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  #1  
Old 01-22-2009, 11:13 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
Monolith bridge - can I invert the saddles to gain intonation?

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Here's something that's been nagging me a while. I recently re-tuned and re-intoned my my six-string (a J&D RM6 with monolith bridges), however, the B string being its usual self apparently doesn't want to intone itself. The way the saddle is oriented now means I slide it all the way to the ball end of the string and the 12th harmonic is still quite a few cents off (as much as 15).

So I've been thinking - can I just take the saddle, rotate it by 180° and try adjusting it that way? I know I won't be able to set the string height as easily anymore (as the saddle height hex nut will now be facing the end of the bridge), but would it be reasonable?
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Last edited by Stealth : 01-22-2009 at 11:16 AM.
  #2  
Old 01-22-2009, 11:23 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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If the saddle is at the far end of it's travel and intonation is still a problem there are two possible reasons for it: Saddle and nut.

Check the saddle first for burrs in the string groove. Also check to see if the wear has caused top dead center to move in one direction or the other. This may take some magnification if you're over forty. If the saddle is o.k. move to the nut. Examine the nut to make sure the string is breaking at the end of the nut/edge of the fingerboard. Sometimes TDC is back from the edge and this will cause intonation problems. This can be hard to see, even with magnification. Try rubbing a pencil in the string groove and tune/detune the string several times. If there is lead in the groove that is an indication that the string is not breaking at the front of the nut.
  #3  
Old 01-22-2009, 12:50 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
Well, thankfully, I'm only past half the proscribed age for magnification, so that's not a problem. As far as I've been able to determine, the saddle's okay and the string's dead centered on it, but I'll have to check the nut as well.

According to the manufacturer, the bass is 33 7/8" in scale - could that pose a significant problem?
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