Where the strings make contact on the saddle

[Gibsonman]

Right where the strings make contact on the saddle how wide should the saddle be?
I was thinking like 1/8" ? Thanks

[Paul Busman]

Hi neighbor (Frederick here)- I'm not a luthier so this is just a guess, but does it really matter how wide the saddle is? The only part that would affect string vibration is the last part that touches the string. That's why the nut slopes downhill towards the head.

[Bill Snyder]

On a compensated saddle it will vary from string to string.

[multidon]

I think it does matter. Too narrow, and it would be a stress point for breakage. Too wide, and there would be a muting effect. But I don't knoe what the sweet spot number is. I would say, measure a good quality bridge, and that would be it.

[Willie Poole]

John, One mandolin that I had had a very narrow area where the strings rode over the bridge and it had a shrill like tone, I replaced the saddle with one with just a little more width and the shrillness went away....Since I am not a builder I can`t say for sure that the bridge saddle was the reason but it was the only thing that I changed...

Willie

[ajm]

I just did a quick measurement on my Collings MF5. The saddle's string contact width measures roughly. 3/32" on plain strings and slightly wider on wound strings (about 7/64").

Andrew

[Marty Jacobson]

It's between 1.5mm at the E course and 3mm on the G course on my instruments. The kicker, though, is that I angle the slot backwards, so the string is only contacting on a knife edge at the leading edge of the bridge top. As long as it's structurally sound, and you're not getting sitar-like buzzing (which could indeed lead to a shrill tone), then it will be fine.

[Gibsonman]

Willie you have a private message