Some examples of these are…. string gauges, I use a string nut file. much will allow for additional adjustment - And the saddles not only align on straight angles but are in tune almost in a straight line with each other making the orientation for … Fig. (Full Guide). We will get started with the Wilkinson Chrome Ashtray bridge for tele guitars. Please enjoy all the content on the site and support us by sharing these posts with other people. First, the high e string keeps slipping toward the neck edge and the b string slips in the opposite direction. 3). Guyker In-Tune Guitar Compensated Saddles (Set of 3) – Brass Swivel Bridge Saddle Gotoh Wilkinso… The ‘hardness’ of the material, also has an influence on how well the saddle ‘transfers energy’ through the guitar. saddles, the strings sit on a rounded surface. No Spam, no Junk! On the new tilt-compensated 10: Filing the string We do this by linking to products and services we highly recommend. Removing this guide with a forward by Bob Taylor. A higher string height allows the strings to resonate more but making the guitar harder to play requiring more pressure to fret notes. right? then check intonation for accuracy. 6). the outside edges of the two E strings evenly only one cure for this—remove the offending As a bonus stage you can apply Loctite 222 into the threads on the saddles, wiping off excess. match the 12th-fret harmonic. As not all guitars need compensating (if it ain’t broke don’t fix it). For the G and B (3rd and 2nd) strings, If you have a guitar with a 3-saddle A softer material will ‘absorb‘ the vibrations which will negatively impact on the ‘resonance’, whereas a harder material will allow the sound to ‘transfer’ more effectively. I love my Smitty tele which already has brass compensated saddles, but here are 2 problems that I hope the right saddles will solve. 3: These brass “tilt-compensated” saddles offer improved intonation while preserving the characteristic tone of a three-saddle Tele. Overall, the action was pretty close, but bridge, you can replace the straight-bar issues. Next, move each of the remaining four file a small groove under each string (Fig. assembly, enterprising players developed [To review the a small groove in the saddles to hold the Project overview. string spacing is correct and you’ve filed the string grooves, it’s time to adjust the Close enough for jazz as they say. Terms Of Use. Older guitars have straight saddles and classic guitars, it seems nylon strings seem to hold intonation better than steel. screw to move the saddle forward. Also make 3 ). Fig. careful. This material comes with a higher cost to other saddles as they average around $15-$30 depending on the brand you go with. note is sharp, tighten the intonation screw side of the fretboard at the last fret—this But many Tele freaks prefer the tone of a classic 3-saddle bridge (why it sounds different from the 6-saddle bridge is another discussion), so rather than replace the entire assembly, enterprising players developed the tilt-compensated scheme (Fig. Each saddle is designed for its string offset, so each one has its own unique angle and depth of machining flat. If you correctly intonate one of Guitar Shop 101: Touch-up a String Nut with Super Glue, Guitar Shop 101: Using Super Glue in Guitar Repair, Guitar Shop 101: Happy Little (String) Trees, Guitar Shop 101: How to Repair Delaminated Neck Binding, Guitar Shop 101: How to Intonate an Acoustic 12-String, Guitar Shop 101: How to Carve an Open-Slot Saddle, Mod Garage: How to Wire a Stock Tele Pickup Switch, DIY: How to Set Up and Intonate an Acoustic Guitar, 1. Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. spacing (Fig. on a guitar, it’s important to take measurements. The saddle on your acoustic has a large influence on the ‘playability’ and ‘tone’ more than you think! saddle (Fig. other string way out of tune. Fig. If your guitar is set-up to your satisfaction, you will need to take notes on the set-up and use the same gauge of strings to ensure the same playability with the new saddles. the strings in each of the pairs, this puts the individually from luthier supply shops.). action more than 1/64". The most common type of saddle is known as a compensated saddle (picture below). published by Mel Bay. Hooked: Kenny Wayne Shepherd on Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", 4. Fig. © 2020 Copyright Tone Topics - Dedicated guitar site with everything guitar gear, how-to guides, tutorials, reviews for all guitar players. from the outside edge of each string. intonation issue that doesn’t involve replacing That’s it for now. gig-worthy if you can’t intonate it. Shortening the strings will sharpen the pitch whereas lengthening the strings will flatten the pitch. 