Intonation "problem", weird E saddle position

[Alessandro11]

Hello guys,

I bought a used Yamaha TRBX 304 on March 2022.
It had been clearly sitting in a corner for quite a long time, since the frets were oxidized, the knobs and bridge had some stains on the metal and the tuners were loose. Strings were good though, so I kept them. The bridge saddles were in the usual position, but when I set the intonation I found out that the E string was way off, in order to make it ok I had to move the saddle close to the neck, as you can see in the picture.
I always thought it was a string related problem but today I swapped them with a fresh set and the intonation is still perfect with the saddle in this odd position.
I'd like to clarify that I know how to check if the intonation is correct, every note on every fret is spot on, and so are open strings and 12th fret harmonics. The bass plays well and there's no problem with it whatsoever. Action is low and consistent across the strings and so is neck relief, the strings gauge is the one recommended by Yamaha.

I hope you can tell me if this is normal or if I have to get the bass checked by a luthier.
Greetings from Italy!

 

[furym]

I’ve had some that do that with certain sets of strings. If it intonates then it’s not wrong.

 

[MonetBass]

As stated above, it's fine.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

You could set the witness points and see if that makes a difference but I’ve had some string sets that don’t intonate in a neat, straight line. As long as you’re happy with the intonation that’s all that counts.

 

[LoveThatBass]

As Matt said try setting the witness points.
Also agree, if intonate is good I wouldn't worry about it

 

[ddnidd1]

As long as the intonation is correct, the position of the saddle is immaterial.

 

[micguy]

That can happen if the construction of the E string is different than the rest of the set, or if that string is a bit higher than the other strings. If you look at guitars, the saddles usually take a "jog" when you go from plain to wound strings - as you go to the E string on a bass, often there's one more winding layer, so you might get a jog like that. If everything checks out OK setup wise, and it intonates, play it.

 

[Alessandro11]

You could set the witness points and see if that makes a difference but I’ve had some string sets that don’t intonate in a neat, straight line. As long as you’re happy with the intonation that’s all that counts.

Pardon me but I don't know what a witness point is.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Pardon me but I don't know what a witness point is.

Here’s one thread. If you search “witness points” in this forum there are a few others.

Witness Points: The Pictorial

 

[Alessandro11]

Here’s one thread. If you search “witness points” in this forum there are a few others.

Witness Points: The Pictorial

Thank you, I have always done these procedures during my setups, I just didn’t know they had a name. There’s absolutely no bend or curve on the strings in any point, I’ve also stretched them and they stay in tune very well.
Since you all told me that there’s no problem with the saddles, I won’t worry no more.
Thank you again guys.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

As long as you’re happy with the way the bass plays, that’s the main thing.

 

[RSBBass]

As people have said, if the intonation is good, that's what's important. Just in case, I would check the nut to see that the string's last contact with it is on the edge.

 

[scottfeldstein]

String heights are a factor, I think. And the way I learned to check intonation was to tune the open string spot on, then lightly play the 12th fretted not. It should also be spot on. The end. There might be other places on the fingerboard where it is less than perfect, but everything's a compromise.