Taylor 314ce action

[ghost1]

I recently purchased referenced Taylor and when it arrived, it seemed the action was a little high for my liking. I am familiar with the setup process and shaved the bottom of saddle to where it felt comfortable playing up the neck. I'm not sure if it's my imagination, but now it doesn't seem to have the punch (volume) it had before strings were lowered. Is this possible?

[vindibona1]

Originally Posted by ghost1

I recently purchased referenced Taylor and when it arrived, it seemed the action was a little high for my liking. I am familiar with the setup process and shaved the bottom of saddle to where it felt comfortable playing up the neck. I'm not sure if it's my imagination, but now it doesn't seem to have the punch (volume) it had before strings were lowered. Is this possible?

I do not recomment shaving an original Taylor saddle! Taylor has a calibrated shim system where the neck is removed and the neck angle adjusted to accommodate string height. By shaving the saddle you may inadvertantly limit the ability to adjust the height later on with that saddle.

Having said that, if you don't want to mess with the neck angle (which I'd leave to a technician) what I'd recommend is investing $15 in a bone saddle (from MacNichol.com) and shaving that one to the proper height, using the existing saddle as a guide, keeping the existing saddle without modification.

[ghost1]

Thanks for that information. I have already ordered and received replacement from Taylor but not finding on their website what string height on 12th was when sent from factory.

[jazzguy]

To answer your original question, yes, whenever you lower the action on any guitar - you will see a slight reduction in volume and arguably tone. This is true of any guitar. Not sure I entirely agree with the previous poster about lowering the action on your saddle. I have owned 10+ Taylor's - all with the NT neck they are referring to. It is has never been a problem. Like you I have also ordered the bone saddle from Taylor, then taken a little off the bottom. Go slow, you can always take a bit more off but you can't put it back on.

[vindibona1]

Originally Posted by jazzguy

To answer your original question, yes, whenever you lower the action on any guitar - you will see a slight reduction in volume and arguably tone. This is true of any guitar. Not sure I entirely agree with the previous poster about lowering the action on your saddle. I have owned 10+ Taylor's - all with the NT neck they are referring to. It is has never been a problem. Like you I have also ordered the bone saddle from Taylor, then taken a little off the bottom. Go slow, you can always take a bit more off but you can't put it back on.

Just for clarification, I said not to modify the ORIGINAL saddle. It's too cheap and too easy to get a replacement and experiment with that using the the original as the template from which to start in terms of saddle height. If you screw up the replacement by shaving too much off you're out only a few dollars. With the original saddle unmodified you can always take it back to where it was if the lower action doesn't work out for whatever reason. JMO

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by ghost1

Thanks for that information. I have already ordered and received replacement from Taylor but not finding on their website what string height on 12th was when sent from factory.

Taylor actually sent you shim replacements? In the past they rarely sent it directly to owners. Or did you order the saddle?

[ghost1]

I already altered original saddle by shaving it to lower the action. I'm starting from scratch with the new replacement. I'm not seeing anything on Taylor website about where they place height at twelfth fret though.

[The Old Anglo]

Take your Guitar to a Qualified Luthier before you ruin it!.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by ghost1

I already altered original saddle by shaving it to lower the action. I'm starting from scratch with the new replacement. I'm not seeing anything on Taylor website about where they place height at twelfth fret though.

Hi Ghost. One thing to consider is whether the guitar is at the proper humidity level. High humidity could be why you have high action. Here's a Taylor article on humidity that may help. I'd let the guitar acclimate at the proper level, i.e. 45% or so, before making any changes - if that's the issue.

https://www.taylorguitars.com/suppor...oms-wet-guitar

[Graham H]

Just go to a Taylor dealer, (GC) and ask if you can measure a new 314ce and make sure you set the replacement saddle at the same height as the new one in the shop. Can you handle that ??? Measure the height of the strings down at the bridge saddle and make the new saddle in the bridge to the same height.That should solve your problem if you want to restore your guitar to it's factory setting, (or close to it) Just remember none of them will be an exact match, no 2 guitars are ever exactly the same !!!
Good Luck !!!

[vindibona1]

I was going to mention it earlier but forgot...

Something to consider that I think is important when doing height adjustments etc... Make sure you set the relief first before going after saddle height.

[TBman]

When I have done setups on my guitars, the order of adjustment that I felt was best was 1. Neck relief 2. Nut slot depth 3. Saddle height.

Why?
1. If a neck has too much relief the saddle would have to be lowered excessively, killing a lot of tone in the process.

2. If the guitar is fighting you at the first fret, the nut slots are too high and sanding the saddle won't fix that.

3. See #1 and #2.

There's an interplay of all three which is written between the lines.

[vindibona1]

Originally Posted by TBman

When I have done setups on my guitars, the order of adjustment that I felt was best was 1. Neck relief 2. Nut slot depth 3. Saddle height.

Why?
1. If a neck has too much relief the saddle would have to be lowered excessively, killing a lot of tone in the process.

2. If the guitar is fighting you at the first fret, the nut slots are too high and sanding the saddle won't fix that.

3. See #1 and #2.

There's an interplay of all three which is written between the lines.

↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑THAT↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑ ↑↑↑↑↑

[NotALuth]

Originally Posted by ghost1

I'm not seeing anything on Taylor website about where they place height at twelfth fret though.

Factory specs:
Action at 12th fret
1st string = 3/64”
6th string = 5/64”

Neck relief = .009”

I wrote these down a couple of months ago after I found them. I’m certain it was from Taylor’s website but not easily found (hence I recorded them).

Hope that helps.
Clive.

[NotALuth]

Just thought I would add (you probably already appreciate this) that it is crucial when shaving a saddle to ensure the bottom is absolutely flat in both planes or it will rock/tilt and that will definitely rob the guitar of both volume and tone.

Hope you get it sorted!