Low Action Coming out of New Hartford?

[jciampa]

Hi all,

Was it typical for some of the NH models to be shipped from the factory with low saddles and/or action? I feel like I've read this somewhere before, but I'm not certain.

Photos below of the 2012 D-40 BJ I recently picked up. You can see how the saddle is on the low side - especially on the low E string, where it's barely above the slot. Overall action is also on the low side at 1.5/1.6mm base side and 1.1 treble.

Playability is comfortable for me, if a smidge low. A little buzzing only if I find myself either picking the treble strings hard or strumming aggressively.

I'd rather avoid getting a new saddle made, as this one is the original bone and otherwise beautifully shaped. I do wonder if perhaps the original owner just sanded it down a bit too much to lower things. Intonation is excellent.

Oh, and I'm using Martin "bluegrass" strings, which are light on the trebles and medium on the bass (12-16-25-35-45-56). Perhaps a switch to medium would help, along with a little change in the weather once spring arrives (I'm in New England).

Thanks,
John

 

[davenumber2]

You can buy shim kits from Www.guitarsaddles.com for about $15 if you want to keep the original saddle but raise it up a little.

 

[davismanLV]

You can buy shim kits from Www.guitarsaddles.com for about $15 if you want to keep the original saddle but raise it up a little.

That was my thought. I can't tell if the action looks high because the photos are so close up, or what. I guess I'd have to play it.

 

[chazmo]

The answer is yes, jciampa.

For some reason, the guy(s) in final assembly did this quite a bit.

Of course, it all depends on how the guitar plays for you. If you want to make adjustments, go for it.

 

[West R Lee]

Well jc, different strokes for different folks, but I think my preference would be a replacement saddle a tad taller if you want higher action. There are folks like Bob Colosi that will do that for you and it's not too pricey. One of our members just did a great thread on saddle seating, and degradation of transmission via imperfections under the saddle, and personally, I think a taller saddle would be preferable to a shim. Just a thought, though a shim would be the cheapest and fastest fix.

West

 

[hearth_man]

At 1.1mm on the treble side of an acoustic you would need a light touch for that not to buzz.

 

[jedzep]

Try a non-compensated saddle, dropping the 1st string less severely.

 

[jciampa]

Thanks, all. Lots of good advice.

I may go with a shim to start. Seems like Mr. Colosi is a strong advocate of this method. Some even claim that a properly intalled shim can improve tone!

If my math is correct, a single shim should raise the action at the 12th fret about 1mm. That may be a tad more than I'm looking for, but I can sand accordingly.

 

[jedzep]

Tricky job, though. Your shim would have to be beveled so as not to prevent full saddle contact.

 

[jciampa]

Try a non-compensated saddle, dropping the 1st string less severely.

Another good thought. Whereas a shim will raise all strings equally, I like the idea of raising that bottom string a bit higher relative to the others. I've had good success with non-compensated saddles. My '81 D-25 still has its original and tuning is extremely stable.

 

[jedzep]

I usually dump my comp saddles and make one to my preferences from bone, with a slightly rounded, polished crown.

 

[HeyMikey]

I have and use some of Bob’s hardwood shims occasionally, mostly for seasonal changes. For a permanent change I would just make or have someone make a new bone saddle. It’s cheap and easy, and may convey the sound better than a shim.

If you have a local luthier do it then have them do a basic setup at the same time, which should do wonders for playability beyond what just a new saddle will do.

 

[davenumber2]

However much you want to raise the 12th fret action, you need to add double that measurement at the saddle.

 

[plaidseason]

Thanks, all. Lots of good advice.

I may go with a shim to start. Seems like Mr. Colosi is a strong advocate of this method. Some even claim that a properly intalled shim can improve tone!

If my math is correct, a single shim should raise the action at the 12th fret about 1mm. That may be a tad more than I'm looking for, but I can sand accordingly.

I was going to say exactly this: "Some even claim that a properly installed shim can improve tone!"

I had the saddle on my Oxnard M240 shimmed and that's exactly what happened.

 

[jedzep]

Well...that could be dumb luck, unpredictable. I recently changed out the nut on my Martin 018 12 fretter to get a hair more spacing and got an amazing uptick in tone. All the experts said impossible to get that improvement from such a mod, but there it is.

Apologies for the Martin porn.

 

[davenumber2]

I've shimmed plenty of saddles both temporarily and permanently using a variety of materials and have never noticed much difference in tone.

 

[chazmo]

@jedzep what is that contraption that you've got attached at the headstock?

 

[jedzep]

Hah! Just my Paige capo, resting the comparison nut there for illustrative purposes. They store there comfortably, though, for easy access.

 

[Rayk]

The answer is yes, jciampa.

For some reason, the guy(s) in final assembly did this quite a bit.

Of course, it all depends on how the guitar plays for you. If you want to make adjustments, go for it.

I’ve seen similar saddles on NH Guitars .
Also I’d rather have a new saddle then shims lol

Linkage if need be , https://www.guitarsaddles.com/

Bob is a great guy !

 

[davenumber2]

Nothing wrong with a shim, especially if you use a well shaped hardwood like Bob sells.