The channels sound like a good idea, hopefully string on timber wont reduce the life of the strings

I wound the saddles forward to the point that the screw was flush with the end of the saddle as you can see here

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Two of the saddles come forward far enough that from the edge of the saddle to the middle of the 12th fret is 330mm

The shorter saddle to the middle of the 12th is 325mm

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I have no idea what any of this means of course, but I trust that you do!

Cheers