Mystery saddles on a '80 Sustain Block Special

[crunchee]

I noticed that my '80 non-checkerboard Special has saddles that are a bit different than the usual Sustain Block saddles...the usual saddles have a circular cutout in the individual saddle blocks, mine has the same circular cutout EXCEPT that it is lengthened behind the string, kinda like a old-fashioned keyhole. The end of the adjustment screw for sting length is visible though the lengthened part of the cutout.

I have another Sustain Block Special with the 'normal' saddles, and as far as I can tell they are identical in size and weight EXCEPT for the cutout AND that the string length adjustment screw hole in the saddle is located lower on the back of the saddle than on the 'normal' saddle. Otherwise, the parts appear to be identical except for the saddles...grub screws for height, screws for length, the sustain block mount itself, all the same.

These AREN'T Fender-type replacement saddles...these are little blocks of chromed solid brass, same size and weight (more or less) as the 'normal' Sustain Block saddles. Has anybody else seen these or know anything about them?

P.S. My camera does not do macro or close-ups well, otherwise I would post a photo. If no one has encountered these saddles before, I may attempt a photo...but I can't guarantee clear results.

[hamerhead]

I've seen at least 3 different types of Sustain Block saddles, and wouldn't be too surprised if they were an original - albeit odd - batch from whatever supplier they were getting them from that week. It seems to me I've seen that kind somewhere before, but damn if I can remember where. Getting old is hell.

[Andrew]

2nd generation Mighty Mite saddles, possibly? The earliest 77/78 Sunbursts had 1st gen. Mighty Mite bridges with imperial allen (hex) screws. I would think non-original, especially if they take a metric rather than imperial allen key.

Andrew.

[serial]

2nd generation Mighty Mite saddles, possibly? The earliest 77/78 Sunbursts had 1st gen. Mighty Mite bridges with imperial allen (hex) screws. I would think non-original, especially if they take a metric rather than imperial allen key.

Andrew.

My thoughts exactly.

[crunchee]

I've seen at least 3 different types of Sustain Block saddles, and wouldn't be too surprised if they were an original - albeit odd - batch from whatever supplier they were getting them from that week. It seems to me I've seen that kind somewhere before, but damn if I can remember where. Getting old is hell.

+1 on the getting old part. I feel your aches and pains.

FINALLY took some decent photos, for comparison purposes. Hope you can see them from the angle I took them from:

The saddles in question, on a '80 Special:

'Normal' Sustain Block saddles (or is it 'average'?) on a slightly younger '80 Special:

Saddles on a '83 Blitz with the Sustain Block trem...to me, the walls on the sides of the 'hole' in the saddle look a bit thinner, though this might be an illusion, or my crap photography:

P.S.: I don't know what the size of the Allen wrench is that I used to test the Allen screws (I borrowed it from another brand of guitar), but it fits both sets of screws on the Specials.

[benjammin308]

The saddles on my '80 special (no. 0 1968) look just like the ones that you have in question. They do not take a metric key. I've owned mine since '88 or '89 and haven't changed them. I'm guessing yours and mine are both original, that's just what they were using that week, month, or whatever. What's your serial no?

[stonge]

Those look like one of the variations that I had seen from around 1980 or so; my understanding is that there were a couple of different suppliers of sustainblock saddles and there were some differences in batches of saddles. I've seen some with cast string ramps, machined string ramps, and a couple of in-between versions. I believe that may have had something to do with where in the production run the bridges were used - the early saddles were likely machined from billet in small batches but as Hamer needed larger batches of bridges I would think that was when the suppliers went over to cast saddles (saving the cost of machining the string ramps). I have a pair of 1980 Specials over at a friend's house - I'll have to check them but I think at least one of them used those saddles.

edited to clarify that I meant the saddles were cast, and not the baseplate of the bridges. I don't think I've seen any baseplates that were cast - I think those were likely all milled from billet. Milling the saddles from billet is an immense PITA - trust me, I know lol.

[cmatthes]

See, once upon a time, in a frigid land, there were these two guys in a garage with a Bridgeport and a Coleman...

[HSB0531]

See, once upon a time, in a frigid land, there were these two guys in a garage with a Bridgeport and a Coleman...

A lot of stories and companies started this very way.

[bubs_42]

See, once upon a time, in a frigid land, there were these two guys in a garage with a Bridgeport and a Coleman...

Exactly why I laugh every time anyone wants a Sustainblock but doesn't want to pay over a $100 Bucks for one. ITS A LOT OF F'ING WORK. Having Owned the Mighty Mites V1 and Early SB Bridges, 2FIG and Hamerhead Bridges I will tell those who do not know. The 2 Figs and Hamerheads are above par bridges. I have 2 OEM Sustainblocks at the moment and would trade either or both for a 2 FIG or a Hamerhead.

And yes you always need a Sustainblock laying around. You never know if you'll need one.

[velorush]

Has anyone asked Hamerhead what in the way of a minimum order it would take to make another run feasible?

Given the demise of Hamer and the apparent Sustainblock interest here [see the prevailing opinion in Northfield's "Working Man Guitar" thread from last week], something could happen.

[bubs_42]

All arrows point to Bloozguy for the next possible run.

[hamerhead]

^^^^^

This.

If I had the time and a machine.......I probably wouldn't do it! I was able to work a deal with the boss to get those done, and that wouldn't happen now. And running them through the shop as a regular production piece would get quite pricey.