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| Saddle Thickness http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=20157 |
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| Author: | michaelt [ Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Saddle Thickness |
Are there any advantages / disadvantages to using a 1/8" thick saddle instead of a 3/32" saddle? Tone, sustain, ? Just Curious. Mike |
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| Author: | Rod True [ Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
More room to set the intonation up. some have switched to a 3/16 wide saddle just for this reason although I think 1/8 is adaquate. I don't think the extra 1/32" would make any difference in tone or sustain. |
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| Author: | Hesh [ Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
I have noticed that many of the Somogyi students use very wide saddles, they look almost 1/4" wide. I have also noticed that Mike Doolin does too as well as some other notables. Perhaps some of these folks who are OLFers would enlighten us as to the theory behind very wide saddles? Thanks! 
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| Author: | Michael Dale Payne [ Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
If you have a player tht what to sometimes set up for slack tuning and other times for standard tuning a thicker saddle allows you to intonate two different saddles for the play |
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| Author: | Kent Chasson [ Tue Dec 23, 2008 7:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
What Somogyi says on the subject is here http://www.esomogyi.com/principles.html It's about a third of the way down, in the paragraph with the image link for "figure 3". |
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| Author: | David Collins [ Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
There was a recent discussion over at the UMGF about this. Is it okay to link to a discussion from that forum? |
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| Author: | michaelt [ Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
Thanks for the feedback guys. I may try a wider saddle on the next one? Mike |
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| Author: | Brock Poling [ Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:46 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
David Collins wrote: There was a recent discussion over at the UMGF about this. Is it okay to link to a discussion from that forum? Sure. Link away. (BTW, I use a 1/4" saddle, and I also tilt the slot back 3 degrees) |
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| Author: | efialtis [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
In the past, when I decided to intone my guitar,the original saddle was 3/32 so to avoid widening the slot I started with a 5/32" saddle and used a router to thin the portion that fit in the slot.That gave me all the upper surface I needed for the adjustments. |
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| Author: | Andy Zimmerman [ Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
I am a 3/16ths guy for the reasons mentioned above. It is really nice for a 12 string when you want to intonate the octave strings |
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| Author: | Pat Foster [ Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
Of course, there are arguments in favor of the thinner one. Who woulda guessed?  Pat |
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| Author: | James Ringelspaugh [ Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:59 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
The thicker the saddle, the more room you have for intonation adjustments and the more surface area you have for string contact. Also with a thicker saddle you're adding extra mass right where the strings put their energy into the soundboard which is another tool you can use to shape the sound of an instrument. |
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| Author: | gozierdt [ Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
I think Somogyi's arguments sound valid, so I'm planning to go 3/16-1/4" wide on my next couple of instruments. |
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| Author: | JasonM [ Thu Apr 09, 2009 10:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
anyone having trouble cutting the wide saddle slot with one pass? i smoked a brand new bit. i also have a 10 degree back angle, so can't take multiple passes without stair stepping. was using a down spiral bit which may make it worse. anyone have bit advise? |
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| Author: | Daniel Minard [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 3:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
Jason; I use 3/16" saddles & you're right... It's not easy on router bits. Nor is it easy to avoid chatter. I do mine on the drill press, using an angled jig against a fence. I do three or more passes to get almost full depth with a 1/8" bit, then move up to the 3/16" bit. Two passes will usually do the job for me. I use 3/16" down spiral bit to keep the slot as clean as I can. The 1/8" starter slot I cut with a standard carbide dado bit. Works fine for me... Until I think of something easier / better. |
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| Author: | JasonM [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:06 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle Thickness |
Thanks Daniel. Using a smaller bit first will help a bunch. Good idea. Jason |
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