1965 Guild D44 lowering action options? (Johnny Darrell guitar?)

[Alalush]

Hi everyone,

I have this beautiful 1965 Guild D44 guitar and would like to lower the current action which is too high. I am in doubt what the best options are but here is what I planned to do. The guitar already had a neck reset in the past (visible because of the shim under the fingerboard extension). I might take the bridge off and shave it about 1mm... This would make the action perfect in my opinion. But there might be alternative options such as lowering the saddle (although not many saddle left). Any thoughts?
PS: on the back of the guitar inside there is a name written: Johnny Darrell... I wonder if this was ever his guitar.

Measurements bridge:

Bridge height (measured right before the saddle)= 9,37 mm or 0,369"
Bridge + saddle height (measured in the middle)= 13,95 mm or 0,549"
Bridge wings height = 3,30 mm or 0,130"

Action

1ste fret
low E= 0,50 mm or 0,020"
high E= 0,60 mm or 0,023"

12th fret
low E= 3,17 mm or 0,124"
high E= 2,53 mm or 0,100"

Photographs

[warfrat73]

Looks like a fair amount of saddle left to me, should be able to take it down a fair bit.

If you need to get it lower than that will allow, you can shave a bit off the top of that bridge, though you'll lose some of those contours. Looking at the shot from the side, that saddle slot looks really shallow, you might have to deepen it if you take this route.

Taking off the bridge and removing a bit of material from the bottom (it seems plenty thick) would certainly be possible too, if a bit more work.

[Fathand]

Looks like you could take a 1/16" off that saddle easily. I've shaved 2 bridges, no need to remove them. A small block or finger plane and or 80 grit sand paper will do it., then smooth and polish it.

Interesting, Johnny Darrell, the first to record the Green Green Grass of Home, according to Wikipedia, I just read that yesterday. Apparently, he had a habit of being the first to record songs that others later made famous. Of course it might just be an autograph but it would be interesting to look for pics of him with that guitar. It looks like his signature.

[Will B.]

I don't have an opinion on the saddle height but trust your measurements. The shim under the extension is stock Guild. I have a couple mid '60s D40s and have seen many more and they all had the shim. It would be a shame to alter the bridge especially from the top.
Best of luck in whatever you choose.

[Alalush]

Originally Posted by Will B.

I don't have an opinion on the saddle height but trust your measurements. The shim under the extension is stock Guild. I have a couple mid '60s D40s and have seen many more and they all had the shim. It would be a shame to alter the bridge especially from the top.
Best of luck in whatever you choose.

Thanks that shim makes sense (there isn't an angle so probably no neck reset has been done in the past). Didn't know they did in factory wise, thanks.

Will probably take the bridge of and lower it from the bottom 1mm tops, then the top remains the same shape etc.