adjusting action

timisinsane · Post by **timisinsane** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:55 pm

well i bought a Martin DM a few months ago, and i really like it, however the action is just a good bit too hight for me, bc of my small hands it makes it harder to play things. i know you're not supposed to adjust the truss rod yourself, but can you shave down the small removable bridge to lower the action youself? or should you ALWAYS have a trained person do that for you? thanks for your time

budlitebrad · Post by **budlitebrad** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:58 pm

You COULD do it yourself with sandpaper or something.....but it may come out uneven and you'd be worse off.

Carl_SWE · Post by **Carl_SWE** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 12:03 am

http://www.frets.com got a neat guide with pictures.

Better off taking it to a shop though.

Carl_SWE · Post by **Carl_SWE** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 12:04 am

However, saddles can be easily replaced. So it's really no problem if you fuck it up.

thejoe · Post by **thejoe** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 12:12 am

i just sanded down the bridge myself, but be careful

and that is one kick ass picture you have in your sig

DMBFan63 · Post by **DMBFan63** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 12:25 am

Carl_SWE wrote:However, saddles can be easily replaced. So it's really no problem if you fuck it up.

you mean bridges.. saddles are nearly impossible to replace

or is it the other way around? It's late i'm tired and confused

onid41 · Post by **onid41** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 1:23 am

yeah i sanded my bridge down myself as well...better make your you do it straight, i haven't fucked with my truss rod yet, but im goin to soon my action is getting pretty high

DMBFan63 · Post by **DMBFan63** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 1:26 am

onid41 wrote:yeah i sanded my bridge down myself as well...better make your you do it straight, i haven't fucked with my truss rod yet, but im goin to soon my action is getting pretty high

take it in for a pro setup. You can do a lot of harm if you don't know what you're doing

snapoffmode · Post by **snapoffmode** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 2:14 am

hi there,

you should take it to a pro and have it done once. the saddle could get sanded down as well as the nut. if you do it yourself, you might have intonation problems....

Carl_SWE · Post by **Carl_SWE** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 10:02 am

Saddles are the plastic things and the bridge is the treepiece mounted on the top.

And plastic is obviously cheaper than wood.

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 1:53 pm

....i thought that the saddle and bridge were the same thing?

and i would definately take it in to a professional. its not that big of a deal to have them do it so it won't cost that much and it will give you an opportunity to get to know them. As a guitar player, there is nothing better than being friends with a Luthier.