Hello.
First of all - if there's a similar topic I'd like to apologize Moderators. Unfortunately, I couldn't find an answer for my question...
I would like to set string saddles in my Squier Affinity Strat HSS very precisely to have a good basis for customizing a guitar for my style of playing. In Synchronous Tremolo, in which mentioned Strat is equipped with, each saddle has two small screws to regulate the string's action height. But - if those screws are not equally set, strings spacing can be disrupted.
As I mentioned earlier I'd like to set it very precisely, so here's my question - how can I measure if two screws of the saddle are evenly set? Should I use a feeler gauge to measure the distance between the top of the bridge plate and the bottom of the saddle by the sides of each screw?
Best regards!
PS I am really sorry for my poor English. Hope I delivered my thoughts clearly enough...

Hi Wiatr, Welcome. You're English is OK. I understood everything you said. First of all, I don't think you need to use a feeler gauge to measure anything there. All I do is put the neck of the guitar at eye level & I look down the body of the guitar, & I can see if the saddle screws are equaly adjusted & the saddles are level. I really don't think anything more is required. The most important fuctions of the saddles are intonation & action. In both those cases, accuracy is important. If they look level, that should be OK. When I adjusted the action awhile back, I just turned each screw equal measures at a time to keep them level. cheers

Hi Wiatr,

Your English is terrific, no problem. The saddle height adjust screws are to adjust the strings distance from the frets, so measure from the strings to the frets while adjusting. It doesn't matter what the distance is from the plate to the saddles. Here is a setup guide that covers most every adjustment on your Strat, including saddle height (link below). Most of these guidelines (not all) are merely good suggestions, not hard and fast rules, and may require further adjustment to fit your specific requirements, but they are a very good starting point for most types of setups. Typically, the saddle heights will follow the curvature of the fret board radius, outer saddles being lower than the middle saddles.

http://www.fender.com/support/articles/stratocaster-setup-guide

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Thanks a lot for your help!

I agree with leaving the feeler guages off to the side. I use them because if i do warranty work, i need to fill out a sheet and give measurements on everything I did. But when i do mine, or friends, its all eyes and hands.

I have one suggestions though. When setting the intonation, start by pulling all the saddles as far back, toward the end of the body as possible. That way, when you're adjust the intonation, you're moving them forward, and not leaving any kinked string infront of the saddle.

I use the radius guages as a start, but then i adjust each string untill the action is as close as i want without buzz.

Thanks a lot, windwalker9649, for your answer.
As I am not so familiar with setting up the guitar I just thought it would be better to use some kind of instruments to do it correctly (in my case)...
Anyway - thanks a lot once again!