Making bone saddle for my 03

[pickngrin]

I'm thinking about making a bone saddle for my LV-03RE for when I remove the UST and play acoustically. I have bone blanks to make it from but I won't be able to have the factory compensation for the B string. I'm wondering if this will create an intonation problem or can I file a light compensation on the straight bone blank to get by.

Has anyone ever installed a saddle on a Larrivee without the factory compensation? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,  pickngrin

[jimmyd]

Every string should be compensated for proper intonation as part of a sadddle installation. The B string is just more noticably different in length then it's neighbors. If you never play past the third fret you won't notice a guitar's bad intonation as much. I'd suggest reading up on the subject before you start and shoot for doing it right. If you just plop a new one in there chances are that your guitar won't sound or play as well as it does now, assuming the existing saddle was installed correctly.

[jimmy buffett]

I had a local luthier install a bone saddle that was not compensated, and I had the same question.  While I can't quite understand it, I cannot detect any difference in terms of compensation, even when I play up the neck.  I'm not saying that it shouldn't matter, because logic suggests that taking out a compensated saddle and replacing it with a straight one will effect the guitar, but I can't say that I noticed any change.

Maybe I'm tone deaf...

jimmy

[Larrivee4me]

The B string can be compensated with the bone saddle. All that is required is that the B string leave the saddle at the back edge rather than the  forward edge of the saddle.  To do this, the forward edge of the saddle in front of the B string  is filed away leaving only the back portion of the saddle to support the string.  I'll try to get a photo and post it here so you can see what it looks like.

[Larrivee4me]

Here are a couple photos of the bone saddle on my Larrivee parlor.   J. Thomas Davis Guitars in Columbus Oh made the saddle.  You can see how the saddle is shaped so the B string leaves the saddle toward the rear while the G and E stirngs leave the saddle at the forward edge.

[unclrob]

I only make non compensated bone saddle's.

[poki]

here's a bone saddle  i made with a B comp notch.  all you need to do is keep the top of the sadddle unslanted where the comp notch needs to be then i use a dremel sanding disk to notch where the B string passes.  you can see the worn spot where the string had passed over
good luck

[stuco]

 

You can do fine without the compensated b string.  I've made several bone saddles and improved the intonation from factory saddles without compensation.

[jimmyd]

I've made several bone saddles and improved the intonation from factory saddles without compensation.

That is remarkable.