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Post subject: Saddle angle
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 8:18 pm
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I raised the action on my new Strat a bit, raising each of the two screws on each saddle about the same amount, and noticed that both E string saddles (high and low) are angled a little, following the curvature of the fretboard. Is this how they're usually set up from the shop? The other saddles are fairly level - tiny, tiny amount of curvature-following angle on A and B, but basically level.

Plays fine. Any downside to slight bit curvature-hugging saddle angle, hardware-wise? Like the string grinding into the metal saddle at the "wrong" place if I want them completely level in, say, a year?

I've read that saddles should be flat for optimal performance, but I've tweaked the action JUST so, so I don't want to mess with it if I don't have to :wink:

New to the hardware side of things... Obviously :)

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Post subject: Re: Saddle angle
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:54 pm
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I have been adjusting mine so they follow the contour of the fretboard radius since God wore short pants and have never had an issue. Ever. I don't care for how the "steps" feel on my right hand when the saddles are level to the body. Smoother is better.

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Post subject: Re: Saddle angle
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 10:04 pm
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That is a tough question that is open to a lot of speculation. I've not seen any saddles or bridge plates suffer irreparable harm from having the height adjusting screws uneven. I keep both screws of each saddle at equal lengths because it "is the way they're supposed to be". Anything else seems "untidy".
If you like the way it is set up, then I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.


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Post subject: Re: Saddle angle
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 10:55 pm
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I've also gone with a slight curve for years with no problems.


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Post subject: Re: Saddle angle
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 3:03 am
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wrvond wrote:
I keep both screws of each saddle at equal lengths because it "is the way they're supposed to be".

Just out of curiosity .... Says who?
Not the Fender Stratocaster setup guide.

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Post subject: Re: Saddle angle
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:05 am
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wrvond wrote:
. I keep both screws of each saddle at equal lengths because it "is the way they're supposed to be". t.



Wrong .

Any link ?


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Post subject: Re: Saddle angle
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:24 am
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Howdy!

I'm pretty sure there's no wrong or right here, seeing as its totally possible to achieve the optimum saddle height with even or uneven individual saddle screws.

So its down to personal preference, either way you're right! :D

Andy

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Post subject: Re: Saddle angle
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:29 am
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Andybighair wrote:
Howdy!

I'm pretty sure there's no wrong or right here, seeing as its totally possible to achieve the optimum saddle height with even or uneven individual saddle screws.

So its down to personal preference, either way you're right! :D



Andy


You work with saddle height , not screw .Saying screw height must be same is wrong , don't you ?


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Post subject: Re: Saddle angle
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:40 am
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stratele52 wrote:
Andybighair wrote:
Howdy!

I'm pretty sure there's no wrong or right here, seeing as its totally possible to achieve the optimum saddle height with even or uneven individual saddle screws.

So its down to personal preference, either way you're right! :D



Andy


You work with saddle height , not screw .Saying screw height must be same is wrong , don't you ?

Yep. Its the string height/overall saddle height that matters.

Whether someone says the individual saddles screws have to be even (or not) doesn't matter.

If both ways achieve the same goal, It's down to personal preference... and either way... you're right!

Andy

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Post subject: Re: Saddle angle
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 7:50 am
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Wow, do I ever feel slapped around! Anybody else want to get in line?

It's open to speculation precisely because there is no Fender setup guide specifying one way or the other. I didn't say it was a requirement by Fender. If I had, I would have cited the appropriate reference. All I was saying was that for me, that's how they're supposed to be, anything else bugs me.
My CDO (that's OCD with the letters in the correct order) won't allow me to set them up any other way.
The important part of the post indicates I've never seen any guitar damaged that way and the OP shouldn't worry about it. Thank you very much.
As pointed out, the most important aspect is the string height above the 17th fret http://www2.fender.com/support/articles/fender-guitar-setup-guide/. However, that wasn't the question, was it?


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Post subject: Re: Saddle angle
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:08 am
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There's absolutely nothing wrong with setting the saddles straight (both saddle screws on the same level). The individual saddle heights follow the neck radius - actually, I like mine so the action is very slightly (<0,2mm) higher on the bass side. And, on the 7.25" radiuses I usually flatten the saddle curve a little, so the bends don't choke on highE&B strings.

Sometimes (and I confess this is rare), a slanted individual saddle can buzz - the saddle sort of stands "on one leg only".


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Post subject: Re: Saddle angle
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 4:20 pm
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I've heard a lot of folks say that the saddles should always be even (straight... no angle) with the bridge plate... however...

On my 7.25 radius Strat I slant them... ever so slightly... if you were to look at them from down the neck up by the head stock... the high strings (High E, B & G) go down to the left... the low strings (D, A & Low E) go down to the right... kind of like a "V" shape.

It gives a smoother feel... but... on my 9.5 radius Strat... I like the feel of them without a slant... where they're all even with the bridge plate... no slant at all... just straight across.

I've never experienced an probs with a slight slant on the 7.25 radius... both of the saddle screws (for each individual saddle) seem to distribute the pressure evenly.

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Post subject: Re: Saddle angle
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 3:50 pm
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I have mine at a slight angle to go along with the radius of the neck. I find that the guitar seems to stay in tune much better that way.


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