PLACING THE BRIDGE AND SADDLE.

It used to be pretty simple,  Just measure very carefully the distance between the nut and the saddle, mark the location with tape, scrape off the finish and glue the bridge down.  Now I am trying to perfect the intonation by compensating the saddle with this device.

The 1st and 4th  strings are stretched between tuners on the left and the base of the jig to the right.  They are not attached to the instrument, but run over the saddle and the nut, and are tensioned to play a note, G and A.  The bridge is not yet attached and is floating freely on the instrument top.

Carefully measure the scale length from nut to saddle and place the bridge.  Now drill a thin hole in the eact center of the saddle slot, through the bridge, the sound board and the patch under it.  Insert a brad into the hole to act as a pivot while you compensate the strings.
Note the small sections of bone saddle to hold the strings at the proper height and yet allow other drill hole access once the angle is determined.

Now tune the string to a note checking it with the tuner carefully.  Then pluck the string while fretting it at the 12th fret.  If the note you tuned the string to, is exactly repeated but an octave higher, you have the bridge and saddle perfectly in place.  If the fretted note is not identical you simply pivot the bridge up or down until it perfectly repeats the un-fretted note.  

I am waiting for a mail delivery of the strings that I will install before I glue down the bridge.  I have been experimenting with some old fish line as I wait;  I suspect the real strings might result in a different placement.  
​I am hoping that this method will result in perfect intonation.  If nothing else it has been a fun experiment.