Official Luthiers Forum!

Terry,
Here's a tip for ya...instead of using wire to check your intonation points...use a piece of string wrapper paper. It's finer and shows the point much better. it realy suprised me the first couple of times I tried it and found that the real point was much different.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Hi,
just looked at your comments/pics again and realized you weren't checking your points with the wire you were establishing it...DA...NEVER MIND...

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

I start with a flat top on the saddle. I sort of already know my points because I use the S.M. intonator device to get those. Then to home in on the saddle I string up, I use a piece of the string paper and run it under the string so I can see exactly where the string is comming off the saddle top. Then I read my intonation and mark my points accordingly. Then I cut the points, string back up and check with the paper again. I realy like using the intonator because my saddles never end up where you "normally" would cut the slot. I install Buzz Feiten on every guitar I build and that makes any type of pre-slotting almost impossible.

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Bought one some time ago Terry, it is indeed a simple but very time saving tool. In fact I've got two because it's just the right size to go missing just when you need it!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.