Help with Glued in Saddle

[E-OM]

I just got a nice used guitar today. I usually go over them completely taking care of all needed maintenance and upkeep. I had noticed the saddle was not original and after removing the strings I discovered someone had glued it in.

I have tried running an exacto blade down the sides but it still will not budge.

Would putting some acetone on it loosen the glue?

Just looking for suggestions.

Thanks, Bob

[Jazz77]

Hi,

This issue comes up a bit on the UMGF. I follow the post because I have a D28 guitar with a glued in saddle. Brian Kimsey has contributed a number of incredibly helpful videos on that forum.

http://www.bryankimsey.com/saddlepull/

Good luck
Greg

[E-OM]

Thanks, Greg... I will check them out.

[redir]

You will have to use heat to do that. I use a clever method that Dan Erlewine wrote about back in the day. Drill several evenly spaced holes through the top of the saddle to the bottom of the slot just where it hits the ebony or rosewood bottom, best you can. You have to flatten the top of the saddle with a sanding stick first. Then fill each hole with water and take the tip of a pointy soldering iron and heat up each hole and try to steam it loose. Using micro-chisels you can destructively remove it.

But first... Why do you want to remove it? If it's to lower the action then you can do that from the top without removing it.

[E-OM]

Thks redir... I got it off... bob

[JayBee1404]

Is the saddle a short drop-in or a long ‘cut-through style’ saddle? If the latter, the height should be adjusted by removing material from the top and then re-shaping the crown. If you remove material from the bottom of a ‘cut-through style’ saddle, the shoulders will no longer match the downwards curve of the bridge.

In the case of a glued-in short saddle, removing material from the top is also the easiest way to adjust its height.

As always, the standard disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.

[E-OM]

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

Is the saddle a short drop-in or a long ‘cut-through style’ saddle? If the latter, the height should be adjusted by removing material from the top and then re-shaping the crown. If you remove material from the bottom of a ‘cut-through style’ saddle, the shoulders will no longer match the downwards curve of the bridge.

In the case of a glued-in short saddle, removing material from the top is also the easiest way to adjust its height.

As always, the standard disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.

It is a cut through... if I need to lower it I will do the top.... thks.. bob