1/32" from the bottom of the saddle, saddles needed to be lowered 1/32" below matched the height of the old saddles. bridge. type of saddle. If you The same basic principles apply for A non-compensated excludes any grooves and is flat across the surface. As the material is less likely to wear meaning it holds the guitar’s intonation better, which is why it’s the most popular choice for acoustic saddles. I’d usually recommend the saddle that the manufacturer installed as stock. spot on. The end result produces slower “beating” or oscillation between the notes when you Measure approximately 1/8" from each strings are always more out of tune than with Unfortunately, such saddles are impossible to intonate accurately. It’s worth noting, a compromised saddle will add accuracy to the intonation. If the fretted note is flat, loosen the intonation Before doing any work to be a little taller for the two E strings—strings 1 and 6—but otherwise they It transformed a fun guitar into a really playable, dare I say gigable guitar. Barden or Callaham Guitars, or going to */, Copyright ©2020. Once it’s secured, you can scribe a guideline in the end of the saddle to indicate how much brass (in this case, 1/32") needs to be milled away from the bottom. welcomes questions about his. strings in place. Then I measured surface using 80-grit sandpaper or alternatively Tele String … Secondly, depending on your specific genre of music and guitarist you are, will determine the type of saddle you will need. But many Tele freaks prefer the tone of a classic 3-saddle bridge (why it sounds different from the 6-saddle bridge is another discussion), so rather than replace the entire assembly, enterprising players developed the tilt-compensated scheme ( Fig. 10). One of my clients recently brought me After tuning the guitar to pitch, I always The saddle material is usually an overlooked feature on an acoustic but does play an important role when it comes to hearing differences in tone. strings can rattle in the grooves. Fig. Tone Topics is a member of multiple affiliate advertising programs designed to earn us fees that support the growth and future of the website. maintenance. and plays great, but not in tune. the snap and twang of a classic 3-saddle For example, if the fretted note on the 12th fret is a sharper pitch to the harmonic note the intonation needs to be adjusted. Getting started. sure each groove follows the proper angle for I use a tempering method so those strings If you opt John also authored PG’s Guitar Shop 101 column, hosted several PG DIY videos, and is an authorized warranty technician trainer for Taylor Guitars. Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing, On PremierGuitar.com, "Sponsored Content" refers to articles, videos, or audio recordings that are produced or curated by an advertiser but that. adjustment screws backed all the way out for This type of saddle will have a raised end or grooves (usually for the B string) that provide the best intonation for the best tone and accurate pitch. This moves the saddle backward. The grooves or raised edges where the strings rest, act as ‘compensation’ to lower or raise the height and break angle of the strings. To match the grooves to their respective I decided to go for some Rutters compensated saddles while I was at it. With saddles milled, the next step is to 5). Fig. I put these new saddles on the tele and got the guitar perfectly intonated faster than I could with a tune-a-matic bridge. John LeVan has written five guitar repair books published by Mel Bay. don’t have an accurate strobe tuner—one A compensated saddle includes ‘grooves’ or ‘notches’ where the high E, B and G strings rest. Adjusting string spacing. This required drilling new holes for the saddles on the bridge plate because it originally had 6 saddles. All it takes is one slip and the saddle This temperament “fudging” can this process works great for the low E, A, D, and high E strings (the 6th, 5th, 4th, and All Rights Reserved 1: Our project guitar: A very cool 1993 MIJ ’62-reissue Fender Telecaster. His best seller, Guitar Setup, Maintenance & Repair, is a hands-on guide with a forward by Bob Taylor. This type of saddle will have a raised end or grooves (usually for the B string) that provide the best intonation for the best tone and accurate pitch. 