Break Angle Myth Debunked

[CTGull]

For years I've heard the break angle (the angle the strings make between the bridge pins and saddle) needs to be above "X" degrees to properly drive the top. A low break angle will reduce the output and tone. If you have to sand the saddle down low you can ramp the bridge (cut angled slots between the bridge pin holes and the saddle) to increase the break angle. I've done this many times. It made sense and seemed like the thing to do.

Lately I've read it's not as important. The height of the strings above the top is. The height of the strings is what drives the top. I'm not sure I buy that one either.

Well, this blows the break angle theory out of the water. This is a made in Taiwan 1974 Yamaha FG-110 (I picked up 2 weeks ago) with pretty much ZERO break angle on all strings. Even with dead old strings it sounds VERY similar to my other FG-110's with proper break angles.

[fnesnor]

I didn't know the importance of a proper break angle was myth. It has been a known fact in most luthierie books I've read. String height is also important to the sound board's resonance.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by CTGull

Well, this blows the break angle theory out of the water. This is a made in Taiwan 1974 Yamaha FG-110 (I picked up 2 weeks ago) with pretty much ZERO break angle on all strings. Even with dead old strings it sounds VERY similar to my other FG-110's with proper break angles.

I think it raises more of a question mark on your other FG-110's than blowing the break angle theory out of the water.

[Bax Burgess]

Gull, you have the opportunity to check out string height effect - how it sounds with a taller saddle.

[rick-slo]

Topic covered extensively several times. Might be worth a look.

[RP]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

I think it raises more of a question mark on your other FG-110's than blowing the break angle theory out of the water.

Kind of what I was thinking....

[Bruce Sexauer]

It seems clear to me that if you play the pictured guitar VERY HARD, the tone will suffer lack of clarity and focus due to the strings bouncing on the saddle. This will be heard as a vague distortion. IMO, but I'd bet on it.

[mercy]

One of our esteemed members has done research on this and his conclusion is the same as the OP, so in my book it is a myth.

[Wade Hampton]

Bruce in Australia wrote:

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

I think it raises more of a question mark on your other FG-110's than blowing the break angle theory out of the water.

That was my thought, as well.


whm

[Lee Callicutt]

I don't doubt its potential for tone as is; the question is what is the future remedy as the geometry of the neck block and top continue to change -- there's just not much saddle left to lower the action without shaving the bridge, and will that still leave enough string height to drive the top?

Saying that, I've done this before on a newer, inexpensive guitar with a shallow neck set with great success (pulled it down into finger style playing action and maintained decent tone), but of course a neck reset would have been preferable had the guitar's value justified the expense.

Is that by any chance a Black Label model? There's one advertised locally that I'm trying to tell myself I don't need to go see.

[JeffreyAK]

This is not a new topic, just a couple quick references. The angle by itself is not particularly important, it's just physics.

http://siminoff.net/luthiers-handbook-addendum/
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=322671

[guitar george]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

It seems clear to me that if you play the pictured guitar VERY HARD, the tone will suffer lack of clarity and focus due to the strings bouncing on the saddle. This will be heard as a vague distortion. IMO, but I'd bet on it.

+1 for me. I think you need a certain amount of break angle to drive the top and to prevent/reduce bouncing and sliding of the strings on the saddle. Slot head guitars have wider break angles at the nut for the same reasons, I presume.

[00-28]

Originally Posted by mercy

One of our esteemed members has done research on this and his conclusion is the same as the OP, so in my book it is a myth.

Who is this esteemed member and what is this book you speak of? How does one gain membership into this esteemed members group? I want in.

........Mike

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by guitar george

Slot head guitars have wider break angles at the nut for the same reasons, I presume.

[MartyGraw]

Are the strings on it from 1974 too ??????