Saddle or bridge locating tool

Instead of worrying about measuring the scale on a guitar, banjo or any stringed instrument to locate the saddle, try this simple tool. I use some thin plastic about .040 inch thick. Cut two pieces of it about 1/4 inch wide. Mark one piece for the length from the nut to the 12th fret. Cut it off there and cut the second piece the same length.

Attach these two pieces together on one end with a little masking tape hinge.

When you unfold it, you have the correct length no matter what the scale is.

This works with all stringed instruments. I’ve found it to come in handy for positioning a guitar bridge for gluing. I recommend you mark it with some identification and make one for each new scale you use. Pretty soon you will have all of them you need. I drill a small hole in mine and hang them on the wall. I mark them by the model designation, such as Martin Dreadnought or Gibson Banjo. It doesn’t take long to lay one on your fingerboard and see if it is the right length to the 12th fret and confirm that the saddle is in the right place. You may be surprised to find that even some old Martins and Gibsons do not have the saddle in the right place.