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TO SHAVE OR NOT TO SHAVE
Hey people
im wondering how to get the action around the 9th to 15th frets down lower, ive adjusted the truss rod, shaved the saddle, but still its to high. SHOULD i have the bridge shaved? or does anyone have any other ideas? im getting right into laurence jubers stuff and i need a closer action, cheers brett |
#2
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Bridges are replaceable, so you really don't have anything to lose (other than perhaps a few bucks) by giving it a shot.
[edit: Oops! After reading Bill's post (below), I realized I wasn't awake yet, either--I was definitely thinking of the saddle, not the bridge!] It may be easier in the long run to put your guitar in the hands of a really good luthier/repair person who can set it up perfectly for you. Last edited by Jim Tozier; 11-18-2004 at 09:10 AM. |
#3
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Hi Brett...please clarify what you are talking about.
you state that you have shaved the saddle and now you want to shave the bridge? I must not be awake yet...or I just don't understand.
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Bill Nichols www.nicholsinlay.com www.nicholscustominlay.com www.nicholsguitars.com [email protected] |
#4
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The only reason to shave the bridge would be to maintain the string break angle as you lower the saddle even more. Is this what you're talking about?
I don't know your skills or who's doing the work, so forgive the question, but have you had a real professional look at the neck and see if it's not an issue with how it's set? You don't want to start shaving stuff only to fix the problem in one place and have the strings sitting against the frets somewhere else.
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Jake If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be heard. - Proverbs 21:13 |
#5
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Dude, take it to your local shop and get a set up. . .
Don't start 'shaving' the bridge! You should be able to get a super low action on a Taylor if you want. It will take some truss rod adjustment, along with lowering your saddle. If you are asking these questions, then you should take it to an authorized Taylor repair person and get the work done. . . Regards, DeadHead |
#6
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If the neck relief is correct (slight forward bow, almost flat) and the saddle can't be sanded down any further without losing contact with the strings, take the guitar to a qualified professional. It may be possible to effect a repair by shaving the bridge and/or ramping the string holes, but if that's not the source of trouble, it will only be a band-aid solution that could cause problems later. It might be that the guitar is too wet or too dry (I forget which raises the action), which would mean a very simple fix. OTOH, it may be that the neck angle is off, and if so, it should be reset unless the guitar is too inexpensive to warrant that kind of repair.
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Chris We all do better when we all do better. |
#7
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Hmmm, Shaving......
As far as a bridge on my guitar I'd definitly seek professional help if it went beyond shaving a few dollar saddle. Those professionals are amazing at what they can accomplish I used wake up every morning asking myself if I should shave or not..... finally, with the help of a professional I decided I'd shave a least once every week or 2.
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Happy moments! Difficult moments! Quiet moments! Painful moments! Every moment! Thankful for something bigger than the internet to express my gratitude for living "If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” ~Martin Luther King Jr. |
#8
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I dont understand how shaving the bridge would really do anything for the action unless you did one of two things (or both):
1. Removed the old bridge and replace with a shorter one or 2. Rout the saddle slot deeper so you can lower the saddle assuming that it's as low as it can go already. Just shaving off the top will accomplish nothing except make the saddle slot shallow. I think choice #1 should only be done by a qualified luthier. I'd say the same holds true for #2 for the most part, although I've toyed with the idea of routing my saddle slot deeper on my classical to lower the action. But the bridge on my classical has alot of meat on it and the string tensions are nothing as compared to a steel string.
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Scott |
#9
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Quote:
Some bridges are very thick-much thicker than is actually needed to support the saddle (ie you can thin the bridge and not risk it's splitting becasue of the strain the saddle puts on it being torqued by the strings). Thinning the bridge can 1) allow you to acheive a lower action than you otherwise might be able to without shaving it and 2) decreases the weight of the bridge-decreasing the "damping" effect of the bridge on the top of the guitar, improving the amount of energy that the strings can transfer to the top. (theoretical). I've had the bridge on one of my Martins shaved down a bit by a very very knowledgeable luthier, at the same time he ramped the bridge slots to optimize the string angle. The amount he shaved the bridge was approx. 3/128 of an inch (between 1/64 and 1/8") and not noticeable at all when looking at the guitar. The action is absolutely perfect-plays like butter and sounds wonderful. If you are thinking about having bridge work done be sure to take it to somebody who knows what they are doing. Some info on bridges and saddles from Frets.Com; http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musi.../saddle01.html
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"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke "It is in the world of slow time that truth and art are found as one" Norman Maclean, Last edited by Jeff M; 11-18-2004 at 03:09 PM. |
#10
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It's a Taylor
If the saddle is as low as it can go, you have to reset the neck. I thought that on a Taylor, it is a 5 minute operation to reset the neck. Of course, you have to go to an authorized repair shop. Isn't it part of the benefit of buying a Taylor?
Someone please correct me if I am wrong. |
#11
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Brett,
Do you have any current measurements for string height at the twelfth fret as it is now ? . Also, with a capo across the first fret and holding down the 15th fret, can you slide a credit card under the 7th fret ? This may be helpful in terms of being able to evaluate what needs to happen to get the guitar playing just the way you want it. Gary |
#12
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Quote:
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Chris We all do better when we all do better. |
#13
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Thanks. I couldn't see it but I understand now.
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#14
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I only shave bridges when they develop a five o'clock shadow.
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Wade Worry less about the guitars you want. Play the guitar you have more. The answer will come, and it will not be what you expect. A guitar is a tool, and a friend. But it is not the answer. It is the beginning. Current Guitars: Taylor 716C Modified Voyage-Air VAOM-04 CD: The Bayleys: From The Inside CDBaby Amazon Also available from iTunes |
#15
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