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I'm working on a Puerto Rican quatro for a customer, doing a refret and getting it all set up, and the bridge is baffling me. Instead of being slotted for a saddle, it's completely dished out in front of the tie block. It looks like a floating saddle of some sort is supposed to go in that area, but any such saddle would be far too tall to stay put, I might have assumed that the builder intended for the strings to just project out from the tie block, without a saddle, as I've seen on some older instruments, except the neck is angled back too far for that. What am I supposed to do with this thing, as far as getting some sort of saddle in there?

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Have you tried stringing from the other direction so the strings go under the bridge then over the top? 

From what looks like notches on the back side, I think you're on to something. A wood saddle I guess.

I haven't, but that still wouldn't provide the proper clearance. The strings need to break a good 1/8" higher than the top of the block to clear the fretboard at all.

Judging from the discoloration I'd say it had a saddle. You say it won't stay in place?  Would it work with a saddle that is somewhat wider in base than might first be considered with a strip of fine grit sandpaper on the bottom of the?

I tried a wide saddle, but not with sand paper. I'm down with the flu today, but when I get back into the shop (hopefully tomorrow) I think I'll try that in conjunction with wrapping the strings over the top of the tie block.

Calculate the scale length. That should tell you where the saddle should lie, giving an idea of where it was originally.

I did, and the result put the saddle pretty close to the tie block, resulting in a ridiculous break angle.

Possibly a daft question, but have you tried Google images?

The GI search showed a lot of quatro's with more standard bridges, did not see one like yours.  If you take the strings off the back of the block and over a saddle, that will give a reasonable break angle, explain the wear grooves in the back of the bridge and let you place a saddle block in the shelf with the saddle near the front of the string block.

Brian

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