I've seen angle saddles used with the builder claiming the potential for better UST pickup performance and reduced structural loading of the soundhole side of the saddle slot.
The most often cited counterarguments are that:
- String length becomes variable with saddle height, so the guitar will move toward sharp as the saddle height is reduced, and
- Once string break angle over the saddle exceeds about 15 degrees, driving force is adequate and any additional loading produces little or no improvement in UST performance
As to the first argument, I don't believe that the change in speaking length of the string will be a factor in sensibly changing intonation. A little trigonometry shows that speaking length of the string changes by just .020" with .100" change in saddle height (e.g., .150" as delivered; .050" minimum usable saddle height nearing neck reset), which is under a cent and a half pitch chance at the 12th fret for common guitar scale lengths. Most players will not hear pitch changes as sensibly sharp or flat at less than 4-5 cents change from at pitch, so unless already working near the limit of being audibly flat and sharp at the 12th, as well as playing in upper positions, it seems as though saddle-height related pitch change is not much of a concern.
For the second argument, we are usually more concerned with whether the saddle is well-fitted and meets that 15 degree minimum break than getting maximum down-force. A tight saddle with a slot which is not truly flat is often the culprit versus inadequate down force.
In the thread cited, Mr. Carruth - as is often the case - covers the UST down-force argument and I believe the notion of significant pitch changes with saddle height is put to bed. I've worked on a number of Mr. Turner's guitars, and while they are lovely little beasts, I doubt that the angled saddles contribute in a make-or-break way to the overall play experience.
I would suggest trying things out on a few guitars, the worst case being a bridge redo, which is fairly trivial work for most builders.
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