Hello gang!! I love tuning in fifths. Surely stems back to my bowed instruments days as well as love playing the mandolin. I currently have my Martin S-O strung with Aquila 31U's - CGDA tuning (I was going to try the 30U's - GDAE but didn't want to deal with the high E string troubles others have reported. Plus, the 31U's have a richer tone, IMO).
To the point in topic, I am wondering if any other fifths tuning players are using a specific compensated saddle. Reason I ask is that I find the intonation slightly off on my Martin S-O, mainly for the lowest C string. It's nothing drastic, but still audible to my ear. People I play for thinks it sounds fine, but it is surely off. Of course the saddle on my S-O is not compensated at all. It can be replaced with some sort of compensated saddle, which I may do some day, but.... (below)...
Now, to refine the point in my topic, I am looking to purchase another soprano for fifths tuning and am looking at a Bruko. Of course, the Bruko has a fixed saddle/bridge so little can be done to compensate the saddle. What I'm wanting to know is if other fifths players are finding that non-compensated saddles are working fine for them or if they found the need for some kind of compensated saddle. Perhaps I just have a bad low C string in my batch of Aquilas? I don't know. Would the Bruko be fine as is? I have been wanting to get one for a while now. Another instrument I'm looking at is an Eastman EU3 concert scale, which has the option of a different saddle if needed. I would appreciate to hear your experiences.
Thanks and sorry for the long, winded post.
To the point in topic, I am wondering if any other fifths tuning players are using a specific compensated saddle. Reason I ask is that I find the intonation slightly off on my Martin S-O, mainly for the lowest C string. It's nothing drastic, but still audible to my ear. People I play for thinks it sounds fine, but it is surely off. Of course the saddle on my S-O is not compensated at all. It can be replaced with some sort of compensated saddle, which I may do some day, but.... (below)...
Now, to refine the point in my topic, I am looking to purchase another soprano for fifths tuning and am looking at a Bruko. Of course, the Bruko has a fixed saddle/bridge so little can be done to compensate the saddle. What I'm wanting to know is if other fifths players are finding that non-compensated saddles are working fine for them or if they found the need for some kind of compensated saddle. Perhaps I just have a bad low C string in my batch of Aquilas? I don't know. Would the Bruko be fine as is? I have been wanting to get one for a while now. Another instrument I'm looking at is an Eastman EU3 concert scale, which has the option of a different saddle if needed. I would appreciate to hear your experiences.
Thanks and sorry for the long, winded post.