After intonation, saddles are all over the place.

[Domz]

I just finished building a new jazz bass. After setting the intonation the saddles are all over the place.



Is this an indication of something wrong?

The reason I ask is because on my other basses the saddles are fairly uniform.

-Dom

[Bassamatic]

Looks typical to me. There are so many variables. As long as it sounds good, don't worry about it!

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by Gio S

Looks typical to me. There are so many variables. As long as it sounds good, don't worry about it!

+1

If it sounds good, it is good!

[C.Linton]

Yeah, looks odd but it's nothing unusual.

[Domz]

Thank you

[ChasBass]

Looks like my bridges.

[walterw]

this has come up before;

see how the strings leave the saddles while still curving, then straighten out a little ways past the saddles?

that curve in the string is throwing off the intonation.

push down on the strings right around the witness points, nut and saddle, so that the vibrating length of the string is dead-straight from end to end.

re-intonate, and you'll find the saddles want to line up in the normal pattern again.

(it is kinda normal for the G to end up a little further back than the D, as it has fewer layers of wraps and so behaves a little differently. it's the same for guitars, where the heaviest plain string intonates behind the adjacent thinnest wound string.)

[Domz]

The reason the strings are curved like that is so the strings are centered over the poles.

Am I correct in thinking that the string should pass directly between the two magnet poles?

If the strings lay straight over the saddles, then they don't pass between the poles.

Any idea what the problem could be?

[JLS]

Originally Posted by Domz

The reason the strings are curved like that is so the strings are centered over the poles.

Am I correct in thinking that the string should pass directly between the two magnet poles?

If the strings lay straight over the saddles, then they don't pass between the poles.

Any idea what the problem could be?

Read Walter's post again. You're not on the same page.

[Domz]

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Correct me if I am wrong but what Walter is saying is to just push down on the strings at the nut and saddle points to essentially bend the string straight?

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by Domz

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Correct me if I am wrong but what Walter is saying is to just push down on the strings at the nut and saddle points to essentially bend the string straight?

Spot-on. Depress each string firmly in front of each bridge saddle and nut slot (fingerboard side) to create the desired witness points then re-check and re-intonate if necessary. Strings, especially the thicker gauges, are resistant to bending and have the nasty habit of forming a "lazy loop" as they pass over the contact surface. This will throw off intonation, action...the works.

Riis

[JLS]

Originally Posted by Domz

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Correct me if I am wrong but what Walter is saying is to just push down on the strings at the nut and saddle points to essentially bend the string straight?

Yep! 'Zackly that.

[G00D+~VIBES]

My saddles look like yours.