Positioning bridge question

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guitalias
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Positioning bridge question

Post by guitalias » Sat Jul 04, 2020 6:28 am

I've found a few online resources about how to position a bridge according to scale length. What I've had trouble finding is where to position the saddles in the bridge to make the measurement. & is there a preferred string saddle to measure to? Repositioning a fixed bridge from a Squier Bullet Mustang. Thx.

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jorri
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Re: Positioning bridge question

Post by jorri » Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:37 pm

"INTONATION (ROUGHING IT OUT)
You can preset the basic intonation of your guitar by taking a tape measure and measuring from the inside of the nut to the center of the 12th fret (the fret wire itself; not the fingerboard). Double that measurement to find the scale length of your guitar. Adjust the first-string bridge saddle to this scale length, measuring from the inside of the nut to the center of the bridge saddle. Now adjust the distance of the second-string saddle back from the first saddle, using the gauge of the second string as a measurement. For example, If the second string is .011" (0.3 mm), you would move the second-string saddle back .011" (0.3 mm) from the first saddle. Move the third saddle back from the second saddle using the gauge of the third string as a measurement. The fourth-string saddle should be set parallel with the second-string saddle. Proceed with the fifth and sixth saddles with the same method used for strings two and three."

Refer to that from the fender setup guide, gives a rough idea of where the saddles end up.
The scale length would be where the 1st (high) string ends up, but leaving plenty of room for adjustment.
And 4-5mm back with plenty room to adjust on the 6th string, or get out a pre-intonated guitar and find out what that is like.
Perhaps centering the saddles that way and measuring to the high E is somewhere to start as the 1st string naturally has the least intonation adjustment.
Adjusting intonation is usually adding length to strings (of course, pickups or oddities mean you should leave room anyway...), due to thicker strings not vibrating fully at their ends.
But if you've left the room, then its adjustable, so you don't have to match the perfect spot.

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guitalias
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Re: Positioning bridge question

Post by guitalias » Sat Jul 04, 2020 1:51 pm

jorri wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:37 pm
"INTONATION (ROUGHING IT OUT)
You can preset the basic intonation of your guitar by taking a tape measure and measuring from the inside of the nut to the center of the 12th fret (the fret wire itself; not the fingerboard). Double that measurement to find the scale length of your guitar. Adjust the first-string bridge saddle to this scale length, measuring from the inside of the nut to the center of the bridge saddle. Now adjust the distance of the second-string saddle back from the first saddle, using the gauge of the second string as a measurement. For example, If the second string is .011" (0.3 mm), you would move the second-string saddle back .011" (0.3 mm) from the first saddle. Move the third saddle back from the second saddle using the gauge of the third string as a measurement. The fourth-string saddle should be set parallel with the second-string saddle. Proceed with the fifth and sixth saddles with the same method used for strings two and three."

Refer to that from the fender setup guide, gives a rough idea of where the saddles end up.
The scale length would be where the 1st (high) string ends up, but leaving plenty of room for adjustment.
And 4-5mm back with plenty room to adjust on the 6th string, or get out a pre-intonated guitar and find out what that is like.
Perhaps centering the saddles that way and measuring to the high E is somewhere to start as the 1st string naturally has the least intonation adjustment.
Adjusting intonation is usually adding length to strings (of course, pickups or oddities mean you should leave room anyway...), due to thicker strings not vibrating fully at their ends.
But if you've left the room, then its adjustable, so you don't have to match the perfect spot.
Thx. Just to clarify/simplify. Adjust the intonation screw of the high E string to fully out, then wind in a bit to allow for adjustment. Measure scale length from high E string to determine bridge position from nut. Position bridge otherwise correctly. Screw down bridge. Later intonated, high E will stay roughly where measured, other strings will adjust into place.
Correct?

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jorri
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Re: Positioning bridge question

Post by jorri » Sun Jul 05, 2020 5:14 am

Pretty much it.

But also if you measure the lowest string an extra 5mm back. Then perhaps centre it so both those saddles each sit somewhat equally from the edge of the plate. It may ensure plenty of room on the low E which has the most variability.

I've not done this before, just intonated a lot so it would seem like how it's done. The other way is often some kind of template. You may be able to find a template with dimensions that shows you which point it is measured to.

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