Below are answers to common questions. Still have a question? Please contact us. We will respond within 48 hours.

I don’t see my guitar’s brand or model listed. Can you help?

Yes, please fill out our Contact Form and let us know your guitar’s year/brand/model, as well as your current saddle’s length, height, thickness, top radius, and compensation pattern. Or, if your guitar currently doesn’t have a saddle, please let us know the length/thickness of the saddle slot. From this information we can let you know whether we might have a saddle that would fit, or can refer you to another source.

My guitar brand says that all their guitars are set up with the same twelfth fret action height at the factory. Why then aren’t all saddles the same height from the factory?

Each guitar will have a slightly different neck angle, and so although the factory might set the twelfth fret action at a specified height, this can be achieved through a combination of adjusting the neck relief, nut slot height, or saddle height. 

What is your return policy?

If you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase for any reason, please let us know within 30 days of receipt and we will either provide a free replacement or a refund. Expedited shipping charges are non-refundable unless the carrier guarantees a specified delivery date that is not met and offers a refund in such instance.

Does bone sound better than Tusq? 

Not necessarily as it depends on each individual guitar and guitarist’s preferences. Please see our blog article Is a Tusq Saddle Better than Bone? for more information. 

What is a guitar saddle’s compensation pattern?

Rather than being just a straight piece of material, many steel string saddles are compensated to adjust for different string radii and scale lengths. Please see our blog article Acoustic Guitar Saddle Compensation Patterns for more information. 

What does ‘radius’ refer to? 

Saddles are not flat on top, but instead have a subtle curvature to match the fretboard’s curvature. Common acoustic guitar fretboard radii are 12, 14, 15, or 16 inches. 

Are all acoustic guitar saddles the same size? 

No, there are a large number of sizes available making finding the correct size for your guitar difficult. Additionally, you must consider not only the length, height, thickness of your saddle, but also compensation pattern and radius. Please see our article, Are All Acoustic Guitar Saddles the Same Size? for more information. 

What’s the difference between bleached and unbleached bone? 

Unbleached bone is a slightly harder material and is a bit more difficult to work with, but many people prefer the tone. Unbleached bone does have inconsistent color, though. Please see the bottom half of our article What Are Bone Saddles? for more information. 

How much does a bone saddle cost?

Quality bone guitar saddles cost around $20 to $30. You might find bone saddles for a much lower price, but the bone may have been processed with harsh chemicals, which speeds up production time, but produces weak, chalklike bone that produces poor tone and does not last.

When should I replace my guitar saddle?

You should replace your guitar saddle if it breaks, or has string gouges so deep that your action is lowered and produces buzzing. You might also want to replace your saddle to produce a different tone.

Why is the saddle on a guitar slanted?

Guitar saddle slots are slanted to improve intonation. Thicker gauge strings require a longer scale length than thinner strings do.

Do compensated guitar saddles work?

Compensated guitar saddles can improve intonation, but more compensation does not mean improved intonation as guitar builders will factor in saddle angle as well. You should typically use the same saddle compensation pattern used from the factory unless you have intonation problems.

How do you cut a bone saddle?

You should cut a bone saddle to fit your bridge slot with 100 grit sandpaper. You may need to adjust length, height, or thickness. Please see our video for more information.

What is a drop in saddle?

A drop-in saddle does not need to be glued to the bridge, but may still require adjustment to the bridge saddl slot. Through saddles must be glued in place.

Is a bone saddle worth it?

Many acoustic guitarists prefer the tone of a bone saddle to that of other materials, particularly plastic. However, bone does not produce a universally better tone as each player will have different preferences.

Do acoustic guitar saddles have notches?

Acoustic guitar saddles should not have notches, which will pinch the strings at the side and result in a subtly muted tone. String pressure is sufficient to keep strings in place at the saddle. Although your current saddle might have notches, these either happened because the strings slowly dug the notches, or someone incorrectly cut notches to lower action. If your current saddle has notches we advise replacing it.

Should an acoustic guitar saddle be glued?

Most acoustic guitar saddles should not be glued in place, although some saddles, known as through saddles, will be glued in. If your saddle goes all the way through the bridge, then it is a through saddle and these are often glued in place. We advise having a professional guitar technician work on through saddles.

Do all acoustic guitars need a compensated saddle?

No. Guitar builders factor in saddle angle, scale length, string spacing, string gauge, and other aspects to determine saddle compensation pattern, which may be no compensation. Replacing a non-compensated saddle with a compensated saddle could have a negative impact on your intonation, particularly if your string spacing does not match the saddle compensation pattern. See our Guide to Non-Compensated Saddles for more information.