Saddle bone too small for bridge

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sean65

Posts: 414
Joined: Jan. 4 2010
From: London

Saddle bone too small for bridge

Hi Guys,

I've noticed when looking at the saddle bone on my guitar that the width is too small for the bridge. The tension of the strings pulls the saddle bone forward in the bridge meaning that the contact points between the saddle bone and bridge are minimal as the bone is at an angle.

Could someone have a look at the attached sketch. It's not a great sketch but if you imagine sitting with the guitar on your lap and looking at the bridge so that you can only see the E 6th string. As you can see the string tension pulls the saddle forward only leaving contact points marked A and B in touch with the bridge. This doesn't look very efficient.

Would a better fitted saddle bone make much difference to the sound?

Thanks

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2010 2:14:58

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Saddle bone too small for bridge (in reply to sean65)

A well fitted guitar should have a saddle bone which fits snugly.
But on the other hand, I cant give you the garanty that another saddle bone will change the sound a lot.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2010 2:56:57

sean65

Posts: 414
Joined: Jan. 4 2010
From: London

RE: Saddle bone too small for bridge (in reply to sean65)

Thanks Anders,

I'll see if I can source one that's about 1mm wider.

I wouldn't imagine it will make any noticeable difference to the sound but it does look wrong

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2010 3:32:49

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: Saddle bone too small for bridge (in reply to sean65)

This also may cause the instrument to have intonation issues. If the are issues then at least the tuning of the instrument will be improved!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2010 4:50:34

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Saddle bone too small for bridge (in reply to sean65)

i had the same problem. i bought an oversized saddle and shaved it down to size.

i noticed a difference in tone. could be in my head but either way, i don't think a saddle like that is healthy for the bridge anyways.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2010 8:38:56

sean65

Posts: 414
Joined: Jan. 4 2010
From: London

RE: Saddle bone too small for bridge (in reply to sean65)

quote:

i had the same problem

On the C3F? If so, same guitar as mine.

quote:

This also may cause the instrument to have intonation issues

Strangely enough, it doesn't appear to be out.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2010 8:55:25

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Saddle bone too small for bridge (in reply to sean65)

quote:

On the C3F? If so, same guitar as mine.

ah-ha. i noticed the saddle width for the c3f is wider than many other guitars. i think the newer models changed that.
did you buy yours used? how's the nut?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2010 8:57:31

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: Saddle bone too small for bridge (in reply to sean65)

replace it ASAP.

I've repaired alot of bridges (steel string mostly but nylon as well) that have cracked laterally along the grain line because of that. wobbly saddle is not a good thing and it distributes teh tension with a torsion-like effect which causes the bridge to crack, the area between the soundhole and bridge to sink and the area behind the bridge to dome up.

bad news

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2010 10:57:13

sean65

Posts: 414
Joined: Jan. 4 2010
From: London

RE: Saddle bone too small for bridge (in reply to sean65)

quote:

ah-ha. i noticed the saddle width for the c3f is wider than many other guitars. i think the newer models changed that.
did you buy yours used? how's the nut?

How's the nut? like the rest of the guitar, pretty ****!

To be honest I did expect more for the money.

quote:

replace it ASAP

Yeah i'll take the measurements and get a replacement next week

quote:

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2010 11:27:12

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Saddle bone too small for bridge (in reply to sean65)

quote:

How's the nut? like the rest of the guitar, pretty ****!

To be honest I did expect more for the money.

i'd replace the nut as well then.

and those ugly violin guy tuners. and no golpeadors.... wtf were they thinking.

but i do like my c3f. i get a lot of compliments about its sound and appearance.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2010 14:15:18

sean65

Posts: 414
Joined: Jan. 4 2010
From: London

RE: Saddle bone too small for bridge (in reply to sean65)

what was the problem with the nut on your guitar? Mine seems reasonably OK.

Once I get the saddle sorted, which in turn, will lower the action a bit, it wont be a bad guitar so long as you play it softly. It's when you play with a bit more verve it starts to sound quite boxy.

No golpeadors was a bit of a weird omission. It's not as if by fitting one they'd have driven the price up. lol

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2010 14:29:00

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Saddle bone too small for bridge (in reply to sean65)

quote:

what was the problem with the nut on your guitar? Mine seems reasonably OK.

well i got mine second hand. the previous owner replaced the nut and saddle.
the saddle was just as your described and the nut was loose, too low, and the string spacing was off.

is yours brand new? maybe it needs to be broken in.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2010 14:44:07

sean65

Posts: 414
Joined: Jan. 4 2010
From: London

RE: Saddle bone too small for bridge (in reply to sean65)

quote:

is yours brand new? maybe it needs to be broken in.

Mine was new. I think a good guitar will open and develop over time but not sure about this one though, I may be wrong. Anyway, a few tweeks here and there can't be a bad thing.

What strings you using? I've got mine strung with Pro Arte Hard tension at the moment and it sounds pretty good. I'll be replacing them with La Bella 820B this week just to see how I get on with them.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2010 23:29:33