Saddle adjustment

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Saddle adjustment

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mentrida

Posts: 55
Joined: Jun. 19 2004

Saddle adjustment

Hola everyone,

I just ordered a couple of bone saddle blanks to play with. My guitar has the current saddle compensated at the G string. I plan on keeping the same setup as the luthier (If I learned something from everyone here is not to mess with the luthier's choice or play with the originals '

'), but it got me wondering.

How come I don't see many flamenco guitars with such an adjustment and what does it do??

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 17 2006 21:59:56

Ramón

Posts: 440
Joined: Feb. 23 2005
From: La Jolla, Ca

Saddle adjustment - pic 1 (in reply to mentrida)

Here's 2 shots of a saddle I just made for another blanca. The treble side is higher, and the G is compensated, but I use D'Addario Composites, so we'll see...

I know many of you know how to do this, so forgive me, but I know there are/were discussions about this to bring up trebles in a Negra, etc...

This may be a little more than I want, but I've found it's easier to sand down than to 'put back'....

R

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 20 2006 3:49:44

Ramón

Posts: 440
Joined: Feb. 23 2005
From: La Jolla, Ca

Saddle pic 2 (in reply to mentrida)

another shot...

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 20 2006 3:50:49

Garyw1960

Posts: 91
Joined: Nov. 13 2005

RE: Saddle adjustment (in reply to mentrida)

Hi

Saddle compensation allows the guitar to play in tune up the neck so a open e when fretted at the 12th fret also gives an e. This for some reason is a real problem on the "G" string on steel string guitars so compensation is built in at the nut or saddle

There are others here who will have differing opinions. (several of whom are very experienced luthiers and well worth listening to).

I have researched this and like you have not seen many, if any, classical/flamenco guitars with a compensated saddle.

The saddles are angled on flamencos and classicals and this has a gives the compensation. What I mean is a 650 scale does not have the saddle at 650 at the high E and 650 at the Low e. A Discussed and tried formula is scale length * 1.0065 for the bass side and scale length * 1.0024 for the Treble side.

Taking a 650 scale as an example.

So nut to saddle on the high e would be

650*1.0024=651.25mm

and on the Bass side

650*1.0065 = 654.5mm

Now if you have a lower bridge height then this may be different and also if you use differing tension strings then this may cause problems it depends how accurate you want to be, I doubt whether us mortals would be able to hear a difference if the saddle was fractionally out.

This is a decent start point but not the only way to do it.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Gary

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 20 2006 4:49:20

gitano1974

Posts: 12
Joined: Jan. 7 2006

RE: Saddle adjustment - pic 1 (in reply to Ramón)

Ramon..

What's really the effect of compensation at the G string ?!..I always read about it but never came really to know what it does..

Gitano

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 20 2006 4:55:45

Ramón

Posts: 440
Joined: Feb. 23 2005
From: La Jolla, Ca

RE: Saddle adjustment (in reply to mentrida)

Like everything, sometimes it works and sometimes there's little change. It adds 1mm to 1.5mm - sometimes up to 2mm - of string length - depending upon bone thickness in your saddle.

One of the reasons the Ramirez guitars had so much volume was the 660 (665?) scale lengths (so I'm told)....

I just tried it on one of my guitars here. Worked on one, not this one. Also, the raised (this is about level on the current one) saddle seemed to diminsh the trebles when I just tried it (the one in the pics above) a few minutes ago, so I put the original back in immediately...

R

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 20 2006 6:03:55

mentrida

Posts: 55
Joined: Jun. 19 2004

RE: Saddle adjustment (in reply to mentrida)

Thanks everyone! Like always, it's the little things that make one wonder

.

Ramon, That looks very professional. Great work like in the rest of your guitar. Can't wait to hear how it turns out. I expect it will sound as great as it looks.

I sanded one saddle last night and increased the treble side to be even with the Bass (2.5 mm accross the 12th fret). I failed to make the adjustment on the G string. Being my first one, I just kept it simple. I must say that it seems to have added some volume to the trebles and it seems to resonate a little more. Note sure if its really the case, or just wishfull thinking after working at il late at night

.

I'm planning on doing another one with the compensation and lowered some. I'm getting a craving for that old style buzzing which my guitar is perfect for.

Now, if I could just get my playing to improve over night, I'd be in business...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 21 2006 18:52:59