Fender Vintage Bridge Saddle Adjustment

[soundfan75]

When adjusting the string height on a Fender vintage style bridge, is it best to keep the saddles level, or angled to follow the radius of the neck?

[mazdah]

Most luthiers should agree with me: follow the radius, but keep the each saddle positioned horizontal.



Kinda like above, but each saddle should be more in horizontal pozition.

[SamanthaCay]

Originally Posted by mazdah

Most luthiers should agree with me: follow the radius, but keep the each saddle positioned horizontal.



Kinda like above, but each saddle should be more in horizontal pozition.

Unless the op is refering to a two saddle bridge in which case you angle the saddles to follow the radius.

[SurferJoe46]

That G barrel is a little wrong to me.

I always tilt the barrels toward the outside of the center of the bridge so the strings push the barrels together, eliminating the possibility of them wandering around on the bracket.

I go more like this:::

[walterw]

this is why the threaded-rod version is better; you can space the strings wider so they naturally push the outer saddles in towards the inner ones, preventing them from sliding around, while still having each saddle parallel with the top like it should be, so both saddle screws get equal string pressure.

too much angle on a saddle and the taller screw doesn't have enough force on it, allowing it to move and possibly spin out of adjustment.

that said, a drop of loc-tite will fix that problem, at which point this little angling trick can indeed work to push the outer saddles in towards the inner ones a bit.

[mazdah]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

That G barrel is a little wrong to me.

That G barrel is the only 100% right on this picture

Never had any problems with sliding around saddles in vintage fender bridges.

[walterw]

anyway, here's the correct set up, assuming we're not compensating for some other issue:

[soundfan75]

Thank you, I have been trying the wrong way for quite some time, which actually takes more effort than keeping the saddles level.

[SurferJoe46]

Originally Posted by walterw

anyway, here's the correct set up, assuming we're not compensating for some other issue:

Like all rules, there are exceptions.

I like the way the tilted barrels act - by keeping themselves tightly together and not letting the strings find new centers over the pickup coils.

For those who thrash and complain that their barrels migrate and they therefor hate the Fender/Squier bridges for just that very reason, tilting the barrels is a very effective way to stop that problem.

Personally - even though I don't tilt my barrels for the string-migration problem, I still do it, although in a minor way and not as obviously tilted as the drawing might infer.