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Old 09-24-2018, 04:01 PM
silverspear silverspear is offline
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Default What do you use to pull up a tight saddle?

ok, this may be a silly question.. but nevertheless I want to hear if anyone has interesting ideas on this.

Consider a guitar that came with a saddle that's very tightly fitted in the slot (which is a wonderful thing by the way)... you want to pull it out of the slot, but are wary of using pliers, as they leave a bite mark on the saddle after that.

what do you use to remove a tight saddle, without leaving a bite mark?

any rubber pliers in the market? haha..
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Old 09-24-2018, 04:12 PM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
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Try some tape on the jaws of the pliers.
A little strip of wood on either side of the saddle should work too.
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Old 09-24-2018, 04:35 PM
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Old 09-24-2018, 04:46 PM
vindibona1 vindibona1 is offline
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Tape to prevent marring and then pliers.
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Old 09-24-2018, 04:50 PM
Imbler Imbler is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silverspear View Post
ok, this may be a silly question.. but nevertheless I want to hear if anyone has interesting ideas on this.

Consider a guitar that came with a saddle that's very tightly fitted in the slot (which is a wonderful thing by the way)... you want to pull it out of the slot, but are wary of using pliers, as they leave a bite mark on the saddle after that.

what do you use to remove a tight saddle, without leaving a bite mark?

any rubber pliers in the market? haha..
I use a little pair of pliers that has smooth faces on the gripping surfaces.
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Old 09-24-2018, 04:55 PM
stringjunky stringjunky is offline
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Pincers with a bit of cloth over the saddle of suitable thickness, if necessary.
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Old 09-24-2018, 05:00 PM
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A small pair of these with some tape on them to prevent damage.

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Old 09-24-2018, 05:06 PM
silverspear silverspear is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by justonwo View Post
A small pair of these with some tape on them to prevent damage.

whoa.. aren't these cutters?
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Old 09-24-2018, 05:11 PM
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justonwo justonwo is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silverspear View Post
whoa.. aren't these cutters?
I have a very small pair. The main feature is that they grip a lot of area with that snub tip. You put some tape on there and it grabs the saddle very easily. You don't squeeze them hard. Just a little. Saddle comes right out without even a tiny mark.

Of course, if you squeeze real hard, the saddle will also come off.
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Old 09-24-2018, 05:12 PM
silverspear silverspear is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by justonwo View Post
I have a very small pair. The main feature is that they grip a lot of area with that snub tip. You put some tape on there and it grabs the saddle very easily. You don't squeeze them hard. Just a little. Saddle comes right out without even a tiny mark.

Of course, if you squeeze real hard, the saddle will also come off.
on second thoughts, yes you are right.. it does make sense to use this.. I see your point.. thanks for the tip!
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Old 09-24-2018, 05:32 PM
YamahaGuy YamahaGuy is offline
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I try to pry (alternating side to side) the far ends up slowly walking the saddle up out of the slot if the saddle doesn't stick up that high.
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Old 09-24-2018, 06:14 PM
Imbler Imbler is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silverspear View Post
ok, this may be a silly question.. but nevertheless I want to hear if anyone has interesting ideas on this.

Consider a guitar that came with a saddle that's very tightly fitted in the slot (which is a wonderful thing by the way)... you want to pull it out of the slot, but are wary of using pliers, as they leave a bite mark on the saddle after that.

what do you use to remove a tight saddle, without leaving a bite mark?

any rubber pliers in the market? haha..
I use a little pair of pliers that has smooth faces on the gripping surfaces.
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  #13  
Old 09-24-2018, 09:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silverspear View Post
ok, this may be a silly question.. but nevertheless I want to hear if anyone has interesting ideas on this.

Consider a guitar that came with a saddle that's very tightly fitted in the slot (which is a wonderful thing by the way)... you want to pull it out of the slot, but are wary of using pliers, as they leave a bite mark on the saddle after that.

what do you use to remove a tight saddle, without leaving a bite mark?

any rubber pliers in the market? haha..
Hi ss…

Is it a standard slot with closed ends, as opposed to a through saddle? Is the instrument new?

The picture is a through-saddle…which could indicate a whole other set of issues removing it…(long/through saddles are sometimes glued in)



Actually one wants to not apply too much upward force if a saddle is tightly fitted even in a standard saddle slot. Injury to a brace or the top are possible with excess force.


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Old 09-24-2018, 09:32 PM
silverspear silverspear is offline
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hi Lj, I'm referring to the typical closed end saddles.
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Old 09-24-2018, 10:42 PM
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I use a fret nipper similar to Juston’s. It only cuts if you squeeze too hard, and yes I learned that the hard way. Saddles are not that tight, ideally, but should be a finger grabbable slip fit. . . Especially if an under saddle PU is considered.
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