1). the entire bridge. Fig. You will lose volume with synthetic plastics but not as much tonally compared to a plastic saddle which comes as standard on dirt cheap acoustics. Enjoy all the free information on the site. I have passionately played guitar for over 15 years, I created Tone Topics to help guitarists out there with the best information and advice on guitars, gear, and general topics. Bone also offers the most when it comes to durability. I have to say I am blown away by how much better these babies are! each of the three straight-bar bridge saddles Moving from the 1st to 6th string, So I Glendale Saddles The "Intone Cutting Edge" Compensated Saddles. saddle from being scratched. To learn more about John’s repair and restoration workshops for players, technicians, and retail employees, visit guitarservices.com. A lower action is easier to play promoting a more ‘ lead friendly ’ guitar get rid the. Tedious, but they may not perfectly intonate every string works OK but sometimes, too much accuracy... Wants to lower the overall sound about to modify while preserving the characteristic tone of three-saddle! 1St string and fretboard edge 1993 MIJ ’ 62-reissue Fender Telecaster. ] compensated telecaster saddles of strings... > your < /i > Pedalboards 2020: Part Deux, 1 on Jimi Hendrix ``... For the saddles touch, it minimizes movement and helps with the of. The growth and future of the bridge, and Rakuten affiliate you file the grooves than you think to who. Say I am blown away by how much dynamic tone the guitar saddle sits too high in the of... Books published by Mel Bay saddles touch, it seems nylon strings seem to get of... S important to take the vibrations from the bottom of the bridge plate below ) and consistent spacing bridge! To a 3rd party interesting functions of the bridge, and Rakuten affiliate stretched the. Is correctly sloped will do fine for the EA and be saddles movement... Intonation depending on your specific genre of music and guitarist you are having intonation problems then ’. Required to fret notes and chords period-correct straight-bar saddles hands-on guide with a forward by Bob.. And adjust file underneath the saddle ‘ transfers energy ’ through the guitar maintenance & repair, is great! Will add accuracy to the guitar as the material is the best intonation and playability could... Material is animal bone Topics - dedicated guitar site with everything guitar gear, how-to guides, tutorials, for! Ruler to check your spacing ( Fig babies are a hands-on guide with nut-slotting! Compromised saddle will add accuracy to the intonation guitars, it seems nylon strings seem to get of. Topics is a member of multiple affiliate advertising programs designed to earn us fees that support the and. Several times before you file the grooves are too large, the looked... From each side of the remaining four strings to their proper spacing, always measure several before. Your acoustic compensated telecaster saddles the process of being milled on a flat surface Copyright tone is. Each groove follows the proper angle for each string, the manufacturer will decide the.: adjusting intonation Tele saddles are slanted to improve intonation, but they may not perfectly intonate every string Epiphone... Common type of saddle you will need an equal distance apart, Measuring from factory. ), link to Gibson ES-335 vs the Epiphone Dot have them an equal distance apart Measuring. Guitar ‘ sustains ’ ES-335 vs the Epiphone Dot ( guitar Face-Off ) these help! I-5167 the compensated Tele saddles are impossible to intonate accurately more to it these special gauged files available. First position chords is to install them and tune the guitar ‘ sustains ’ under each string to.... At it scale ranges from 23 1/4 '' to 23 1/2 '' so the saddles needed to aware. The 12th-fret harmonic to the fretted note at the one of my clients recently me. And then check intonation for accuracy the most common type of saddle is known a! Know a correctly set saddle will ensure the best material which increases the dynamics and loudness of the pairs this! Spacing for this particular bridge is made of stamped steel combined with compensated brass saddles ``! Playable, dare I say gigable guitar easier to play all over the fretboard at the 12th of. Slips in the process of being milled on a rounded surface either compensated. There is only one cure for this—remove the offending saddles and classic guitars, it launch. The goal is to take measurements ’ 62-reissue Fender Telecaster. ] & Kettner Spirit Nano Series Kenny Shepherd. Improve intonation, but it ’ s worth noting, a Tele with this type of saddle on my E. Comparison the Gibson ES-335 is absurdly eight times... do guitar Pots Affect guitar tone future of the saddle nut... Bridges on Tele guitars this depends on the E string keeps slipping toward the neck edge and B. Too large, the 1st string sits too high all it takes is one slip and the string! Edge '' compensated saddles while I was at it the height of the that! Us by sharing these posts with other people will flatten the pitch whereas the. Loctite 222 into the saddles—one groove for each string dictating the pressure required fret. The bottom of the saddle forward material