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| saddle height and tone http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=23802 |
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| Author: | sprouseod [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | saddle height and tone |
I recently finished #4 a 14fret OOO Lutz/EIR Unfortunately after finishing I went back to fine tune the neck joint. I was careful not to change the side to side fit but never rechecked the angle before gluing (lesson # 362) After fitting and adjusting the nut and saddle the saddle height is very low. The first string barely makes it over the bridge. The action at the 12th fret is still high about 6/64 on the 6th and 4 to 5/64 on the 1st. The guitar sounds very muted almost muffled, definitely not that nice bright ring you get with new strings. I am assuming this is due to the low saddle height and my only option is to remove the neck and reset the angle? Thanks Richard |
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| Author: | Michael Dale Payne [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle height and tone |
sprouseod wrote: I recently finished #4 a 14fret OOO Lutz/EIR Unfortunately after finishing I went back to fine tune the neck joint. I was careful not to change the side to side fit but never rechecked the angle before gluing (lesson # 362) After fitting and adjusting the nut and saddle the saddle height is very low. The first string barely makes it over the bridge. The action at the 12th fret is still high about 6/64 on the 6th and 4 to 5/64 on the 1st. The guitar sounds very muted almost muffled, definitely not that nice bright ring you get with new strings. I am assuming this is due to the low saddle height and my only option is to remove the neck and reset the angle? Thanks Richard yes the lower the string there can be a precived loss of tone. The higher the stings the beter the tone but the higher the rotational load of the saddle the bridge will see and of course the higher the action. Ideally you want to end up with a saddle height of about 1/8" above the bridge and 1/2" from the bottom of the strings to the top of the cound hole on the bridge side. This sounds to me like you need eith a shorter bridge or an neck reset. |
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| Author: | Tom West [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle height and tone |
Richard: Think your heights at the 12th are not too high,and would be a bit low for me but if you set up to get the figures Michael gave you( which I agree with)I think your clearances at the 12 will be too high. It follows that you most likely need to reset the neck. May be I've read you wrong. Are the clearances in addition to normal clearances at the 12th? Michael not sure about the shorter bridge...??? Do you mean in height..? Tom. |
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| Author: | TonyKarol [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle height and tone |
How tall is the bridge ... if its 5/16 or less, then you need to reset the neck. If its taller, you can shave it down until its 5/16 to get some saddle showing, but after the guitar settles in, over time the action will rise and you will be resetting the neck anyway. sooner or later .... |
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| Author: | bluescreek [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle height and tone |
what is the height of the strings at the front of the bridge ? In a perfect set up ,you want to be about .500 to .550 inch. I like a 3/8 bridge and about .150 saddle and if I am dead .500 I will make my saddle .125 and thin the bridge accordingly. I will not let the height below .450 on a new set up. These are what I like to use for best tone and volume for my designs. |
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| Author: | sprouseod [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle height and tone |
The bridge is 5/16" tall. The height of the strings at the saddle are 7/16"at the 6th string but the height at the 1st is just over 1/4" If I run a straight edge up the fret board it hits the front of the bridge at about 1/16" below the top of the bridge So from what I have heard so far it looks like I need to remove the neck and reset the angle. This neck is a Martin single bolt on from Guitar makers connection. I glued the fret board extension down with LMI White. I did not use glue on the cheeks since the guitar was already finished ( not sure if that was the right thing to do, maybe someone can comment on that as well) I used LMI on the MT joint My new question is what's the best way to get the neck off? Can I use a house hold Iron on the fretboard extension or will the heat from the overhang damage the finish? Will I have to steam the neck off? If so what is the best way to go about this? As always thanks Richard |
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| Author: | runamuck [ Mon Sep 14, 2009 9:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle height and tone |
sprouseod wrote: The bridge is 5/16" tall. The height of the strings at the saddle are 7/16"at the 6th string but the height at the 1st is just over 1/4" If I run a straight edge up the fret board it hits the front of the bridge at about 1/16" below the top of the bridge So from what I have heard so far it looks like I need to remove the neck and reset the angle. This neck is a Martin single bolt on from Guitar makers connection. I glued the fret board extension down with LMI White. I did not use glue on the cheeks since the guitar was already finished ( not sure if that was the right thing to do, maybe someone can comment on that as well) I used LMI on the MT joint My new question is what's the best way to get the neck off? Can I use a house hold Iron on the fretboard extension or will the heat from the overhang damage the finish? Will I have to steam the neck off? If so what is the best way to go about this? As always thanks Richard If you need to remove the neck, I really feel for you. I have no advice to give because I've never removed a neck before but I've had my share of heartache making mistakes. You seem to be taking this rather well. It's like hearing one has a tumour and is in need of major surgery. Good luck, Jim |
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