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 Post subject: Saddle width preference?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 9:04 am 
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Koa
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Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:08 am
Posts: 1906
Location: Raleigh, NC
First name: Steve
Last Name: Sollod
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
What is your saddle width preference? I have been using 3/32", but considering other widths...

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www.swiftcreekguitars.com


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 9:04 am 
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Koa
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Location: Raleigh, NC
First name: Steve
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Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Sorry for the double post...

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www.swiftcreekguitars.com


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 9:24 am 
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Koa
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Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:49 pm
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First name: peter
Last Name: havriluk
City: granby
State: ct
Zip/Postal Code: 06035
Country: usa
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Status: Amateur
I've used Tusq 1/8" x 3" compensated saddles on each of my 4 builds. Easily available, wide enough to allow intonation adjustments, consistency are plusses for me. One less variable. My layman's thinking suggested to me that seeing as I had none of the jigging a factory uses for location accuracy, I'd best give myself some insurance. Seems to have worked out so far.

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PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 9:40 am 
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Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am
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Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37772
Country: US
Focus: Repair
For the last 4 or 5 years if I cut the slot then I use 1/8" saddles. Obviously replacement saddles are made to fit whatever the existing slot width is.

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"Music is what feelings sound like"


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 9:47 am 
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Koa
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Joined: Sun Jun 22, 2014 1:45 pm
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First name: Michael
Last Name: Colbert
City: Anacortes
State: WA
Focus: Build
I use 5/32”.

M


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 10:02 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
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First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Vancouver
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
I've been doing 1/8"...


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 10:11 am 
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1/8" for me, too. I have used thicker saddles to solve intonation problems on specific guitars, but for new builds, I like 1/8".


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 10:13 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 10:44 am
Posts: 6237
Location: Virginia
I like 1/8th because of the traditional look and the little extra space for intonation. I have used 1/4in saddles but most people don't like the way they look. Spot on intonation with them though.


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 10:33 am 
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First name: Tim
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City: Santa Cruz
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Country: United States
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Status: Amateur
5/32"


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 7:38 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:32 pm
Posts: 321
I use 3/16" for six-strings and 1/4" for twelve-strings.

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PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 9:12 pm 
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Put me in the 1/8" club.


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 9:45 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Location: San Diego, CA
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i use 3/16 for all. I love the real estate for intonation and a gradual slope to the pin slot.

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 1:59 am 
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First name: Tim
Last Name: Allen
City: San Francisco
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Because I slot the bridge before I glue it, I use 5/32 to 3/16 for a 6-string. This gives me some room to adjust intonation in case the bridge moves slightly when I glue it. It also allows for adjusting for intonation in the future if someone puts different gauge strings on the guitar. While a narrow saddle is a bit more conventional, I don't see a major downside to a wider saddle.

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 9:05 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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1/8th-3/16.
depends on string gauge.
Mike

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 9:00 pm 
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Koa
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Location: Shefford, Québec
First name: Tim
Last Name: Mullin
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State: QC
Zip/Postal Code: J2M 1R5
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
1/8” on pyramid bridges, 3/16” on most others, 1/4” on multi-scale baritones.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 9:54 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 8:54 am
Posts: 854
State: Texas
Country: United States
Focus: Repair
I'm in the 1/8" club. For repairs especially it helps to adjust intonation.


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PostPosted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 1:55 am 
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Walnut
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Joined: Wed Aug 28, 2019 2:46 am
Posts: 10
First name: Cas
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I’ve been with the 1/8” for some time. But currently trying to weigh up the pros and cons of moving to 5/32”
More space to intonate, but aside from the aesthetics, does it affect the tone at all? Slot depth also comes into play here I guess.


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PostPosted: Fri Oct 11, 2019 5:17 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2010 10:02 pm
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First name: Michael
Last Name: Giltzow
City: Boise
State: Idaho
Zip/Postal Code: 83709
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
1/8" for me

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