Saddle height

[Kevin in California]

Here is one for you all.
How do you determine your STARTING height for the saddle, knowing that you will want to bring it down some adjust the action.
Thanks.

Kevin

[ken cierp]

Standard saddle blanks are 3/8" -- start from there then follow this guide-line

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/saddle.html

[TonyinNYC]

I used a big blank on the last guitar. It was from Stew Mac and it started it's life (after removal from the cow) at 4"x.5"x.25".
I know that the target number for string height at the saddle on Martin's is about half an inch, so once my bridge was glued on, I stuck the blank (now quite a bit smaller in all dimensions, but I am using a slot width of .140") and measured to a height of .5" above the soundboard. I then marked a line and cut the saddle to be just slightly taller than my line. I wound up having to adjust my neck angle to get to a string height of about .50" above the soundboard at the saddle, but I think it makes a difference in the final product.
What was the question again?
Oh yeah...Ken's answer is better.

[Kevin in California]

I've figured my saddle above the bridge will be at about 3/16" when the action is set so I'll start a little above that and then bring it down as necessary.
I like to use a shim on top of the 12th fret of 6/64th, lay a ruler down and measure the height at the saddle slot. This would be close, but a little high.
Sound about right?

Kevin

[ken cierp]

That would be about .020" or so high -- your logic seems sound.