Argument with a luthier over distance of low E bridge pin hole from saddle

[Ethan Hicks]

Say, I just got a custom instrument from the luthier who built it and the distance from the front of the low E string bridge pin to the nearest point on the saddle is 6/32 of an inch. All of my other guitars are 12/32 of an inch, except one which is 10/32 of an inch. When I brought this up to the luthier I got lots of indignation and a "that's the way I build them" attitude. The keyhole slot on that particular pin hole is super close to the bridge and the break angle is very steep because of this. Am I being unreasonable to request a new bridge with the low E string bridge pin hole set back a bit. It's an angled saddle, not a straight one with compensation. Please give me your opinion as I like the instrument otherwise I just think this is affecting tone and will be a problem down the road.

[Ron Frazier]

New one on me! I never knew there was a specific setting. and what is 12/32 of a inch!

Ron

[Ethan Hicks]

Not meaning to be a smart ass but I gave all measurements in 32nds...to the lowest common denominator 12/32nds would be 3/8ths of an inch. In addition to my original question I should have asked if there is a standard or optimum distance? I'm worried that pin hole erosion over time, like on my 1983 Gurian JM, will link to the saddle slot leaving the string to climb nearly vertically up the saddle face to break over the top of the saddle. Sabe?

[Jeffrey L. Suits]

"Am I being unreasonable to request a new bridge with the low E string bridge pin hole set back a bit. It's an angled saddle, not a straight one with compensation. Please give me your opinion as I like the instrument otherwise I just think this is affecting tone and will be a problem down the road."

You just *think* it's affecting tone, of an instrument you like?

I think the horse is long out of the barn, and that this should have been dealt with at the design stage. A new bridge will most likely not just have the low E bridge pin hole set back, there will be issues with the bridge plate and plugging and redrilling holes; a can of worms, in other words.

If you want to pay for an after the fact, custom bridge, and any ancillary work required, and the luthier agrees to it, fine.

[Tim Mace]

Can't the pin hole slot be filled or is there a pin hole slot?Got a pic? Homebuilt or factory made?My 55 D-28 has worn pin hole slots on every string that I have plugged over the years w/success.Tuning causes the the strings to act like files
edging closer and closer to the saddle slot?

[danove]

It probably does not affect the tone.

There maybe is an issue with UST pickups.
If I recall Richard McClish correctly, the optimum brake angle is 20 degrees,
when using his capsuled sensors. Not shure if that applies to any type of UST,
but at least with thin strips it might.

[William F.Eden]

I think any luthier wood under stand what happend here.At some time or other we may have all had this problem and it was all caused by not having the bridge far enouff back when we used a bridge that din't have the sadle already cut in but had the pin holes in and not on the right angel with the line of the sadle .And when the sadle was finaly routerd in all of a sudden the pin holes were to close to the sadle.I would like to think if it were one of my guitars i would be johny on the spot to fix it no matter what the cost. P.S That is supposed to be what makes us different than the big manafactures.Just my take on the subject you can take it all with a grain of salt if you like. Bill.""""""""""