Question Setup Query

[Random Hero]

Do the angle of the saddles on the vintage tremolo effect string tension? I don't mean height wise, I mean left to right. If they're slanting in any way is that gonna affect string tension as opposed to them lying parallel to the bridge plate?

I was reading through a thread at TGP that kinda touched on it but I was curious on your thoughts.

 

[azazael]

If they are angled would that indicate that the nut is cut wrong spacing?
Everything should be straight.

 

[Random Hero]

I didn't think I'd explained it very well. Imagine you have the guitar held up infront of you, looking from bridge to headstock as if you were checking the truss but with the guitar in reverse. The angle of the saddles in relation to the bridge plate/top of the guitar. Not angling outwards that would cause the spacing to be whacked.

Sorry about the confusion.

 

[azazael]

ok... im not following...

pics and big point purple arrows lol

 

[Random Hero]

Say you lowered/raised the saddles but you didn't screw each little adjustment screw the same amount, they would be lopsided, right? That's what I mean.

 

[azazael]

It wouldn't have much of an effect if any.

 

[Random Hero]

Which is what I thought. I was reading a thread about it on another forum - which I can no longer locate for some reason - and there was quite the debate so I thought I would ask here.

 

[Random Hero]

Any more views?

 

[jamminjim]

I set mine up sometimes to so that they follow the (imaginary) line of the fretboard radius.

 

[Kaloyan]

I think that it might help your right hand a bit but nothing else - although mine are set up a bit off the perfect alignment for the 1st, 2nd and 5th and 6th strings. I have experienced different tensions but automatically is contributed to the fact that you are actually raising or lowering the action on the string that you're working on ...

 

[TNT]

You mentioned "string tension". The string tension would not deviate regardless of the saddle set-up. Tension is just "weight" on the string no matter what or how the two fixed points are secured.

However, you would encounter "other" issues to deal with based on the description you gave.

 

[Random Hero]

OK, rather than tension, lets say perceived tension. Or compliance, when bending.

 

[grumpyoldman]

Any more views?

I'll toss out my opinion, with a bit of experience behind it. I try to match the arc of the strings with the neck radius, to the point just prior to any buzzing out as each string is played up and down the neck. Frets are not always exactly the same, so simply matching doesn't always work for all strings.... Once that is done, I do my best to ensure that both adjustment screws on each saddle have the same length through the saddle. This way, in my mind at least, it ensures that there is clean contact at that point on the bridge plate. No chance of rattles coming from the saddles if they are firmly 'anchored' and the pressure equally distributed down each of the adjustment screws. I have had many examples of bridge area rattles tracked down to this, and found that making sure I get the saddle as close to parallel with the bridge plate (as humanly possible) has eliminated all of them.

 

[KungFu Grip]

The only advise that I can give you is to not read too much into anything debated on The Gear Page forums. Pretty much everything debated there is just heresy and internet rumor.

 

[TNT]

OK, rather than tension, lets say perceived tension. Or compliance, when bending.

Yes, but only in "form" not in tension!! e.g., If the string is not resting flatly in the whole length of the saddlle, it will have many peculiar traits, all of which are not good, including pre-mature string breaks.

 

[RocketRalf]

The issues I imagine would come from not having the saddles aligned with the bridge plate, apart from the ones grumpyoldman said:

-decreased sustain and poorer tone due to reduced contact area between the screws and the baseplate
-strings being spaced wider than needed because the saddles sides don't have the same angle as the next one.