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Since saddles have had so much discussion lately, I thought I'd ask another question about it. Is 1/8" a fairly standard thickness or are you guys going with something really different?   One of my books says 1/8", another says 3/32". Seems like a thicker one would be better if you intend to do individual string intonation adjustments. I'm not there, yet, but I need to order the right size bit to cut the slot.

Ron

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Ron Wisdom

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I have a friend tht supplies me with some really nice bone blanks at 5/32 thick. I actually cut my slot at 9/64 and hone the saddle to be a very tight fit not so tight you have get pullers to get it out, but pretty darn tight The 9/64 give me some extra wiggel room on intonation. But now that I hve modafied my saddlematic with a ledge that fits in to the slot for more accuate location I am concidering going to 1/8" in the near future. But to answer your question I believe 1/8 is used more than 3/32".

I would also say 1/8. Like you said more room for intonation than 3/32. As long as your bridge and saddle slot are properly positioned you will have enough room for proper intonation.

Josh

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Josh House

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This brings up another question, hope you don't mind Ron.

I have to fit a pickup a customer supplied to a guitar I am making, I usually use a 3mm Saddle (Just under 1/8) The UST for this one is only 2.4mm, will it be alright in a 3mm Slot or should I make the slot 2.4mm.

Many Thanks

Russell

Does Tansducer comes with the saddel blank attached or is this just a tansducer that set under the saddle?

Thanks Michael

It is one that is set into the slot, a thin strip it is a B Band.RussellR38617.6966203704

You should be ok with a 3MM slot

Thank you Michael

Russell, B-Band makes a 1/8 transducer as well. That's what I use for pickups and always get the 1/8 transducer. There's no difference in price, so maybe you could get your customer to trade in his 3/32"(2.4mm) for a 1/8"(3mm).Rod True38617.8048263889

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Thanks Rod

This is the second guitar I have done for him on the first one he had the 1/8" UST, he bought these second hand from a luthier who had taken them from Demo Stock, so he wants me to try and use the one he has which is the 2.4mm, I like to have a slightly wider saddle than that.

The pre-slotted bridges sold by both Stew-Mac and LMI have a 3/32" slot.

LMI sells saddles at both 3/32" and 1/8" thickness. Stew-Mac sells those sizes as well as 7/32".

THe 3/32 and 1/8 saddles look best, IMHO, with a smooth crown that restarts at the B string. The wider saddle looks best with a stair-step compensation. I've never used the wider saddle but I must confess that it has some practical advantages when it come to getting the intonation perfect.
MIke Doolin uses a wide saddle.