Frequently asked questions
- How do I Install Highwood Saddles and fix the intonation ?
- How do I know which saddles I need? And what is a digital caliper?
- How can I identify the width of a Highwood saddle?
- What is the size (type) of your different parts of the saddles if we need to replace these?
- Is there a problem fitting the HG 10.8 mm saddles with the Gotoh 510 tremolo?
- Do you only sell via dealers?
- Can I become a Dealer or make an order as a Manufacturer (OEM)?
- Can we pay via Paypall or a bank as a dealer/OEM?
- Are you selling a chrome or gold plated version of your saddles?
- Do you use track and trace?
- How long does it take for a standard door-air-mail-envelope (with priority) to arrive when send from the Netherlands?
- Do you have photos that can be used by dealers?
1 How do I install Highwood Saddles?
Please have a look at this Stewmac video:
But also please check this video if you need detailed instructions for Intonation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlE3DVDnjgQ&ab_channel=DylanTalksTone
2 How do I know which saddles I need? And what is a digital caliper?
1. Please use a digital caliper:
2. Measure the following width:
3. Choose the appropriate Highwood saddles:
- If it’s 0.441″ (11.2 mm), please choose the HG-11,20
- If it’s 0.425″ (10.8 mm), please choose the HG-10,80
- If it’s 0.413″ (10.5 mm), please choose the HG-10,50
Please note.
It is important to be aware that some guitars do not have the correct size Saddles. You can see this when there are gaps between the 6 Saddles. If this is the case, you should check their width as described. Digital caliper also vary a little, so 10.4mm also fits the 10.5mm type.
Also:
If the intonation screw hole is not in the center of your current Saddles then our HG Contoured Vintage Guitar Saddles are not compatible.
3 How can I identify the width of a Highwood saddle?
We have made it easy to identify the width of a Highwood saddle using our width recognition aid. These dots are shown on the underside of the saddle.
From left to right:
- No dot: HG 11,20 which means 0.441″ or 11.2 mm wide
- 1 dot: HG 10,80 which means 0.425″ or 10.8 mm wide
- 2 dots: HG 10,50 which means 0.413″ or 10.5 mm wide
4 What is the size (type) of your different parts of the saddles if we need to replace these?
The Saddle height screws that are in our Highwood Saddles are Metric – more specific: M3 x 6 (6 being 6 mm long and 3 being 3 mm in diameter). We do not sell longer screws as on most guitars that is not needed. But you can purchase M3 x 8 mm for your guitar or even M3x10 mm if you like. The best way to find those in your country is via Google.
This is when you are in the UK:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M3-x-8-Stainless-Grub-Screws-3mm-x-8mm-Cup-Point-Socket-Grub-Screw-x30-/360177085950
And this for when you live in the USA:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/M3-x-8mm-Stainless-Steel-Saddle-Height-Screws-12-Hex-Fender-MIM-Stratocaster-/111405821533#rwid
The Intonation screw is the #4-40 x 5/8″ Phillips Drive Pan Head Stainless Steel Machine Screw.
The Hex allen wrench is a 3950-PKL-Hex-Plus1,5×90 wrench. This means a 1,5 mm hex wrench.
The spring is custom made for the Highwood saddle. You will not find it on the internet not even with Google..
5 Is there a problem fitting your 10.8 mm saddles with the Gotoh 510 tremolo?
Not anymore, we fixed this. A few years ago we changed the distance between the screws to fit this tremolo perfectly.
6. Do you only sell via dealers?
Yes that is our intention, but there are countries in which we have no dealer (yet). If you live in a country without a dealer, you can order via our website (click on the Add to cart button). If a dealer does not sell the type you want, you can mail us to sort this out or you may find a solution via www.reverb.com
7 Can I become a Dealer or make an order as a Manufacturer (OEM)?
Sure we love to welcome you as a dealer or an OEM (Manufacturer) of our Highwood strat saddles. We prefer dealers with a modern website/shop. Send us an email to info@highwood-guitarparts.com and we send you our price-list in return. Off course we need your address and so on. We require you to order at least 12 sets per order. You can mix the order any way you like with different saddle-types as long it totals a minimum of 12 sets in total.
For example your order could look like this: 3 sets 10.5, 10.8 mm and 11.2 mm nickel gloss and 1 set of 11.2 , 10.8 and 10.4 mm nickel reliced, this totals 12 sets. Or maybe you prefer the chrome version? Any way mix the order to your best knowledge, you know your customers the best.
We charge shipping costs (with tracking), so the minimum is needed to be efficient.
8 Can we pay via bank as a dealer/OEM?
We prefer payments via Bank (use Transferwise for example and please mention our invoice nummer in your payment). If you cannot pay us via our (Dutch but International) ABNAMRO-bankaccount, it is also possible to pay us via Paypall. They charge us a 5% fee and so we also charge you 5% extra (the same amount) if you prefer to pay us via Paypall.
9 Are you selling a gold plated version of your saddles?
Yes since october 2022 we sell the Chrome plated versions, we created this for players that are allergic to the nickel-plated version.
Gold is a different matter. Gold is soft at the surface and we didn’t find a good solution yet. Quality remains our priority.
10 Do you use track and trace?
Yes we use track and trace but only on packages for dealers and OEM’s!
For customers that buy a set via our webshop we don’t use track and trace but send the package with regular international stamps. The (door) envelope always arrives. It would be a useless cost of over more than 16 euros if we would use track and trace on an envelope. We ship from the Netherlands (Europe) and outside Europe track and trace does not work on the envelopes we use.
11 How long does it take for a standard door-air-mail-envelope (with priority) to arrive when send from the Netherlands?
The Netherlands is central in Europe with very good logistics to allover the world. In Europe it takes between 3 and 10 days depending on the destination and without delays (Corona).
Airmail outside Europe is harder to predict. KLM and AirFrance have connections allover the world. But it might take 8 to 40 days.
The product sometimes is kept by the customs and they may keep it for 45 days…. This is one of the reasons we prefer selling via dealers so you will be served and delivered as fast as possible.
12 Do you have photos that can be used by dealers?
Please use the photos provided in this link.
