Shorts are a must and stock saddles more often than not are switched out. But a pair of good cycling shorts are a definite absolute to start with regardless of your saddle fit. I got a pair of Trek shorts for $35 on sale at my LBS. They're adequate but for a few bucks more I could have gotten better padding. Good shorts aren't going to replace an ill-fitting saddle and you may have to replace it anyway.

Kathy