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Hi folks,

I was wondering about the saddle compensation shape for a baritone guitar (BEADF#B) which only has the first (B) string unwound. i.e. As a general rule, is it only set "back" 1-2 mm on that string only?

Cheers,
Warren    

Hi Warren,

A lot is going to depend on scale length and string gauge, but having built 3 baritones with 735mm scale length for the BEADF#B tuning and dropped tunings from there I have evolved to the following string lengths (measured along the string from nut edge to saddle break point) 737mm, 739mm, 737mm, 739mm, 741mm and 746mm. This goes with string gauges of 0.014", 0.023"w, 0.030", 0.039", 0.047", 0.070". This intonates very well for me.This is done with a split saddle - this is the best picture I have:





Hope this helps.

_________________
Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

I dont have any pix of my first (completely forgot, and it was out being checked out by folks alot), but I used my standard saddle offset of 2.5mm, and a comp of 2.5mm to the centre of the slot between the 3rd and 4th strings (std daddario bari set, 16-70). It intonated very well.

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

Oh as well .. I used the fretcomp program available in zip form on the MIMF. It works great, does multiscales, and scale length with any string gauge, takes action and nut height into acount, a real gem.

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