Official Luthiers Forum!

O.K., So I place my saddle that is already compensated in the bridge so that the high E string is exactly at the intended scale length. The high E leading edge(saddle)would be the exact same distance from the 12th fret as the 12th fret is from the leading edge of the nut? This would put the rest of the strings progressively longer at the saddle, Yes? Is compensation 1/8" per three inches from high E to low E? Does that make sense? If the high E is right on scale length, does that mean that the low E would be approx. .100-.125 beyond scale length. Am I seeing this correctly?

Thanks,
Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

[QUOTE=Alan Carruth]
That's why you have to always set up the intonation for the brand and gauge of string that the buyer will use, if possible. Different manufacturers solve these balance problems in different ways.[/QUOTE]

Al, is the difference in intonation between med/light and brand usually small enough that you can just swap out the saddle? Or, do you have to re-slot the bridge?   This might be another argument in favor of the 3/16" saddle.

Usually you can just swap out saddles. It's not just light/medium; different string makers have different ways of making them that can result in changes in the intonation settings, even if the overall tension is the same.

[QUOTE=TonyKarol] ... however the program I use (fretcomp) says that the G might need it.
...
I do find the odd one that sometimes wants a bit more forward on the G, just like the program says. ...[/QUOTE]
Tony, What is "fretcomp"? I couldn't find anything on "fretcomp" or "fret comp" in a Google search.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

It is (was??) a program I pulled off the MIMF a couple years ago, not sure if its still there, havent looked lately. Runs on Xcel, and does calcs for both nut and saddle comps, and takes into acct string gauge, core, tuning, action at the 1st and 12th frets ... Very useful for weirder stuff like multiscales and baritones.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Thanks, Tony!

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

[QUOTE=DennisLeahy]I went with the "typical" recommendation to glue down the bridge so the middle of the saddle would be at the scale length. Presumably, intonation could be adjusted in either direction then. This went against my logic, but I did it anyway.
[/QUOTE] (You know, when you start quoting yourself, there is something wrong.)

Something that someone said on another forum made me go back and re-examine the information that I had used to determine the location. I had this diagram from Wm. Cumpiano in my head, at least I thought I had it in my head. Turns out that I simply misread or misinterpreted or mis-remembered it. After reading a variety of sources, my mind went back to my misinterpretation of that diagram.

Just a bonehead, beginner mistake. Something so critical, and so well laid out in front of me...

{walks away babbling}

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

A. Carruth said: "theoretically correct" position...

Allan & Wade...What do you mean by the 'theoretically correct position'?

Rich

Theoretically correct - that would be the true scale length, as in 25.4, with no compensation - ie. in a perfect world, theory would rule and guitars wouldnt need compensation, or any ammount of action or relief.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Ya, what Tony said.
I assumed that's what Al was talking about; which has got me in trouble in the past.
Thanks for clearing that up.
Complicated stuff, this Guitar building!


Wade

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Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com