Break angle?

[panhandler]

I hear this term thrown around quite a bit these days.

What exactly is "break angle" of the strings?

What is good/proper break angle? and it's advantages?

What is bad break angle, and how do you know when it's time to adjust it?

 

Picture examples would be great.

[JasmineTea]

http://www.frets.com/FRETSpages/Musician/Guitar/Setup/Saddle/saddle01.html

[Gary Palmer]

Which end of the speaking string length are you referring to? Nut or saddle, as both involve string break angles?

Sufficient break angle at the saddle generally implies adequate downward string pressure which in turn transfers string vibration through the saddle and bridge in order to vibrate the soundboard. Angles can vary between 15 and 45 degrees, depending on pin location and their alignment with the saddle, as well as quantitative build elements such as bridge mass & footprint & surface contour, soundboard properties, bracing, action, etc..

It tends not to be adjustable unless slotting/ramping the pin holes or raising/lowering saddle height.

Break angle at the nut relies on headstock angle, nut slot/action and tuning machine capstan heights, but generally varies between 3 and as much as 18 degrees, depending on headstock angle.

[DeepEnd]

One minor addition to Gary's excellent analysis: Over time, as the neck angle shifts, some players will lower the saddle to compensate. Eventually, there's not enough saddle sticking up to allow much of a break angle. At that point, the cure is a neck reset (expensive) or shaving the bridge to allow more saddle to protrude (cheaper but not really a proper fix plus there's a limit to how much you can shave).

[Gary Palmer]

One minor addition to Gary's excellent analysis: Over time, as the neck angle shifts, some players will lower the saddle to compensate. Eventually, there's not enough saddle sticking up to allow much of a break angle. At that point, the cure is a neck reset (expensive) or shaving the bridge to allow more saddle to protrude (cheaper but not really a proper fix plus there's a limit to how much you can shave).

+ 50,000

Shaving the bridge also tends to alter the instrument's voice.

[panhandler]

Thanks fellas, Now I understand

[riffmeister]

I have kick-ass sounding guitars with shallow and with steep break angles at the saddle. My conclusion: it's just one of many variables in the overall design.