Official Luthiers Forum!

Here's a question for the great repair experts we have here.  I'm replacing an adjustable saddle bridge on a 1965 J45.  Converting to fixed saddle.  Everything came off fine with no damage or wood loss.
My question is the saddle dropback angle .  I've been using about 1/8" over 3" on my guitars with good luck.  I note that the Gibson adjustable saddle has almost 11/32" dropback over the same distance.  The saddle was compensated 0.16" originally and it did seem to intonate well.
Would you guys use the same angle with the new fixed saddle?  I know using the StewMac intonator is an option too.
Thanks a Million
Terry




 

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

If it intonated well, yes, stay with it. Their sorter scale needs more compensation than we'd expect with a more normal scale.

BTW, if you have access to a small scale, weigh all that metal....

The point is for the guitar to play in tune. I use a movable saddle piece that rests on top of the bridge and get the two E strings in tune. Then I cut the slot. I haven't done one of those in about 30 years, but iirc, you will end up with the saddle running from about the back edge of the existing wide slot on the high E to the front edge of it on the low E. The factory angle is excessive.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Thanks a lot for the info guys, I decided to cut the slot after gluing and try to get things as close as possible.
BTW Grumps, the bridge hardware alone weighed 40 grams.

Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

the bridge hardware alone weighed 40 grams

heh-heh-heh.... prepare to hear a newly revived Gibbie!