Official Luthiers Forum!

Well I'm working on my first bridge and struggling with the compensation angle of the saddle, I can't seem to find any info that describes this angle? Can anyone help me with this or point me to more info? I've seen many saddle slot jig videos but nothing about that angle. Should I just copy the angle off the plan (seems reasonable)? Input would be greatly appreciated.

Mark

I dont use a measured angle, but a 3mm offset treble to bass .. you could workout whatever angle that is, but to me it doesnt matter .. just use 3mm

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Saddle angle isn't really determined as an "angle", per se, but rather by string length. This varies by the string width locations. I.E. Stew Mac gives string length numbers for a 25.4 scale guitar as - Treble "E" 25.489 " (±0.030") - Bass "E" 25.614 " (±0.030"). Depending on the string spacing, though close as in angular terms this does change. Some guitars could be as wide a 2" some as 2 3/8 or more at the saddle.

It's best to mark off lengths and go from there.

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

nevermind....I thought I had something for you...

_________________
Old growth, shmold growth!

Thanks for the input I really appreciate!

_________________
http://shastaguitar.com/
http://www.kalimbakit.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/comfyfootgr ... ature=mhee
http://www.facebook.com/robert.renick.7

Since Comfyfoot posted that link, let me help clarify, as it can look somewhat confusing. Cumpiano makes his saddle slot 3 inches long.
At the ends of the slot, the treble side is 3/16ths in from the front edge of the bridge, the bass side is 5/16th's in from the front edge of the bridge, giving the slot it's slant. The front edge of the bridge is parallel to the last fret, the saddle is positioned so that the center of the saddle slot is compensated .15 inches back from the actual scale length, going by the middle of the saddle (not the front edge).

In other words, if the scale length is 25.4 inches, the center of the saddle would be placed at 25.55 inches from the nut.

_________________
Old growth, shmold growth!

I've always found this discussion -- the manner in which compensation is laid out -- to be problematic. I find its easier to talk about saddle slope rather than angle, and I find measuring to the center of the saddle slot to be unnecessarily difficult. Most bridges are set with the leading edge of the saddle set to the scale length, and the offset adjusted accordingly. It's much easier to measure to the leading edge of the saddle -- something that you actually can see, and compare against, than against the center of the slot.

I use a slope of .125/2.875 and set the bridge to the leading edge of the slot on the treble side -- everything else follows from there. I use an .125" slot, and this allows a little more meat behind the strings on the bass side.

David, you mean 0.125 slope over a length of 2.875 length (i.e. distance between high E and low E)?

No. My slot is 2.875".

I use a 1/8 in off set from the 1st to 6th string. About a 3 degree angle will get you close

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

hmmm .... .125 inch over the saddle slot length .. thats about 3mm (and I use a 70mm slot - thats about 2.756 inches) !!!!! Great minds think alike David.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Wow great info! Thank you all very much!