Navigator (Japanese) L-5 copy

[sgosnell]

The quick and easy way is to string up the guitar with the new saddle in place, center each string over the matching polepiece in the neck pickup, and tap the string over the saddle, giving enough of an impression to allow making it deep enough to hold the string. It doesn't take much depth at all. You will need new strings after this, most likely, but that's not a huge price to pay. Or you can go through mathematical calculations, taking into account the diameter of each string, and arriving at a solution that results in equal distance between the edges of the strings. Matt Cushman posted the method recently. Personally, that's too much work for me, but it probably does give slightly better results.

[DMgolf66]

That's great advice, thank you so much!

Not sure I wanna do the math either, ha. Will try your method first.

[sgosnell]

Here's Matt's method:

When slotting a new saddle I first establish the location of the two E strings. I start by marking the location of the two E strings so that there is a distance of 5/32" between the outside edge of the string and the edge of the fingerboard at the last fret. I then use gauged slotting files that match the dia. of the string to cut the notch depth about 1/3 of the string dia. After the E strings are set I measure the space left between the inside edge of each string. From this space I subtract the total width of the four remaining strings and divide the remaining space by five and that will be the amount of space left between each of the strings. I use a fine line mechanical pencil to mark the location of the center of each notch that is needed. I then use the proper gauged files to cut the remaining notches.

The only issue with this method is that it's possible to have a wider fretboard, and a pickup with narrower polepiece spacing, so that the strings, especially the E strings, aren't over the polepieces. This happens with a 45mm nut width neck and a narrower pickup spacing, like the Rhythm Chief I use. With blade style pickups it isn't an issue, but it is with mine. I end up with the strings getting a little further from the edge of the fretboard as they go toward the bridge. A compromise of some sort is necessary, either having the strings not exactly parallel to the fretboard edges, or having them not over the polepieces. My preferred compromise is to favor having the strings over the polepieces, but that may not be yours, nor anyone else's. Another possible compromise is to reduce the string spacing at the nut, but if the nut is already cut properly with the standard 1/8" distance from the edges, it's more work than I want to do to make a new nut. Everything is a compromise of some sort, and that's where I usually end up.

[bonnerj]

Darren,

Here's a video from Stewart-MacDonald on setting the string spacing on an archtop bridge:

[DMgolf66]

I'm just adding a sound clip as I was going through my phones files. This is NOT me playing, but a professional friend. But figured I would post since I found the clip and never posted at the time. Ha, this may be the only example of a sound clip of one of these guitars on the whole interwebzzzz!

[citizenk74]

Sounds pretty sweet to me! I think you have a keeper there!