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#1
02-21-2023, 05:08 PM
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Sable Factory Action Heights?
Got my new-to-me 2022 MchPherson Sable a few days ago.
It has the low saddle in it, but not the factory strings. Prior owner said he installed the factory gauge strings, but I can't verify that. With the "low" saddle installed, I am measuring a little over 2mm on the high E and right at 3mm on the low E (my gauge only goes in 1/2 mm measurements), both at the 12th fret. That doesn't seem very low to me. Unless the saddles are mismarked, as the one in the package says Med and still had glue holding it to the card. Could fellow owners verify what action heights y'all have on your Sables? Thanks! 
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#2
02-21-2023, 05:46 PM
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I don’t have a Sable, but that’s crazy low. I guess if you want to lower you could sand the lower saddle even more. However,I would be concerned too much farther, and you start getting buzzing- even on a dead nuts CF guitar.
__________________
Don't chase tone. Make tone.
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#3
02-21-2023, 05:55 PM
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Quote:
It may just be that these strings are substantially heavier and thus feels very "stiff" to me. I just mainly wanted to see what other Sable owners action heights are for a reference point.
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#4
02-21-2023, 06:17 PM
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The action on an acoustic guitar should be higher than an electric. That low saddle is perfect for players with a soft touch (which I am).
Personally I prefer the bass side a little lower even. I have currently set up my Rainsong with 2 mm at the high E and 2.5 mm at the low E. Before this I had the factory saddle sanded down to 1.5 -2.5 mm but I got tired of that high E buzzing higher up on the neck. And so I started over with a new saddle. As long as I stayed within the cowboy chord region it was fine though.
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#5
02-21-2023, 08:06 PM
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The Sable is able to handle very low string height, you may want to order another saddle to play with, seems like it was around $12 from McPherson. If you have no plans to plug in, there's a rubber gasket under the saddle that you can remove too that will take it lower. It's there to balance out the UST pickup. I haven't measured mine, but if I take it any lower the 1st string will hit the bridge. It plays fantastic. Great guitar, congrats !!
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John
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#7
02-22-2023, 01:15 AM
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Quote:
And I thought I had low action on my guitars  Hey that Breedlove is a cool guitar, my first nice instrument! I like that it isn’t full laminate but has a solid back. I’m sure you will dial the Sable in right where you want it. I think the Sable is the best sounding CF guitar I’ve played, a bit compressed for its size, but refined and balanced. Maybe you can find a low tension set you like that give you big projection. DR Rares are some of the loudest I’ve encountered.
__________________
Don't chase tone. Make tone.
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#8
02-22-2023, 09:03 AM
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Following Steelvibes mention of strings, I've tried probably 7 or 8 different strings and always end up back with the Elixir Nano HD Lights. Not that I'm a big Elixir fan, that's just what works best for me on that guitar.
__________________
John
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#9
02-25-2023, 01:49 PM
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My 2022 Sable measures 2mm on the high E and 2.5mm on the low E, factory 13 gauge strings still on it. I'd agree that 13s always feel a bit stiff for me. Looking for forward to trying 12 gauge (considered "light") on it at some point.
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#10
03-08-2023, 02:26 PM
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Quote:
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#11
03-08-2023, 02:29 PM
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Sable Factory Action Heights?
Quote:
And that is exactly how I interpreted it (OP even mentioned at the 12th fret). What part of my response adds confusion? That is very low action.
__________________
Don't chase tone. Make tone.
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#12
03-08-2023, 02:57 PM
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On my Sable, I've set it up myself to 0.100" on the low E, 0.080" on the high E. I had to shim the "medium" saddle slightly to accomplish this, but it didn't have any perceptible impact on tone or volume. My recollection was that, before shimming, the low E was closer to 0.090".
I also slightly adjusted (lowered) the nut slots. It's been a while so I can't remember if it was all or just some. I have found that getting the nut slots to the right spec makes a big difference in both playability and intonation. Not sure why but the standard industry practice seems to be ship guitars from the factory with nut sluts that are a little too high. I've seen the same thing on a variety of other guitars I've bought including ones with higher price points. Wishing the industry would wise up about this and get the nut slots right. There is no truss rod adjustment on the Sable of course so relief is as set at the factory during the build. I'm happy with the factory setting. With these measurements, I use medium-gage strings. The action at the nut feels fine, first position barred F chord no problem, but I also still get the tension I want to feel under my flatpick. Caveat -- I'm a rhythm-and-simple melody break flatpicker, not a finger stylist. Lots of cowboy chords, and when I do play far up the neck, it's almost always involving a capo. So I place more value on volume-before-fretting-out than super-low-slinkiness-at-the-12th-fret.
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#13
03-08-2023, 05:09 PM
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Quote:
Last edited by 55tele; 03-08-2023 at 06:25 PM.
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