Originally Posted by oldgitplayer (Post 5560142)

I have an Aria acoustic that I bought in 1968. It became pretty road worn in its day and I have recently removed the scratch plate (which was very ugly), bridge & saddle, nut and tuners to refinish the woodwork.



I have replaced the plastic nut with a bone nut and replaced the tuners. I bought a replacement rosewood bridge with compensated bone saddle, but am now uncertain whether or not I should proceed.



The original bridge and adjustable saddle are rosewood. They are the same as an early Gibson bridge. Obviously the early Japanese guitar makers knew what they were doing and the guitar has a particular tone of its own. I have however forgotten what it sounds like as it has been in in dry dock for about 4 years now and I currently play a D28.



It was a cheap guitar originally with plywood back and sides, but it has sentimental value, so that's why I'm working on it (and learning a few skills as I go).



Does anyone have experience with these old adjustable rosewood saddles? The question is: Should I keep it or replace it with the new rosewood bridge with bone saddle?



Any help would be appreciated.

Originally Posted by oldgitplayer (Post 5560203)

Thanks for the feedback - I was travelling in the right direction but needed a nudge or two. New bridge and saddle it shall be.

Originally Posted by charles Tauber (Post 5560214)

.....Alternatively, as 1neeto suggested, just have an over-thickness saddle made to fill the adjustable saddle slot.......

Originally Posted by oldgitplayer (Post 5560428)

So I already took off the bridge some time back and having now re-examined the parts and listened to wise counsel, I think I'll use the new bridge and saddle rather than mess with the old.

Thanks for the help.

Originally Posted by charles Tauber (Post 5560473)

For the last several decades I’ve used two 3/16” x 3” bolts with washers and wing nuts to clamp bridges. I don’t use clamps. Just another option.

Originally Posted by 1neeto (Post 5560482)

Make sure the repairs are worth it. After seeing the tech today he noticed a few things that escaped me when I first checked the guitar. The bridge is lifting a bit from the top, and the work to make the saddle fit will be a bit more extensive than he expected. So he recommends to completely remove the bridge and re-glue it, but he said that removing the bridge could reveal other surprises. He estimated $125 at the very least depending on what he runs into, so i decided to not run the risk of a costly repair when the guitar is playable and sounds good already. I can always sell it for what I paid for and get something better.

Originally Posted by oldgitplayer (Post 5560489)

I'm 70 years of age and this guitar has been with me for 50 years now. It has seen gigs, concerts, parties, coffee bars, recording studios, and seranaded some impudent beauties in its time. So it deserves a new lease on life...:)