Martin Saddle Too Low

[DanielB]

I have a 1976 D-28 (neck set, bridge work) with a very low saddle....... the guitar is used for fingerstyle & has light guage strings.
The volume and tone have suffered because of the low saddle. My question is if I change to medium guage strings will I get back some of the lost volume and tone.
Thank you,
Dan

[Tom West]

Daniel: Not sure if you are saying the guitar has had a neck reset or needs a neck reset.Sounds like it may need one. If your saddle is low,the strings may be getting too close to the top. Check the distance between the bottom of the low e and the top at the bridge. This should be close to 1/2". Much lower and the top does not get worked to it's full potential,thus affecting both volume and tone. Medium strings should bring back some of your volume.

Tom

[DanielB]

Originally Posted by Tom West

Daniel: Not sure if you are saying the guitar has had a neck reset or needs a neck reset.Sounds like it may need one. If your saddle is low,the strings may be getting too close to the top. Check the distance between the bottom of the low e and the top at the bridge. This should be close to 1/2". Much lower and the top does not get worked to it's full potential,thus affecting both volume and tone. Medium strings should bring back some of your volume.

Tom

Tom,
The guitar has had a neck reset and bridge work by a Martin authorized luthier. The distance between the bottom of the low e and the top at the bridge is about 7/16. The guitar has never sounded the same with regards to volume and tone since the neck reset & bridge work. I just don’t know but am thinking that my request to the luthier to lower the saddle even more along with the use of light gauge strings is part of the problem (guitar used for fingerstyle).
Thanks for your help,
Dan

[JLS]

Originally Posted by DanielB

Tom,
The guitar has had a neck reset and bridge work by a Martin authorized luthier. The distance between the bottom of the low e and the top at the bridge is about 7/16. The guitar has never sounded the same with regards to volume and tone since the neck reset & bridge work. I just don’t know but am thinking that my request to the luthier to lower the saddle even more along with the use of light gauge strings is part of the problem (guitar used for fingerstyle).
Thanks for your help,
Dan

Like in the *other* thread about this: Bad reset.

Originally Posted by DanielB

...The guitar has had a neck reset and bridge work by a Martin authorized luthier...

Sadly, and from experience, that means nothing with regard to a repairman's ability to complete a complex task properly.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by Todd Yates

Sadly, and from experience, that means nothing with regard to a repairman's ability to complete a complex task properly.

And sadly apparent from this debacle.