Official Luthiers Forum!

Anyone use the Stewmac saddlematic? If so how do you like it?

I made one from scratch copying the stewmac unit from the pictures and the instruction from their web and it is a good tool.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Stew Mac is an OLF sponsor and a saddlematic isn't that expensive. I made mine but if I needed another I'd probably just buy it.

http://www.13thfret.com/saddlejig.shtml

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I have one. Use it on all my builds. It's good.

Neil

Saddlematic is a good tool but I found Luthier Suppliers neck center finder a better and more versatile tool. (Does more functions and simpler to use) I scribed various scale saddle slot positions in the main beam and put two pins in the bridge locating attachment that match my outer bridge pin holes so that the attachment holds my bridge in place and I slide the bridge locating attachment till the saddle slot on my bridge is centered over my scribed scale (+ compensation) positions. Dead on every time and you don’t have to mess with the bridge trying to slip and slide out of position. Here is a link http://www.luthiersuppliers.com/products/p9.html Luthier Suppliers is also a sponcer and Tracy is a heck of a great guy.

If you want info on how to scribe the scale positions and modify the bridge attachment as I did PM me your email and I will send a sketch.

I use Tracy's centerline finder to locate my bridge, but I glue them on, and route the saddle slot afterwards. I use (my homemade) saddlematic to locate the slot.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Looks like we are discussing several different tasks here:
1. Finding the centerline of the fretboard
2. Lining up the centerline of the fretboard with the center line of the guitar (end pin center)
3. Finding the location of the bridge
4. Squaring the bridge with the centerline of the guitar/fretboard
5. Finding the bridge saddle slot location.

I think the original poster was just concerned about #5 - Finding the bridge saddle slot location. But as pointed out, there are tools that can do much more.

The Saddlematic uses dimensional measurements to determine #5 the saddle slot location. Of course this works very good, but does not work best IMHO. The best IMHO is to use sound measurements to locate the saddle slot. Sound measurements take into consideration the EXACT length of each string, EXACT gage and tension of each string, the guitar's setup/action and any of the guitar's specific idiosyncrasies - and with the top pulled up under full string tension.

One way to use sound measurements is to use StewMac's Intonator tool and locate the saddle using sound under real playing conditions instead of dimensional measurements which are "rules-of-thumb" based on good experience, but not as exact. This also calls for routing the saddle slot on the guitar which may improve the flatness of the slot bottom since the bridge is glued in place. You can even rout it with the top raised (bowed more) simulating string tension if you want.

Do I think there is a significant difference in the outcome between using diminsional measurements and sound measurements to locate the saddle? No, I doubt I'd hear the difference. But maybe Eric Johnson or someone else with excellent hearing would.

Has anyone else had a hard time adjusting the the Saddlematic's locating points? I spent a few minutes on it last night with feeler gauges and my dial caliper before deciding to give it up until doing a bit of research. I like the screws Dave used in the one Woody linked to. 8/32. I think I might replace the locating pins with screws.