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  #16  
Old 10-02-2020, 12:52 PM
redir redir is offline
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Wow! What beautiful scenery.

You might be able to make a scraper out of a hacksaw blade or somehting too. Try to get creative.
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  #17  
Old 10-02-2020, 03:09 PM
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Bruce Sexauer Bruce Sexauer is offline
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Two things.

1, I read the thread w/o noticing that the saddle itself was not sufficiently down in the slot that it failed to be supported. If it is indeed well supported, then the bridge is likely able to be shaved a mm without overly weakening that support, especially since the saddle too will be less tall. There should be no,need to deepen the slot, lower the bridge surface and shorten the saddle.

2, If the slot does become to shallow to support the saddle, it is a $50 job In my shop to deepen the slot. This is a job for a guitar tech who owns the right tools.
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  #18  
Old 10-02-2020, 04:07 PM
Robin, Wales Robin, Wales is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer View Post
Two things.

1, I read the thread w/o noticing that the saddle itself was not sufficiently down in the slot that it failed to be supported. If it is indeed well supported, then the bridge is likely able to be shaved a mm without overly weakening that support, especially since the saddle too will be less tall. There should be no,need to deepen the slot, lower the bridge surface and shorten the saddle.

2, If the slot does become to shallow to support the saddle, it is a $50 job In my shop to deepen the slot. This is a job for a guitar tech who owns the right tools.
If I can get away without deepening the slot then that would be ideal. I won't know until I measure everything.. If I do need to take the slot down a mm I'm sure that with some of the ideas here I can manage the job well enough for this particular guitar.
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  #19  
Old 10-02-2020, 06:10 PM
phavriluk phavriluk is offline
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OP can find out real fast whether all he needs to do is shorten the saddle - - - shorten the saddle and find out. If a belt-and-suspenders approach is preferred, don't alter the original saddle, obtain a replacement and cut it down to what is desired. If it works, OP has a spare saddle, if it doesn't work, the original untouched saddle can be reinserted a life will go on till OP can get to a luthier to do the job.
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  #20  
Old 10-03-2020, 10:35 AM
pdx pdx is offline
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I’d suggest slotting and ramping the bridge pin holes, then put in some non-slotted bridge pins.
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  #21  
Old 10-03-2020, 11:42 AM
Robin, Wales Robin, Wales is offline
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Here's a photo of the bridge and saddle I've just taken (I've been sitting on the beach playing). I'm pretty certain I'll have to take the bridge down 1mm at a 14" radius. I have already shaved the wings of this bridge just a touch a couple of months ago because the fretboard radius is 14" but the bridge was over 20" originally.

I'll see if I really need to deepen the slot after the shaving.

Charles, I'm with you that if I can't get the bottom of the slot "perfect" I'm not going to loose sleep over it.
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I'm learning to flatpick and fingerpick guitar to accompany songs.

I've played and studied traditional noter/drone mountain dulcimer for many years. And I used to play dobro in a bluegrass band.



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  #22  
Old 10-03-2020, 05:51 PM
canyongargon canyongargon is offline
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What is the total height of the saddle itself, and how deep is the slot at present? I would think given that information any of our more knowledgeable community members could tell you if deepening the slot after shaving the bridge would be necessary.

A good rule I’ve always seen is that you want at least as much saddle below the bridge as above. Judging by your photo, there is not a lot sitting above the bridge and if the bridge hasn’t been lowered in the center (just the wings as you stated) I would be surprised if you needed to lower the slot after shaving - I’m assuming there is quite a bit of saddle below compared to above.

After all this, since I’m assuming your saddle height is going to end up roughly in the same place, I would consider doing a ramp job on the bridge to get as much break angle as possible.

Last edited by canyongargon; 10-03-2020 at 06:00 PM.
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  #23  
Old 10-04-2020, 02:28 AM
Robin, Wales Robin, Wales is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by canyongargon View Post
What is the total height of the saddle itself, and how deep is the slot at present? I would think given that information any of our more knowledgeable community members could tell you if deepening the slot after shaving the bridge would be necessary.

A good rule I’ve always seen is that you want at least as much saddle below the bridge as above. Judging by your photo, there is not a lot sitting above the bridge and if the bridge hasn’t been lowered in the center (just the wings as you stated) I would be surprised if you needed to lower the slot after shaving - I’m assuming there is quite a bit of saddle below compared to above.

After all this, since I’m assuming your saddle height is going to end up roughly in the same place, I would consider doing a ramp job on the bridge to get as much break angle as possible.
The centre of the bridge is at its original height. I will shave the bridge and ramp the peg holes to get as much break angle as possible.

Anyone know what the peg hole taper might be on a cheap Far East bridge?
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I'm learning to flatpick and fingerpick guitar to accompany songs.

I've played and studied traditional noter/drone mountain dulcimer for many years. And I used to play dobro in a bluegrass band.



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  #24  
Old 10-24-2020, 09:38 AM
Robin, Wales Robin, Wales is offline
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Finally home from my trip and found a couple of hours to work on the guitar's bridge and saddle. I didn't have to deepen the slot as there was plenty of depth to hold the saddle even after taking off 1mm from the bridge top. I scraped and sanded the bridge to lower it slightly, and cut string slots at the top of the peg holes. Then I sanded the saddle to height.

The guitar now has a nice playable action of 2.5mm to 2mm at 12th fret with plenty of break angle over the bridge.
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I've played and studied traditional noter/drone mountain dulcimer for many years. And I used to play dobro in a bluegrass band.



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