Increase string height: raise bridge or raise saddles?

[cateweasel]

Hi

I am unhappy with the setup of up my JP6 BFR for drop B (12-56 strings). Here are two questions I would like feedback to:

1) Is there any (theoretical) reason that raising the bridge to increase string height should be better/worse than raising the saddles? I can appreciate the practical advantage of raising the bridge.

2) Will the floating tremolo work more reliably (returning in tune) if the bridge is perfectly parallel with the face of the guitar?
With heavy strings and drop tuning, the low strings will need to be raised proportionally more than the high strings. If the bridge is used to adjust string height, it will be impossible to keep it parallel with the face. I have experimented with a fairly high bridge (3 mm above the face) and low saddles and flush bridge with high saddles - as well as several combinations in between - including having the bridge slightly angled with the low side 1-2mm higher than the high side. In all cases saddle heights are adjusted to have an approximately 15" radius.

Thanks

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

What is it that you are unhappy with about the current setup?

From the factory the bridge should be set up parallel (but just barely higher than flush) with the top surface of the JP. If it is angled either side to side or front to back you may or may not notice a difference in tuning stability when using the tremolo.

How was the tuning stability & bridge performance when you had it set up 3mm above the face?

 

[cateweasel]

What is it that you are unhappy with about the current setup?
From the factory the bridge should be set up parallel (but just barely higher than flush) with the top surface of the JP. If it is angled either side to side or front to back you may or may not notice a difference in tuning stability when using the tremolo.

Thanks for the interest Pete.
With a set of 10-46, in standard tuning, I am able to set up the guitar so that it plays fantastic (perfectly parallel bridge just proud of the face of the guitar) with string heights around 3-5/64". It also stays in tune when using the tremelo. I need it right now in drop B and am having difficulty finding a setup that sounds good, plays comfortably and stays in tune.

How was the tuning stability & bridge performance when you had it set up 3mm above the face?

With the bridge set like this, I am not able to achieve a string height (drop B) < 6/64ths on the 6 string (low) and < 5/64 on the 1 string (high). In this configuration, string 1's saddle is just above the minimum position. I have given the neck a little more relief (0.005"). OK, I am using 12-56 strings, but I would like string heights a bit lower. At this string height, I am starting to hear a difference as the fixed pickups are getting further from the strings.

Back to the original question - Should one aim at a parallel bridge that is (nearly) flush with the guitar face and adjust the heights with individual saddles or adjust the string height using the tremolo posts and keep the saddles fixed?