Post by blues90 on Nov 25, 2018 17:50:27 GMT -5
I posted in another topic about my 2004 Seagull grand had a 12" radius board . Made a few radius gauges , I made one like the ones sold that fit under the strings I made a 16" radius like this and my Seagull does in fact have a 16" radius. The saddle a 9280 Graph tech is in fact a 12" radius.
I emailed Graph Tech , here is two replies.
Hey William,
Thanks for getting in touch!
It's very common for there to be a mismatch in radius between the neck and the bridge, that's no issue there. And the difference between 12" rand 16" radius is about the thickness of the business card, so nothing that will cause compatibility issues, or even something that you'll even be able to feel.
The main thing, is that they used to buy the 9280, which is a 12" radius saddle, and then we made the 9281 for Guitabec, which is a 16" radius, they are virtually identical as far as measurements. Hope that clears things up!
Then I asked them again about the mismatch and their answer. Just to add I have business cards that vary quite a bit some are .008" others .020" , for me that's not a great guide and say the card is .015" that to me is enough to set strings to high/low depending on the miss match.
Thanks for getting in touch!
It's very common for there to be a mismatch in radius between the neck and the bridge, that's no issue there. And the difference between 12" rand 16" radius is about the thickness of the business card, so nothing that will cause compatibility issues, or even something that you'll even be able to feel.
The main thing, is that they used to buy the 9280, which is a 12" radius saddle, and then we made the 9281 for Guitabec, which is a 16" radius, they are virtually identical as far as measurements. Hope that clears things up!
Then I asked them again about the mismatch and their answer. Just to add I have business cards that vary quite a bit some are .008" others .020" , for me that's not a great guide and say the card is .015" that to me is enough to set strings to high/low depending on the miss match.
Hey William,
Obviously it's ideal to have the same radius across the entire guitar. But having say a 12" board, and a 16" saddle won't cause an issue, as there is enough distance between the saddle and the neck that the radius of the strings evens out by the time it gets to the fretboard.
Obviously it's ideal to have the same radius across the entire guitar. But having say a 12" board, and a 16" saddle won't cause an issue, as there is enough distance between the saddle and the neck that the radius of the strings evens out by the time it gets to the fretboard.
I'm not putting down Graph Tech , they can't make every radius out there and on their site don't state what most of them are. I don't see how a 16" saddle and 12 " board even out. If the saddle is not the same as the board the distance does in no way alter this . If they match as I feel they should you will have the same arch the entire length, if I have a 12 " saddle and 16" neck that arch will not even out, the center strings will be higher on the board than the outer strings the only place it evens out would be because of the nut if it in fact is the same as the boards radius.
Many people with electric guitars match the adjustable saddle/saddles to the board. some may prefer certain strings be higher or lower.
I could always feel on my Seagull the center strings were higher, it always felt off and I never knew there was a difference between the saddle and board radius until a few weeks ago , never measured it , I assumed as most every guitar I've owned they were matched. The Fender I have and EL-00 match , both are 12" radius and are easier to play . I have a Tusq blank I will make a 16" saddle for my Seagull , they changed it on the later models with the new bridge design for a reason . I'd buy one yet the bridge slot on my Seagull is .010" wider than the 1/8" thick saddles they offer, I made a rose wood shim shaped for the bridge top curve , super glued it to the back of saddle and sanded for a snug fit , if I didn't the saddle would lean It would be easier to do this on their 9281 than trim the 1/4" blank to fit then radius it and compensate it.