Official Luthiers Forum!

These questions would be directed toward bluegrass or flatpicking styled guitars such as dreads, OM's and the like, I suppose:

What is your optimal bridge height/thickness at the center between G and D pin holes?

What is your optimal saddle height reveal (how much showing above top of bridge) after properly set up and settled in for a few weeks?

What is your optimal string height above the top just in front of the bridge after settling, etc?

...I have specific thoughts on this and have done some experimentation. I will elaborate more after a few responses if any. Even if you think somebody is gonna think you're crazy tell us anyway. We're probably all a little crazy anyhow Thanks guys.

SR

_________________
"We might not be big but we sure are slow"

I like to go with a 11/32" for my bridge height



I like to have 1/8-3/16" saddle above the bridge



I don't measure off the soundboard to the underside of the strings, I measure at the 12th fret. I like to have 0.095" at the low E and 0.075" at the high e. This is between the string bottom and the top of the 2th fret.

I also like to have 0.005-0.008" relief when holding the string down at the 1st fret and 14th and measuring at the 7th fret.

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

SR buddy I don't think that I had the pleasure of welcoming you to the forum yet so...... - welcome to the OLF!

Regarding how much saddle I expose I think that this is a rather personal question.......

Irregardless I expose about 1/8 to 3/16" of saddle like my buddy Rod does.

My saddles are slightly more than 1/8" thick.

And I like to see 1/2" of height between the bottom of the low E string and the guitar top measured at the leading edge of the bridge.

So what are you thinking?

Thanks Hesh.

In all my builds, mainly dreads, I have had anywhere from 7/16" to 9/16" string ht at bridge and honestly I can't say one is better or worse. One of my earlier guitars, which has been played quite a bit, is the lowest one and it has great tone, punch and volume to spare. Now having been played in for more than 10 years doesn't hurt but I'm from the "a donkey ain't never won the Kentucky derby" school.If it doesn't start out strong its never gonna be a powerhouse.

I've had all different saddle heights too. from almost none showing (early guitar or two that I didn't give enough neck angle) to almost 1/4"! To me each of my guitars are a little better than the last in fit and finish and tone. So far I havent' been dissapointed.

I asked these questions thinking some folks would have a field day and hang me out to dry but I think if the guitar is properly braced, sensibly scalloped and the unit as a whole is put together with care as long as you avoid extremes it will turn out good...more than likely better than most anything you could buy at a music store.

What lead me to the string height in front of the bridge were two guitars I played recently. Both were new and by the same very well known maker. His bridges were only about 9/32" thick and maybe 3/32" of saddle showing giving him around 3/8" ht in front of the bridge. His bridge was slotted in front of the pins and used round pins not slotted. Both guitars were killer. I mean these things had "IT". One was rosewood the other mahogany and man they were great. Just what I want to hear when tearing into a guitar break. And the lower string ht made rythm seem much easier. Not sure what this will cause me to want to do to future guitars just yet but it definitely has me thinking...

_________________
"We might not be big but we sure are slow"