bone saddles--big difference?

rin · Post by **rin** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 8:18 pm

i've been thinking about getting something nice for the love of my life (my tacoma dr-20) and i was thinking about a bone saddle. i did a search and saw that some of you did it... what do you think now that some time has passed? does it make that much of a difference? how would you characterize the sound?

also, is it hard to do yourself? i don't have any pickups under the saddle to worry about cause i'm not that cool. but keep in mind that i'm a girl and as far as tools go, i own like a hammer and 2 screwdrivers. is this something i could do and not fuck up?

mangold · Post by **mangold** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 8:51 pm

rin wrote:i've been thinking about getting something nice for the love of my life (my tacoma dr-20) and i was thinking about a bone saddle. i did a search and saw that some of you did it... what do you think now that some time has passed? does it make that much of a difference? how would you characterize the sound?

also, is it hard to do yourself? i don't have any pickups under the saddle to worry about cause i'm not that cool. but keep in mind that i'm a girl and as far as tools go, i own like a hammer and 2 screwdrivers. is this something i could do and not fuck up?

it really does make a big sound difference... the difficulty on installation depends on a few things:
1) if you have an in saddle pickup system... give up now it will be very difficult and dangerous to your guitars well being to do it yourself... *reads rest of opening post* Oh... nevermind
3) whether or not the nut is pre-fit to your guitar. sometimes companies will offer replacements for your model... if not you'll have to make one from a blank which requires files and some time (get an extra blank) you can just model it after your current bridge so there is no need to worry about math.
2) your confidence... You need that

all you need is some thinner to get the old one off (some arent even glued in) a pair of pliers and some glue to stick it back in.

good luck and keep us posted!

firedancer86 · Post by **firedancer86** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 9:09 pm

I got a bone saddle for my Taylor 814ce and it has never sounded better...a concern might be stated if there i an under-saddle pick-up, but I just took my time and made sure to match the height (by sanding) to the old tusq pre-installed one...in order to sand it evenly, tape a sheet of sandpaper to a table top and take it from there...remember, you can always take more off, but you can't add...the biggest sound difference for me came in the bass and sustain of my 814...it's not something that you are going to write home about, but there is that sound difference that perfectionist strives for...

jsgksu · Post by **jsgksu** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 9:53 pm

I have a Taylor 410ce Limited with the ES system, should I be concerned with installing the bone saddle I just bought (havent sanded yet) or is that not a worry? I dont know if I have an under saddle pickup or what to even worry about, but just thought Id ask.

firedancer86 · Post by **firedancer86** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:00 pm

my 814ce has the ES sysetem...hasn't created the slightest problem...the only concern would be that it wouldn't transfer sound to the peizzo pick-up as far as I know, but the ES is in a different ball-park...I wouldn't wory about it just because I have already done it...

mangold · Post by **mangold** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:00 pm

jsgksu wrote:I have a Taylor 410ce Limited with the ES system, should I be concerned with installing the bone saddle I just bought (havent sanded yet) or is that not a worry? I dont know if I have an under saddle pickup or what to even worry about, but just thought Id ask.

i believe the es includes an undersaddle
that should worry you

kcw · Post by **kcw** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:05 pm

My saddle slides right out when you take the strings off. In fact every guitar i own is that way. Its very easy at least on mine to replace them.

jsgksu · Post by **jsgksu** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:06 pm

praisedave wrote:
jsgksu wrote:I have a Taylor 410ce Limited with the ES system, should I be concerned with installing the bone saddle I just bought (havent sanded yet) or is that not a worry? I dont know if I have an under saddle pickup or what to even worry about, but just thought Id ask.
i believe the es includes an undersaddle
that should worry you

why, cant I just take out the saddle, make the other one the same size then put the new one in? What exactly do I have to worry about?

