Removing material off the bridge

[tdq]

I'm considering purchasing a 12 string - well I'm pretty sure I want to. The action is pretty good, perhaps a smidgen too high, but the saddle is right down almost level with the bridge. Short of a neck reset, if I wanted to drop the action is it feasible to remove the bridge, shave a bit off the underside, re-glue it? I probably wouldn't at the moment as I can live with it the way it is, but if I needed to down the line is this a reasonable undertaking?

[charles Tauber]

Originally Posted by tdq

... is this a reasonable undertaking?

No.

If the bridge has sufficient thickness, one option might be to shave the top of the bridge to reduce its thickness. Another possibility might be to ramp the string holes. The feasibility of doing either will depend on the specifics of that instrument. Expect the cost of having a skilled repair person do that work to be $100 to $200.

If the guitar needs a neck reset, $400 to $500, my suggestion is don't buy it. Find one that doesn't need a neck reset.

[mirwa]

What type of 12 string, sometimes it’s just a neck issue.

with strings off, straight edge on the neck and truss rod adjusted so the neck is straight as a die, where does the straight edge come on the bridge, above,below.

I have had brand new 12 strings with warped necks, a lot of string tension happening, lots of ways to repair an instrument, the first issue is identifying where the problem is.

I see lots of issues with old 12 string matons and necks, all are fixable

Steve

[tdq]

Its an older Maton 12 string, the neck/action isn't a problem at the moment but there is no room to tweak if it becomes an issue down the track. Thanks for the info I'll take it on board.

[mirwa]

Cool, maton 12 strings I do a lot of double carbon fibre re-inforcement mods to the necks.

The tops on those are double X braced, so stiff as.

Bridge should be around 9mm thickness

Steve

[tdq]

Originally Posted by mirwa

Cool, maton 12 strings I do a lot of double carbon fibre re-inforcement mods to the necks.

The tops on those are double X braced, so stiff as.

Bridge should be around 9mm thickness

Steve

Are you in Oz by any chance? It's a Maton 425 from 1989 - not exactly mint but plays and sounds nice.

[Tony Done]

What I have seen done, but I'm certainly not advocating it on a Maton (sacrilege!) is make little troughs/scallops in the bridge in front of the saddle with a dremel. I also would also do ramps to increase string break angle, if it doesn't have them.

Maton have a good repair service, so if you are in Oz, I would be making enquiries with them. Another repairer with a top reputation is Frank Grubisa, who used to do work for Jackson's Rare Guitars.

[mirwa]

Originally Posted by tdq

Are you in Oz by any chance? It's a Maton 425 from 1989 - not exactly mint but plays and sounds nice.

Yes mate, but in Perth, I know Matons very well.

As far as major repairs, I changed a top on one last week and fitted some carbon fibre strips to another one this morning, have another that I have to do a jarrah fretboard swap on as well, so lots of Matons

Steve