Replacing And/Or Fitting a Bridge Saddle

[BT55]

Replacing And/Or Fitting a Bridge Saddle is Easy with the Right Tools.
Fitting a Bridge Saddle takes patience to get it right. Building the tools required is a one time investment, very inexpensive, easy to do and you'll have them for all future projects. The directions are very detailed and reading them may take more time than actually following them!!

MATERIALS REQUIRED:
6.5" x 4.5" piece of 1/2" MDF
6.5" of 3/4" Corner Moulding
4 plastic membership cards (no protruding numbers or letters)
Super Glue
Drill and Drill Bit Set
2-3/4" Drywall Screws
Wood Glue (optional)
120 grit Sandpaper Sheets



BRIDGE SADDLE SANDING STATION: (Minimal Cost - StewMac $175)
A Sanding Station is required to keep the bridge saddles side and base square during sanding.
The Stations base is made of MDF and measures 6.5" x 4.5".
Mark a line about 1" off the long edge of the MDF
Mark a second line at 1 1/2" from the same edge. On this line measure 2" from the short edge and place a mark (both sides).
Mark a third line at 1 3/4" from the same edge.
Drill pilot holes into the MDF on the 1 1/2" line where you added the the 2" marks.
Drill countersinks for the screw heads.
Insert the screws from the bottom side (no lines) so that the tips protrude.
Turn the board over so that you can see your lines.
Align the moulding on the first and third lines and push the moulding down on the screws to mark where you will be drilling pilot holes.
Drill pilot holes smaller than the screws diameter.
Gluing the moulding to the base is not required but recommended. Complete by screwing through the bottom of the MDF into the moulding.
If the screw tips protrude from the moulding remove the screws and file off their tips.

BRIDGE SADDLE HOLDER: (Cost $0 - StewMac $25)
This tool will make it easy to hold the saddle during the sanding process while keeping it square to the Sanding Station.
The saddle holder is made of four unembossed membership cards super glued together.
Glue all of the outside edges, the center and about 3/8" in on the long side where you will be removing material to hold the bridge saddle.
Mark the the long side of the card sandwich with the profile of the top half of the bridge saddle leaving equal room on both ends of the card sandwich. I used an open faced rasp to remove the material.
The center of a bridge saddle is curved so complete the sanding with a round file to match the bridge saddles profile. Soften all of the edges with a razer knife.

LUTHIERS TOOLS: (eBay $7 - StewMac $26)
A String Height Guage and String Winder which you may already own (optional but highly recommended).

BRIDGE SADDLES:
Bone bridge saddles are available from Bob Colosi (the Best) or from a number of Luthier supply companies. Make sure to purchase the correct size and style for your guitar (correct length, width and compensated or non-compensated design). Be aware that some vendors on auction sites list bone bridge saddles and ship plastic.

Using these tools for the sanding process makes for fast accurate bridge saddle sanding. Just remember to remove a small amount of material at a time before reinstalling and testing the bridge saddle height. I use the manufacturers string height recommendations as a starting point. Each player has their own preferences and you can tweek the bridge height to fit their style.