Would this stop you from buying

I don't always trust someone else's work

if the neck is straight, it wouldn't hold me back

 

Not a deal breaker for me. I agree with @albala in not trusting someone else's work, I'd check the intonation on the low e myself. If it's sharp at the 12th fret, you know you're going to have some work to do, which would factor into price negotiations.

I imagine shorter saddles would be the easiest fix. Or a shim the neck a little outward in the pocket.

If the intonation is good, don't worry about it. Just don't use a heavier E string.

 

Is that a genuine Fender Strat — neck and body? If so, then perhaps the "luthier" who did that setup needs an adjustment!

Otherwise, if the neck or body are not genuine Fender stuff, then it might be that either the scale of the neck, the neck mounting holes, or the bridge posts themselves are off.

 

If the guitar is intonated properly (as it sits right now), and you have no plans to use a much different gauge of strings, it is fine.

Really, once the guitar is intonated, it really doesn't need to be messed with ever again (unless you change guage or the neck radically bows).

Intonation adjustments are more a matter of personal touch than an exact science. If i press harder on a string than the next player, the intonation would be off for one of us.

Personally , I think we guitarists are a little bit ocd on the subject , and it is usually just fine the way it is .

Think of the poor tele players with the original type of bridge! How do they manage? Just fine. They manage just fine.

So long as the twelfth fret is the middle of the string, it's good to go.

 

Need to see the whole thing really.
Can't really make judgement just based on that one pic, I think
and this...

 

This is a really good point. I won't pass judgment on authenticity, particularly based on only one photo that doesn't show the whole thing. I have no idea what this guitar is supposed to be, other than that it looks like a Strat type trem & pickguard. Clearly there's not room for much saddle spring on that low e. Which makes me think something is off--specifically, the neck and bridge are just almost too close together (assuming intonation IS right, of course). Saddles too long, neck pocket cut too far towards the bridge, bridge posts in the wrong place.

 

no problem. looks like ya have about 1/16 inch of travel. that's a loooong way on the E 1st..

r

 

Okay, yep. That looks like the same bridge & saddles as this one: https://reverb.com/price-guide/guide/20296-fender-strat-plus-1993-vintage-white

Notice the huge difference in saddle placement, in your pic the saddles are 4-5mm further back. If everything is genuine (and I have no real reason to think it's not) this just about has to be an issue with the neck pocket being cut too far towards the bridge, and if it needs correcting it can be addressed with a shim.

 

I have seen that countless times. If it has like 10's on it you will probably not be able to go with a lower gauge set. If it has 8's or 9's already and intonates fine than it would not stop me. On many Mex Fenders and Squier I have actually had to cut the spring to get more space, that one looks like it is cut or there is no spring. If a USA? I would have to think on it.

 

like abala said if the neck is straight and you like that guitar go for it

 

That low "E" saddle can sometimes end up being as far back as you can get it to intonate. There have been occasions where I had to remove or cut down the tension spring to get it right. So don't let that interfere with your decision.

 

Just cause they say a luthier did a set up,,,doesn't mean a luthier did a set up

Very rarely have ever had a guitar i bought that i didnt change the set up anyway
As long as its straight and good price the rest is easy

 

The bridge is probably at too high an angle, moving it towards the nut. I’ve come across this before and is simple to adjust properly.

 

Not a significant problem, I think. A longer screw or live with it. Good luck!

 

As the bridge plate wears away, the saddles will finally run out of travel.

 

if it needs more adjustment i would just remove some meat from the back of the saddle with a belt sander.