mangold · Post by **mangold** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:08 pm

jsgksu wrote:
praisedave wrote:
jsgksu wrote:I have a Taylor 410ce Limited with the ES system, should I be concerned with installing the bone saddle I just bought (havent sanded yet) or is that not a worry? I dont know if I have an under saddle pickup or what to even worry about, but just thought Id ask.
i believe the es includes an undersaddle
that should worry you
why, cant I just take out the saddle, make the other one the same size then put the new one in? What exactly do I have to worry about?

glue thinner can ruin pickups
often the pickups are attatched to the saddle not the bridge
and if not done PERFECTLY you can get alot of interference and fuzz

mangold · Post by **mangold** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:08 pm

kcw wrote:My saddle slides right out when you take the strings off. In fact every guitar i own is that way. Its very easy at least on mine to replace them.

some are like that, but i have worked with glued ones

DT · Post by DT » Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:08 pm

jsgksu wrote:
praisedave wrote:
jsgksu wrote:I have a Taylor 410ce Limited with the ES system, should I be concerned with installing the bone saddle I just bought (havent sanded yet) or is that not a worry? I dont know if I have an under saddle pickup or what to even worry about, but just thought Id ask.
i believe the es includes an undersaddle
that should worry you
why, cant I just take out the saddle, make the other one the same size then put the new one in? What exactly do I have to worry about?

thats all i did, it took a good deal of sanding to get the precise curve down but it worked out ok. Actually, the new saddle is a tad bit thicker than the old one, and somehow I have it in there so tight that theres pretty much no chance of it ever coming out. Doesnt really matter to me, it sounds better and the guitar is cheap anyways.

jsgksu · Post by **jsgksu** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:10 pm

praisedave wrote:
jsgksu wrote:
praisedave wrote:
jsgksu wrote:I have a Taylor 410ce Limited with the ES system, should I be concerned with installing the bone saddle I just bought (havent sanded yet) or is that not a worry? I dont know if I have an under saddle pickup or what to even worry about, but just thought Id ask.
i believe the es includes an undersaddle
that should worry you
why, cant I just take out the saddle, make the other one the same size then put the new one in? What exactly do I have to worry about?
glue thinner can ruin pickups
often the pickups are attatched to the saddle not the bridge
and if not done PERFECTLY you can get alot of interference and fuzz

glue thinner? where would that come from? I know people on the boards have replaced the saddles on their taylors, I dont know if they had an es system though, how would i know if its attached to the pickup?

mangold · Post by **mangold** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:13 pm

jsgksu wrote:
praisedave wrote:
jsgksu wrote:
praisedave wrote:
jsgksu wrote:I have a Taylor 410ce Limited with the ES system, should I be concerned with installing the bone saddle I just bought (havent sanded yet) or is that not a worry? I dont know if I have an under saddle pickup or what to even worry about, but just thought Id ask.
i believe the es includes an undersaddle
that should worry you
why, cant I just take out the saddle, make the other one the same size then put the new one in? What exactly do I have to worry about?
glue thinner can ruin pickups
often the pickups are attatched to the saddle not the bridge
and if not done PERFECTLY you can get alot of interference and fuzz
glue thinner? where would that come from? I know people on the boards have replaced the saddles on their taylors, I dont know if they had an es system though, how would i know if its attached to the pickup?

its not called glue thinner... i cant remember what its called right now.... you'll know if when you take your bridge off the pickup is stuck to the bottom of it. (i have only heard about this not experienced it)

solvent! glue solvent thats what its called!

thedirte · Post by **thedirte** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:46 pm

Solvent, derived from dissolve, you are correct.

i-am-me · Post by **i-am-me** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 3:46 pm

well i think i'm gonna go ahead and do this...but i'm too afraid to do it myself. i coudln't live with myself if i ruined my guitar. lol.

is 50 bucks too much to ask for a bone saddle installation?

DMBTabs.com

bone saddles--big difference?

bone saddles--big difference?

Re: bone saddles--big difference?