle.

[alienfreakout]

@alienfreakout, were the heavier set of strings coming out, as well? Could we get an angle more from in front of the saddles, to see if the e and B strings look like they could easily roll out of the groove between bearings? Most importantly, did you intonate the saddles for the new string gauges? It looks as though the anchor points for the ball ends are sufficiently far from the high strings’ saddles that the strings are slackening enough to roll right up and out of the channel between the saddle bearings. A quick test to narrow down the cause would be to loosen each string by a turn or two, loosen the intonation screw, move the saddle as far back as possible, fasten it in place with the screw, then tune back up and see if the issue is still occurring with that extra length behind the saddle minimized.

Yes, old strings coming out also, no, I did not check intonation after string change, I did not have the correct Allen wrench (what size is needed?). I will try your advice. New photo attached:

[vjmanzo]

I did not have the correct Allen wrench (what size is needed?).

It’s a 3/32" Hex Allen wrench (linked on the parts page).

[Fox]

Nobody happens to have some saddles they're willing to part with, do you?

I have some USM saddles that are very worn out and could use replacing, and I would prefer to keep them silvery instead of the black GraphTech ones.

[vjmanzo]

Hey @Fox—I think Mike G. has a lot of those; maybe ping him (contact info on the parts page and send him a photo of what you’re looking to replace?

[Fox]

Hey @Fox—I think Mike G. has a lot of those; maybe ping him (contact info on the parts page and send him a photo of what you’re looking to replace?

Thanks! I'll give that a try!

[mmmguitar]

Is the wear more than cosmetic, @Fox (e.g., strings "pinging" or coming out of the saddle grooves)? I ask because I have a spare set of USM saddles - But the finish seems to be flaking off in areas; and it has me curious as to whether saddles from that era of production wear out in consistent ways.

[Patzag]

I also have some spare USM saddles. The "tin" wears off from rubbing and sweat - I guess. PM me if you need them.

[Fox]

Is the wear more than cosmetic, @Fox (e.g., strings "pinging" or coming out of the saddle grooves)? I ask because I have a spare set of USM saddles - But the finish seems to be flaking off in areas; and it has me curious as to whether saddles from that era of production wear out in consistent ways.

It's both cosmetic and functional wear.
The previous owner gigged this guitar hard for 10 years, and while the body is in excellent shape, the saddles (and the bridge finish) took the brunt of the wear and tear!

[mmmguitar]

Thanks for elaborating and sharing the photo, @Fox. Unless I'm misreading, it seems Pat and I are in the same position of having functional USM saddles to offer, but which are a bit tarnished-looking. In case you can't track down a pristine set, just let us know.

[Fox]

Thanks for elaborating and sharing the photo, @Fox. Unless I'm misreading, it seems Pat and I are in the same position of having functional USM saddles to offer, but which are a bit tarnished-looking. In case you can't track down a pristine set, just let us know.

It doesn't show well in the photo, but mine have green stuff growing on them from the copper plating layer seeping through the pores of the top layer of plating. I'll take a bit of tarnish if the geometry is right.