Witness point discussion

[joeyl]

I always see people recommending a good witness point at the nut and bridge saddle. The recommendation usually goes like this: make sure you press down on the string, before and after the nut or saddle. This will put a bend in the string and allow a good witness point. Up to there I follow. Then it goes on to say: re-tune and adjust intonation. Wouldn't that move the witness point again?

 

[bluebird28]

I read that as well and had a vibration on my Ibanez Mikro bass G string. I noticed that the vibration was coming from the barrel on the saddle. I loosened the tension on the G string pressed down on both sides of the saddle, tuned the string, checked intonation. All GOOD no vibration and intonation was just fine.

 

[aprod]

Witness point is an urban legend.

 

[mongo2]

Witness point is an urban legend.

Nope.

 

[Turnaround]

Then it goes on to say: re-tune and adjust intonation. Wouldn't that move the witness point again?

Yes it can. There's a good way to go about setting the witness point when changing strings. Assuming the saddles were in the correct position with the old strings, move the saddle further back before you install the new strings. After installing the new strings, tune up and set the witness points. Check the intonation - it should be slightly flat at the twelfth fret. Move the saddle forward a bit, set the witness point again and retune. Check the intonation. Repeat until the string is intonated properly.

The reason you want to move the saddle back in the first place is because setting the witness point puts a bend in the string at the saddle crown. Then as you move the saddle forward during intonation, the first kink will be behind the saddle and not in the speaking length of the string. It's a safety move to ensure that you don't put a kink in the string where it is vibrating. The critical bend will be just at the saddle crown.

Is that clear? I'm not sure I explained it well.

 

[joeyl]

Yes it can. There's a good way to go about setting the witness point when changing strings. Assuming the saddles were in the correct position with the old strings, move the saddle further back before you install the new strings. After installing the new strings, tune up and set the witness points. Check the intonation - it should be slightly flat at the twelfth fret. Move the saddle forward a bit, set the witness point again and retune. Check the intonation. Repeat until the string is intonated properly.

The reason you want to move the saddle back in the first place is because setting the witness point puts a bend in the string at the saddle crown. Then as you move the saddle forward during intonation, the first kink will be behind the saddle and not in the speaking length of the string. It's a safety move to ensure that you don't put a kink in the string where it is vibrating. The critical bend will be just at the saddle crown.

Is that clear? I'm not sure I explained it well.

no, that was very clear. Thanks.