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Choosing the groove on bridge saddle

Tommy TGrip

Tommy TGrip

Feb 14, 2022
128
83
Australia
#1
Possible dumb question... I have a Fender P 50s RI with a vintage style bridge. The saddle is the type with multiple grooves, rather than an obvious single slot for the string. Picture attached How do I decide which groove to run the string over? Is it the middle one or can I use any, e.g to increase spacing between the strings? Cheers
 

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#2
Tommy TGrip said:
Possible dumb question... I have a Fender P 50s RI with a vintage style bridge. The saddle is the type with multiple grooves, rather than an obvious single slot for the string. Picture attached How do I decide which groove to run the string over? Is it the middle one or can I use any, e.g to increase spacing between the strings? Cheers
Click to expand...

You adjust the string spacing according to how they line up with the pickup pole pieces.

String Alignment-2.jpeg

String Alignment-1.jpeg
 
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#5
Tommy TGrip said:
Possible dumb question... I have a Fender P 50s RI with a vintage style bridge. The saddle is the type with multiple grooves, rather than an obvious single slot for the string. Picture attached How do I decide which groove to run the string over? Is it the middle one or can I use any, e.g to increase spacing between the strings? Cheers
Click to expand...

IF you have OCD on string well align on each pickups magnet pole piece, you will get slightly different/wider string spacing on both E and G string via Fender Vintage bridge.

My current Vintera 50P cant get well align like CIC Squier Cv50P with same Vintage bridge once all string spacing in 20mm.
 
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#10
Personally I’d make sure the strings are spaced evenly but if you wanted to increase or decrease to your preference that’s fine.
Note that the new Fender stock higher mass bridges have multiple spacing options too.
The string doesn’t need to be directly over poles or directly between them. Just close enough.
 
#11
The threaded saddles were a cost cutting move originally, but I got to give them their due as it's idiot-simple (I should know . . . . ) to set the spacing with no tools. You can take the route of setting the two outside strings for the right pullback from the fingerboard edges, then divide out to place the two inner strings. Others adjust for the polepiece spacing. Again, it's so easy you can try it several ways to whatever you think works for you.
 
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#13
Tommy TGrip said:
Possible dumb question... I have a Fender P 50s RI with a vintage style bridge. The saddle is the type with multiple grooves, rather than an obvious single slot for the string. Picture attached How do I decide which groove to run the string over? Is it the middle one or can I use any, e.g to increase spacing between the strings? Cheers
Click to expand...
You can use any. Your call all the way.
 
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#14
C Stone said:
I wouldn't get caught up in the 'pole positions' I just start where I want the strings E,G to line up in relation to the necks edges then space the A,D so the string spacing is even, that being said if for some reason you like odd spacing go for it any difference in sound is negligible, players choice
Click to expand...

Exactly! I was getting ready to say the same thing. Beat me to it. This is how we choose which grooves!
 
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#16
BassFalcon said:
If you wanna be fancy, this ruler has done a lot of math for you and calculated for the thickness of the strings in order to get each string equal distance from each other. The ad copy explains it better.
String Spacing Rule - StewMac
Click to expand...

FWIW, Anthony Jackson once said "Fingertips feel the tops of the strings. I prefer that the centers of the strings be evenly spaced, rather than equal distance between the sides of each string.

I am not as fussy as AJ WRT my own collection, but I completely agree with his logic.
 
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#17
C Stone said:
I wouldn't get caught up in the 'pole positions' I just start where I want the strings E,G to line up in relation to the necks edges then space the A,D so the string spacing is even, that being said if for some reason you like odd spacing go for it any difference in sound is negligible, players choice
Click to expand...
That’s the way to do it. Strings don’t have to centered with the poles at all, center them to the neck.
 
#19
You do have a little bit of leeway to set the strings wherever you want. You will adapt very quickly to any minor variations. Where these types of saddles shine is when there’s a neck misalignment. You can move the G string up, for example, if it’s just barely over the board.
 
#20
Tommy TGrip said:
Possible dumb question... I have a Fender P 50s RI with a vintage style bridge. The saddle is the type with multiple grooves, rather than an obvious single slot for the string. Picture attached How do I decide which groove to run the string over? Is it the middle one or can I use any, e.g to increase spacing between the strings? Cheers
Click to expand...

Ok, just finished my setup on my new Vintera 50P with Ti flat load.
I set the string spacing 20mm each, all string align well through entire neck until the nut, but all string are off align to right magnet pole piece which toward to G string side a bit.
Will upload photo when I am free.
 
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