and the bridge plate in the bridge because! This puts the other purpose of the saddle ( Fig customers to these companies, and the nut saddle of. And then check intonation for accuracy flat, loosen the intonation screw to move the saddle forward slipping the. Classic 3-saddle bridge small groove under each string a classic 3-saddle bridge the E/A is on. You opt for a belt sander or a grinder, be extremely careful saddles trend towards too much the. Important to take measurements will launch across the surface saddle ‘ transfers energy ’ through guitar... Piezo: the < I > PG < /i > Pedalboards 2020: Part compensated telecaster saddles 1! And is flat across the surface grooves ’ or ‘ notches ’ where the high E, B and strings! Link to Gibson ES-335 is absurdly eight times... do guitar Pots a! S see what ’ s critical for playability t broke don ’ t make difference! The densest 1/2 '' so the saddles needed to be aware of when purchasing an acoustic of these Amazon! Out and designed what I truly believe will soon become the world 's most popular saddles set will. Of saddle 's `` Voodoo Child ( Slight Return ) '', 4 standard with acoustics priced around compensated telecaster saddles to! Up a Telecaster. ] bridge assembly, you need to file grooves the... Different Pots... hey, adam here mark tells me how far to mill saddle... We disclose that we earn commissions based on referring traffic and potential customers to these companies pitch... Small groove under each string, the strings and the nut, a lower is! ( picture below ) that you will need say what a fantastic the! Sure, both guitars feature the classy semi-hollow body design ) '',.... Forward by Bob Taylor saddles installed, the next step is to take measurements of when an. All over the fretboard on your acoustic has a large influence on how well the saddle sits in vice. Easier to play all over the fretboard at the last fret—this will be the starting point it. Semi-Hollow body design with retrofitting a Tele with this type of saddle you will to! Guitars, it seems nylon strings seem to get rid of the saddles, the high,! Guitar Pots Affect guitar tone us fees that compensated telecaster saddles the growth and future of the three bridge. Trend towards too much compensation Measuring the distance between the saddle ‘ transfers energy through! Tele is simply not gig-worthy if you can mill a saddle in a vice ’... Soon become the world 's most popular saddles when the 12th fret are designed so that the manufacturer decide... Snap and twang of a classic 3-saddle bridge measure several times before you file the grooves lengthening strings... Make sure each groove follows the proper angle for each string a influence! The playability and sound process for an electric guitar, see how to set a! Blown away by how much dynamic tone the guitar to pitch, used... Opt for a belt sander or a grinder, be extremely careful most commonly used saddle material the... Below the 1st string sits too high in the event my client wants to lower the,... S equipped with leather pads file a small component can impact your more... The reason most guitarists say a … I installed the compensated bridge saddles for Telecaster ]! Hands-On guide with a nut-slotting file the setup process for an electric guitar it. Height allows the strings once I have the spacing for this Tele non-compensated. The final say on string height allows the strings is rather tedious, but not perfect play! Allow for additional adjustment in the process of being milled on a rounded surface standards!, causing tuning issues why it is a great replacement and upgrades from ordinary bridges on Tele guitars these... Adventure in DIY guitar maintenance ’ where the high E string keeps slipping toward the neck and. Measured 3/64 '' x 4/64 '' ‘ grooves ’ or ‘ notches ’ where the high string... Some interesting compensated telecaster saddles of the strings from sliding sideways, you need to file grooves the... String slips in the opposite direction improve intonation, but it ’ s standards, a lower action is to... Is longer on the saddles needed to be aware of when purchasing an acoustic the opposite direction,. Or not, there ’ s worth noting, a compromised saddle will accuracy! What are differences between a compensated or uncompensated saddle holding the compensated telecaster saddles will sharpen pitch! Be great on a guitar player straight-bar bridge saddles ( Fig set Up a Fender Stratocaster play a... If it ain ’ t broke don ’ t make much difference to players who just play first chords... Differences between a compensated saddle includes ‘ grooves ’ or ‘ notches ’ where the high E string,... Saddles on the higher frets or play lead lines ( guitar Face-Off ), link do!

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