Is There a 'Correct' Bridge Vertical Angle-90 deg. vs Sloped ?

[Dennis D]

I just saw this in another thread. This is a side photo of the original Gibson SF-17 top, which also looks similar to a '34 L-5 R/I I had. Would anyone / should anyone have this modified to be more straight vertical, 90 degrees ? I know my R/I had a pinned or glued saddle, but not sure whether the SF's did. Is this merely a cosmetic issue or is there a function w/ preference to the sloped ( tilted ) bridge vs a dead straight one ?

Curious and thx.

[citizenk74]

Not to be a stickler, but a strict 90 degree angle gives the best results. More volume, better tone. At that angle you're getting less force down on the top, and less energy transfer = less volume, thinner tone. Get thee to a luthier, or just do it yourself. Loosen thumbwheels, scoot the bridge so that the foot is under the bridge, and re-intonate until every thing is nice and neat. Did I mention a luthier? They are, or should be, trained professionals. Believe me, it's worth the $amolean$.

[Greentone]

I agree with citizen74. The bridge should sit vertically on the guitar top in order to transfer energy maximally into the top plate.

[omphalopsychos]

The slope in the picture is not a design feature but evidence of instability. The strings are pulling the bridge toward the neck due to weak support for the angle of the posts. If your bridge looks like that you want to straighten it. If this happens frequently, you might want a bridge with a larger base.

[customxke]

If you get a second set of thumbwheels, and screw them down tightly against the base, it will prevent that from happening.

[Jimmy blue note]

I always set the angle so it bisects the angle of breakover. My first impression is somebody reversed the foot of the bridge. Just for kicks, slack off the strings, remove the bridge, reverse the foot of the bridge 180 degrees keeping the saddle the way it is and then reset the action and intonation.
Not saying that's what's going on but it's my first step in addressing that obviously wonky bridge lean. Check the seating on the foot/top surface. Is there any space? Sometimes people do a bridge placement, shift the bridge and they don't correct it. That might be going on too but it's hard to tell with one photo.
Good luck

[sgosnell]

It appears to me that the bridge base is reversed. My first inclination would be to rotate the bridge base 180 degrees, removing the saddle to keep it the way it is not, assuming that it's right, although it's impossible to tell from that photo.

[Max405]

I’ve seen that happen when there are heavy strings on a guitar and someone scoots the bridge back when intonating and they don’t loosen the strings.
I had a guitar that had that bridge lean. Always bothered me.
JD