Replacing an LR Baggs LB6 with a Bone Saddle

[BillyJMusicOz]

Hi Everyone

Just wanting to take my 1975 D28 back to original. I understand that the saddle slot had to be slightly made wider to accomodate an LB6 to 1/8'. Has anyone here made this retrofit and if so can you tell me what you went through. I will have it done by a luthier (Im in Melbourne, Australia) but just want best procedure. Probably don't want to fill and recut the saddle slot, so am assuming I would need a 1/8" saddle replacement. Any recommendations?

Also re End Pin. I still have the original but left with 1/2" hole from the LB6 installation. Best way to proceed on this?

Thanks,

Bill

[jonfields45]

https://www.stewmac.com/parts-and-ha...ak-endpin.html

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by BillyJMusicOz

Hi Everyone

Just wanting to take my 1975 D28 back to original. I understand that the saddle slot had to be slightly made wider to accomodate an LB6 to 1/8'. Has anyone here made this retrofit and if so can you tell me what you went through. I will have it done by a luthier (Im in Melbourne, Australia) but just want best procedure. Probably don't want to fill and recut the saddle slot, so am assuming I would need a 1/8" saddle replacement. Any recommendations?

Also re End Pin. I still have the original but left with 1/2" hole from the LB6 installation. Best way to proceed on this?

Thanks,

Bill

Hi Bill

My Olson Dreadnought wore an LB-6 for 11 years. When I had it changed back to a bone saddle, I appreciated the extra depth when it came to compensating it for intonation. Even more I appreciated the change in the tone! I had never heard my Olson without the LB-6 (ordered it that way) and it was a striking difference in the acoustic tone. Didn't know it could sound better, and was glad when it did.

I had the LB-6 and internal mic (Baggs Duo with sound hole adjustment) replaced with a K&K Pure Mini and internal mic.

My conversion work was done by a luthier (yes he builds guitars), and it not only sounded better acoustically - which makes sense, but it also intoned more closely.

The LB-6 was a good idea (6 individual aligned sensors) but it was still very piezo-ish without the benefit of a solid preamp. The K&K dual source with a decent preamp was as big a step up in 'natural' sound electronically as swapping out the saddle was acoustically.

Hope this adds to the discussion…

[BillyJMusicOz]

Thanks Larry - much appreciated. So your new saddle was cut from scratch to be wider and deeper?
Cant wait to hear it minus the LB6.
Bill

[BillyJMusicOz]

Thanks Jon re the StewMac link to a NoJak Endpin. I am aware of these but seeing as this is going to be permanent, I'm hoping to get the hole plugged with some rosewood and re-drilled for the original strap pin I still have.
Bill

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by BillyJMusicOz

Thanks Larry - much appreciated. So your new saddle was cut from scratch to be wider and deeper?
Cant wait to hear it minus the LB6.
Bill

Billy

Yes, the luthier removed the LB-6 and cut the new saddle to fit the slot. It was his recommendation since I want intonation adjusted closely, and the deeper saddle gave him more room to adjust.

It also provides more contact with the bottom of the bridge. He builds his guitars with deeper saddles, and the results were amazing.

[BillyJMusicOz]

Thanks Larry - all makes perfect sense
Bill
www.billjacksonmusic.com