Sanding Saddle Down

[LeDave]

If you had this, would you sand this down a bit further?

[Caddy]

Can’t tell the string height at the 12th fret.

[LeDave]

Originally Posted by Caddy

Can’t tell the string height at the 12th fret.

[cyberdog]

Grab a ruler. Measure the distance between the bottom of the low E string and the top of the 12th fret. If the distance is more than 3/32", yes, sand it down. (Provided the neck relief is correct)

[warfrat73]

If you want the action lower, yes. If the action is ok where it is, no.

The action does look a bit on the high side.

But action is a matter of personal preference and playing style. If you're not sure where you want it, I'd err on the side of taking it down incrementally until you find a spot that suits you.

Heavy bluegrass you might want a bit more than 3/32", but lots of people want it lower.

However much you want to lower the action at the 12th fret, you have to remove twice that amount from the saddle.

[LeDave]

Thanks guys!

[srbell]

Make sure action at the first fret and neck relief are right first.

[Brucebubs]

LeDave, picture with ruler needs to be something like this. Here I use a metric ruler on the 12th fret - so string height at 12th fret is above 2.0mm but below 2.5mm - probably 2.25mm.

[LeDave]

[redir]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

LeDave, picture with ruler needs to be something like this. Here I use a metric ruler on the 12th fret - so string height at 12th fret is above 2.0mm but below 2.5mm - probably 2.25mm.

2.5mm is pretty high. But it looks like you have enough saddle left over to lower it. If you want to attempt to do it yourself it's doable. On a dead flat sheet of 80 grit sand paper (glued to MDF or something) mark off 1mm on the bottom of the saddle and sand off to that mark. That will lower your action to 2mm at the 12th fret.

If your high e string is also 2.5mm then you want that side to be even lower. Just do the math on it. There is a halved ratio to it. So if you remove 2mm at the bridge you lower 1mm at the 12th fret.

[DickHutchings]

Numbers are the wrong way to go about it in my opinion. It all depends on how you like to play. If you are a heavy handed bluegrasser, then you'll want it higher. If you're mainly an electric guitar player you'll want it lower. The only reason to take a measurement is so you know how you like your action after your done. Then you'll know what to shoot for on this guitar if it needs to be done again.

[phavriluk]

Maybe we start by identifying the guitar. If it's a Taylor, ignore all comments and find a Taylor authorized shop to help. Guitars whose neck angle is fixed,
please ignore my interruption.

[LeDave]

My ruler came. Here is the height. 2.25 at 12 fret on E and a 1.75 on e.

[Victory Pete]

Originally Posted by LeDave

My ruler came. Here is the height. 2.25 at 12 fret on E and a 1.75 on e.

That is not too high, That is 88 thousands and I shoot for 80. You could do a little careful shaving. How about your relief? You could try to straighten the neck to get it down a little more. I keep my necks almost perfectly straight with just a hint of relief.

[LeDave]

Originally Posted by Victory Pete

That is not too high, That is 88 thousands and I shoot for 80. You could do a little careful shaving. How about your relief? You could try to straighten the neck to get it down a little more. I keep my necks almost perfectly straight with just a hint of relief.

I thought what I have now is pretty dang low, I'm not sure if I am comfortable getting it lower without messing something up. My relief might be a tad bit over-relieved. However speaking of messing with the truss rod, I guess it wouldn't hurt trying a 1/4 clockwise because I can always reverse it later on. But as far as my saddle goes, I think it's reached it's sanding limit. Thanks.