Bone Guitar Saddle. Len, Width, Height, Radius, Action Change

Bone Guitar Saddle. Length, Width, Height, Radius and Action Change Defined By You

Material
This saddle is made from high-density Ox Bone and is for use on steel-strung acoustic guitars. These saddles are renowned to give excellent tone, playability and instrument projection.

Height (Max 10mm)
The height of the saddle will determine the action (fret to string distance) - this should be about 2.6mm for low E string at 12th fret and usually a bit lower for high E string at 12th fret.
A useful fact is that a change of saddle height by a certain amount - 1mm reduction, for example, will make a change of half that amount  - so 0.5mm at the 12th fret.
Width Many saddle slots are 3mm wide - please select the width to ensure a good fit which will benefit the tone.

Length (Max 80mm):
The length should fit the saddle slot and I make the ends rounded.

Width (Max 3.80mm):
The width should fit the saddle slot

Radius: Fretboard for steel strung acoustics are generally curved from low E to high E - this makes it comfortable to play. The curve follows a radius and is part of a big circle. The strings must sit close to this curve so you press them down onto the fretboard easily - but if they are too close you will get a rattle. Hence the saddle - and the nut - also follows this curved profile so the strings nicely sit just above the fretboard. The radius is expressed in inches usually and is typically 12", 14 ", 16" 18" 20" or 24" - the bigger the radius the flatter the fretboard.

Action drop Off:The thicker the string the more room it needs to vibrate and so the low E is positioned a little further away from the fretboard compared to g=high E - the difference is only about 0.5mm at 12 fret which is brought about by a slight change of 1mm to 1.5mm in saddle height from a perfect circle profile - usually saddles can be seen to be a little lower at the high E side.

Fixed Parts of the Design. Compensation Shape. This design is one of the commonest saddle compensation designs in which the string contact points of EADG lie on a diagonal from back to front of the saddle. The B string is set back and the upper E is set forwards. Please see the photo on this advert to see the string contact line.

How a Compensated Saddle works. Acoustic guitar saddles are often shaped to provide "compensation" - which results in a better sounding & more accurate pitch of the fretted notes. The length of each individual string is altered by adjusting the string contact point at the saddle. In turn, this alters the pitch of fretted notes. On most guitars fretted notes may not vibrate at exactly the ideal pitch (a chromatic tuner will show this). This is due to a variety of effects such as the strings stretching when pressed down into the fret. Saddle compensation design helps to adjust the pitch of the fretted notes to be closer to the ideal. The closer the pitch of the fretted notes is to the ideal will result in better-sounding harmonies between notes (better sounding chords) and a guitar that is more in tune all the way up the fretboard.

We supply complete design and manufacture ensuring that you end up with the best possible sound and playability from your guitar.
FREE: We include fitting instructions and a DVD showing how best to install a saddle.
FREE: We include plenty of abrasives and polishing material - the better the fit the better the tone