Official Luthiers Forum!

I ordered a builder's package from Filippo....the pins and nuts look really nice. Now I need to get a 5 degree reamer (mine is for 3 degree, but seems much easier to find the 5's in unslotted.

Maybe I am looking at it backwards, but doesn't slotting the bridge decrease the string break angle. It seems to me the closer the string is to the bridge the shallower the angle.
Also is there an optimal angle? Isn't the angle of each string different due to the fact that the pin holes aren't usually parallel to the saddle?

I guess you mean the angle between the string and the saddle, not the angle of the string from the bridge to the saddle?

It is the string break angle across the saddle that determines down pressure on the saddle. The angle that the strings leave the bridge is not important.

In general, I try to stay in the range of 30 to 45 degrees. A traditional Martin style bridge will have more break angle on the bass strings, which can be a good thing. That is because the bass strings must transmit more energy.

_________________
John

So at Todd's suggestion, I contacted Filippo to order the unslotted bone pins. I ended up ordering his "builder's package" with nuts, saddles, pins and side dots. Got it within two days of ordering, and they are beautiful! Looking forward to using them on the OM I'm finishing. It will be my first foray into bridge hole slotting.

Also, Todd, I picked up a few of those Bosch jigsaw blades and will be making my own saw....great tip!!

As usual, thanks for all the time and wisdom so generously offered here on the OLF! Beth