Source of pre-shaped nut and saddle for GF30

davidbeinct

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Can anyone tell me where to find a pre-shaped saddle for a GF30? If I check the width of the slot with feeler gauges how much narrower than the width should I go? I assume it wants to be fairly tight.

Also for the nut do I need a flat bottom or a curved bottom?
 
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GardMan

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The standard saddle width for a Westerly-built Guild acoustic was 3/32". Prior to learning to make my own bone saddles, I used Bob Colosi's "Standard Martin Drop-in Saddles"... They are 3/32" thick, and a bit longer than a Guild saddle. The radius seemed to match that of my Guild Dreads pretty well. Bob supplies good instructions for fitting them to a Martin guitar, and they are pretty easy to adapt to a Guild with just a hobby razor saw and some sandpaper:

First, trim them to length with the razor saw, such that the compensation will be properly placed under the b (2nd) string (you trim a bit off each end, then round the end off a bit for aesthetics).

Second, sand them to fit the slot on your Guild. Bob supplies them a little thick, so you can sand them to the appropriate thickness: which is not so thick you have to force them into the slot, and they can easily be removed with your fingers, but if you flip the guitar over w/o strings, they won't fall out.

Lastly, you sand them to the proper height... either taller, the same, or shorter than your current saddle, depending on how you are trying to adjust the action. The rule here is Go Slow! Sand a bit, check the action, sand a bit more... etc. For that reason, I usually did this with old strings on, and then changed strings after I had the new saddle to the desired action.

First one I did took me a while, but after doing a few, I got to where I could install one in about 45'.

Or, if you send Bob your old saddle, he will make a copy for you (you can specify about how much taller/shorter you want it)...
 

davidbeinct

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Thanks @GardMan
I added a question about the nut. Do you know if I need a flat bottom or a curved bottom? I think I’m going to order the Martin ones precut from StewMac.
 

davenumber2

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I added a question about the nut. Do you know if I need a flat bottom or a curved bottom? I think I’m going to order the Martin ones precut from StewMac.
Be aware that there really is no drop-in, ready to go nut. You can get them pre-slotted but the slots will most likely need to be lowered for optimum playability.
 

Boneman

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Thanks @GardMan
I added a question about the nut. Do you know if I need a flat bottom or a curved bottom? I think I’m going to order the Martin ones precut from StewMac.
I’d think you need to check the bottom of the nut slot, is it radiused like the fretboard or is it flat? So buy the flat bottom one, and if it turns out you need it radiused, simply run the flat side of the new nut over sandpaper that is affixed face up in the first fret area
 
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