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Saddle slot slope - baritone?

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 12:04 pm
by Len McIntosh
The "book" says slot slope is 1/8" in 3" (about 3 degrees).
Am about to route the bridge slot for my 27 " scale baritone when it occurred to me the regular slope may not be the best.
I set my saddle/bridge distance using the front edge / center of the saddle thats where i measure. I use half the scale plus about 3/32.
Im thinkin my scale length should be a bit longer on the bass side and therefor need a bit more slope than reg scale.
Has intonation been a problem for anyone making a baritone?
Is the slope to compensate for the thicker bass strings.

Re: Saddle slot slope - baritone?

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 12:06 pm
by Len McIntosh
Just to clarify i measure from the center of the 12th fret.

Re: Saddle slot slope - baritone?

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 12:50 pm
by Bob Gramann
I have made one baritone. It had a 27" scale and used a .068" (and later .070) string for the low B. I used the same slope as for the normal 6 strings that I make (1/4" over 6 inches--the same as what you cited above). I used a 1/8" wide saddle. I don't remember what I used for my initial compensation--I think I worked it out at the time. I'm guessing I set the bridge so the front of the saddle was just under 1/4" beyond the scale length at the fat string. I had no problem intonating the instrument perfectly with that arrangement and a compensated saddle. I don't have the instrument present, so I can't measure for you. Sorry.

Re: Saddle slot slope - baritone?

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 4:18 pm
by Rick Davis
Like Bob, I use 1/8"-in-3" and a 1/8" saddle on my 28" scale baritones, with a 0.15" setback, then intonate the saddle as usual. No problems using up a .075" low A.