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July 2010
Posts: 23
Location: Sandy Ut. | Here's the story: I have an Ovation 6 string acoustic that I lowered the action by filing the bottom of the saddle. It played perfect, but by doing this it messed up the electronics. (At the time I didn't know there were shims under the saddle that could be removed) Anyway, I took it to guitar center for repair & when it came back (6 weeks later), not only was the action way high, the electronics weren't working right. After tracking down the guy who did the work (Guitar Center took no responsibility, as it was a contract repair person), he agreed to fix it. Eventually (several weeks later) I got it back from him. The electronics worked & the action was OK (Not near as good as I had it)
Anyway, Now my question is: Can I file the string grooves at the top of the saddle a bit to lower the action without affecting anything or creating more problems. I do have some tiny files that will work for this.
Thank you!! |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3604
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Probably depends on the type of saddle. A "thinline", maybe. The "patented" (wide-base) type, probably not. |
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October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | I would get it set up the way YOU like it. I wouldn't notch it either way. I just had my "wear grooved" patented saddle made smooth again. Love it. |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | no notchie on saddle top...very bad.... |
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Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 2177
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Originally posted by twistedlim:
no notchie on saddle top...very bad.... Rich said it best....no notchie!
Notching your saddle can lead to string breakage, low break angle (loss of loudness) etc.
Read about it here:
http://www.frets.com/fretspages/Musician/GenSetup/StringBreakage/st...
Are there still some shims under the pick-up? |
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February 2003
Posts: 2177
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Here's some more fun reading from Frank....
http://www.frets.com/fretspages/Musician/Guitar/Setup/LowerAction/l...
http://www.frets.com/fretspages/Musician/Guitar/Setup/Saddle/saddle...
Enjoy |
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July 2010
Posts: 23
Location: Sandy Ut. | It's a thinline saddle and a cheaper Ovation or I wouldn't be asking. Korean made cc68. |
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Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Don't knock the Korean O's They may be cheaper, but they are still pretty good. |
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Joined:
July 2010
Posts: 23
Location: Sandy Ut. | "Don't knock the Korean O's They may be cheaper, but they are still pretty good."
I agree, didn't really mean to knock it, as I really like this guitar. I just want to fix it myself and not pay some dingleberry, like I did the first time. I just want it to play to its potential without spending more dollarinos.. |
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Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 19
Location: NH | To help decide what to do, I would measure the actual string height at the 12th fret, and with the ruler in place, press the string down until I liked the string height I saw. Measure it and you now know how far it has to be lowered for you to like the action. Now take that measurement and double it. That is how much you will need to lower the saddle by. Mark (light Pencil) the saddle and then take a look at how much of the saddle will be left above the bridge. Not much saddle left, you probably don't want to do it.
Another way of looking at it is to measure how much lower you think the saddle could go. You only get 1/2 of that amount at the 12th fret. Will that make enough of a difference in the action for you to be happy?
Good luck
Ken |
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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | If you took it to Guitar Centre for repair, then your contract was with them. They should have sorted it out. Who they conracteed the work to is their business. What you describe is very poor customer service. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I Agree. |
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Joined:
July 2010
Posts: 23
Location: Sandy Ut. | "If you took it to Guitar Centre for repair, then your contract was with them. They should have sorted it out. Who they conracteed the work to is their business. What you describe is very poor customer service."
Yes it was poor.. Long story: I talked to their repair person about it before I brought it in. I brought in in when he was scheduled to be there, but he never showed up for the hour I waited. I checked it in for repair and told the person what I needed. Well, he just wrote down "Replace Bridge". When a different repair person called (6 weeks later)to ask about it, I told him the story again. By the time it was done, Guitar Center had phased out contract repair and these repair guys no longer worked for them. I said, this action is way too high. I wanted it the way it was (which I originally told everyone) with the electronics working. So the guy said It's probably set up to manufacturers specs and all it says here on the repair order is "Replace Bridge", so he told me I would need to take it up with the repair person who no longer worked for them. Geeez. It was frustrating... :( |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by Stringmeister:
and not pay some dingleberry Hey! If everyone felt that way we'd have NO federal government! |
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Saddle notching for the strings
