How to cut a saddle for an .18 plain 3rd string

[Frank Bugbee]

Is it possible to intonate this?

ty

Frank

[Antonio Cotichini]

Frank, why don't you tell us exactly what's your goal? Which guitar we're talkin' about? Is the saddle slot wide enough to accept a 6mm piece of bone? Anyway, you can enlarge the slot, put in a wide bone saddle and have room to sort out the intonation on the 3rd string. Are you going to do it yourself?(Sorry, I don't know if you're a luthier or however able with tools).
If you're skilled enough it's not a big deal. Otherwise, take the guitar to your nearest luthier and explain him/her what you'd like to be done.
Can't help more. Good luck.
Antonio

[Frank Bugbee]

Antonio,

The guitar is an old Fender Newporter.

I will check out the width of the slot. That is good information.

No I am not going to cut it myself, I have a guy for that.

Thank you all the help. I am glad that I found your site!


Frank

[Antonio Cotichini]

This site's been created by Frank Ford (God Bless Him) to welcome and allow any guitar-related aficionado to ask and answer and discuss about our passion, hobby or work. Freely. A good side and site of democracy.
Ciao.

[Ron Frazier]

Yes

You can do anything.

First I would look at the neck and see if the fret is even with the body. The necks have a way of moving closer the the bridge that makes it detuned.

Ron

[Len Biglin]

If it is an acoustic guitar you will find that the saddle is cut forward for a wound G , if you use a plain G you will need to cut a saddle with the G to the rear as seen on most electric guitars .Len

[Tim Mace]

I assumed the position for a plain steel string would have to move toward the soundhole.That is if the plain string is flat when 12th fret is fingered.Am I missing something?

[Antonio Cotichini]

It is exactly as Len and Tim said. A wider bone saddle allows to file the G point of contact in the direction of the sound-hole, searching the perfect intonation for that string.
Anyway, recent scientific researches declares that the G point doesn't exist. At least on women! If anybody manage to find it, please let us know. New horizons should appear!

[Tim Mace]

I read Len as saying move back/rear.I'm thinking forward/front...get your mind off the chicks Antonio. If you ain't found that spot by now you never will.Tell Sophia hello for me!Anyway you can't really mess up a Fender acoustic!

[Antonio Cotichini]

Tim, rear depends on which side you look at the bridge! If you look at it from the bottom side, rear means toward the sound-hole.I think Len was in that direction. Don't be always polemical, you know what I meant!!! And... If I would ever known Sophia when she was at her best (let's say in the mid 60s, but I wasn't still a teenager then) be sure I wouldn't have wasted time just saying hello! She was the Sexy Queen of my dreams!

[Frank Bugbee]

The third saddle on any electric is away from the soundhole, right?

[Tim Mace]

Since we're confused here's all I can say.Test your 18 plain by placing a dummy in front of or behind
the 3rd string to find out which direction you need to go.Naturally you'll want the dummy to be slightly taller than the saddle as is.A dummy could be a piece of bone.a section of material that will
help determine the saddle point before you widen the slot.IMO.Polemic as I may be I'd hate to see you go in the wrong direction!

[Antonio Cotichini]

Tim, I was joking, don't be polemic again!! I wasn't going in a wrong direction, I simply indicate that the method Len and you (and me) suggested is the right one. Obviously the guy who's gonna do the job for Frank Bugbee has to find the place on the larger saddle for the G string. Maybe the fault is of my poor English, but I know what to do on that guitar.
Sophia heartily reciprocate your regards!