No saddles?

[Marc Morfei]

How do you intonate a guitar that has no saddles? I am looking at a Gibson Les Paul Junior Tribute, and it has no saddles, the strings go straight to the bridge. It's a compensated bridge, I can see that. But still, how do you adjust the intonation? I searched all over the web but amazingly could find no answer. All the other Gibsons seem to have individual saddles. Advice? Would this guitar just be a PITA?

 

[mabinogeon]

With those screws you can see poking out the bottom of the bridge.

 

[viking]

You only have the option of moving the whole bridge at either side , as said
There are , off course , hundreds of aftermarket solutions ready
Generally , these models aren't known for super intonation

 

[brookdalebill]

With those screws you can see poking out the bottom of the bridge.

You only have the option of moving the whole bridge at either side , as said
There are , off course , hundreds of aftermarket solutions ready
Generally , these models aren't known for super intonation

You’ll need an Allen/hex wrench to adjust the bridge assembly.
It should intonate perfectly with common string set gauges.

 

[Marc Morfei]

Ahh, I see. Got it. Thanks. So you can't adjust each string. Hmm.... not sure if I like that. Of course I suppose tele owners get along just fine with all those 3-barrel vintage saddles. So I guess close enough is good enough,\.

 

[Frodebro]

I've got the dual pickup version of that guitar. I'm pretty nitpicky about intonation with my guitars, and this one doesn't give me any issues.

 

[Marc Morfei]

I've got the dual pickup version of that guitar. I'm pretty nitpicky about intonation with my guitars, and this one doesn't give many any issues.

Overall how do you like the guitar? They have one used at my local GC, and it played and sounded really nice. Light as a feather, too.

 

[Frodebro]

Running 10-46 on it.

 

[PCollen]

With those screws you can see poking out the bottom of the bridge.

If you do feel you need to adjust one side or the other of that bridge rearward by tightening those tiny grub/set screws, I'd suggest loosening the strings and making small (1/4 turn of the screw) adjustments and then retuning and checking. There is a lot of tension on that stop tailpiece/bridge, and there is a chance that the screw threads could strip if tightened with full full string tension applied.

I had a Hamer USA Special shaped exactly like that Gibson and found it to be uncomfortable to manage when playing seated. The body shape just would not balance well for me. You should certainly try one, or something similar, at a local store before buying it to see how it "fits" you and your typical playing position, seated vs. standing

 

[TheGoodTexan]

Generally , these models aren't known for super intonation

As has already been said, unless you’re using an oddball string set, you can pretty much nail the intonation with a wraparound bridge that has the two set screws on the back.

I had a friend who played slide on a LP Jr, and used a super heavy plain D string (like a plain 24??) rather than a wrapped string. He couldn’t get that one intonated too well for fretting up high, but it worked for slide. Other than cases like that, there is nothing wrong with those bridges.

 

[Dan German]

Ahh, I see. Got it. Thanks. So you can't adjust each string. Hmm.... not sure if I like that. Of course I suppose tele owners get along just fine with all those 3-barrel vintage saddles. So I guess close enough is good enough,\.

And archtop owners get along just fine with floating bridges. Intonation on a guitar is a heap of compromises. No reason that won’t work fine. Also, Juniors only look right with those bridges, IMHO.

 

[jvin248]

.

Wrap tails are "close enough for rock n roll!"

The "lightning" ridge line on top of the wrap tail sets up the intonation pattern, small adjustments are done on the bar from side to side depending if you are using 9s or 10s.

It generally works pretty well.

Look up intonation of nuts (buzz feiten system) and the microtonal or fanned fret fretboards out there if you are really zeroing in on intonation improvement desires.

If you get a wrap tail guitar and you can't get it intonated, there is a design called "bad ass" that is a wrap tail with individual saddles you can move.

.

 

[lammie200]

Just remember that almost all acoustic guitars operate the same way. There are no individual intonation adjustments for each string.

 

[vgallagher]

It’s kind of like a compensated acoustic guitar saddle but with adjustment. I would think you could tweak it in pretty close to perfect.

 

[jonnyfez]

I have an SG special with that bridge. No issues. A Les Paul with a slanted wraparound from Mojoaxe. No issues. A vintage Gretsch 6120 with a straight bar bridge. No issues. It's all close enough. Les Paul played with a wrap. Chet Atkins played with a straight bar. Sounded pretty good to me.

 

[8trackmind]

Had to post because I have one too...

 

[nojazzhere]

How do you intonate a guitar that has no saddles? I am looking at a Gibson Les Paul Junior Tribute, and it has no saddles, the strings go straight to the bridge. It's a compensated bridge, I can see that. But still, how do you adjust the intonation? I searched all over the web but amazingly could find no answer. All the other Gibsons seem to have individual saddles. Advice? Would this guitar just be a PITA?

View attachment 667668

Hard to see on this photo (only one I have at the moment) but I put a Leo Quan "BaddAss" bridge on my 1960 Jr. Each string has an adjustable saddle, like a Tune-O-Matic. My PRS SE One has the "lightning bolt" type bridge (fixed) and it intonates just fine.

 

[cometazzi]

I've got something similar. I'm less successful in getting it intonated. I've looked at the wraparound bridges with saddles that you can buy aftermarket, but from what I've read it sounds like they raise the action significantly, so I haven't tried it.

This guitar and my AC-15 are in *love* with each other, though.

 

[Chunkocaster]

They have more room for intonation adjustment than most acoustics. I don't hear any intonation issues when playing my acoustics.

 

[nojazzhere]

They have more room for intonation adjustment than most acoustics. I don't hear any intonation issues when playing my acoustics.

Back in the 50's, 60's and 70's, there was an old guy here that was primarily a violin maker and repairman, but he also carved rosewood bridge saddles for acoustics. They were NOT adjustable, but fixed in what was generally the correct position for good intonation. He then cut out of the bridge where this "saddle piece" would sit. The last one he did for me (a Yamaha FG 160) in the early seventies, he was in advanced years, and his skills were failing him. I had to take the bridge, and cut down the "saddle peak" for one string, and then glue in a different "peak" so that it would play in tune.....but after that, it was fine.