Acoustic Guitar Construction

Yeah, 'skew' cut is the best way to go to avoid splitting and/or having the pin holes in line with the saddle and not in a straight horizontal line. As for cutting the saddle slot, there are options. In fact, many of the early 70's Guild guitars had a saddle slot that went right through the bridge so that the saddle actually rested on the guitar top. I imagine the idea was to have the vibrations go directly to the top and bridge-plate for better coupling(?). I have a Guild D-55 that was built like that. Same model as Tommy Smothers, but mine is a natural top.

Brent