Ways to remove a stuck saddle?

[JohnW63]

Some time back, I dropped my D-55 off at a well know place on Sunset. I had a Bob Coloski saddle in it, but I had given him specs a tiny bit too low on the bass end. I still had the taller saddle that came with the guitar. The guy removed the new one and sanded down the original and gave it to me. I quickly found he had it way too low. It buzzed from about the 7th fret on down. Well, today I wanted to remove the saddle and re-install the Coloski one so I could e-mail him and ask him to make me a knew one a little taller. I can not get the installed saddle out. I've even tried needle nosed Vise Grips. It won't budge. What the hell! Do people glue these things in? If it was a friction fit it should have wiggled out with the Vise Grips. What do I try next?

 

[cupric]

Is your guitar humidified? If so let it dry a bit and try. It shouldn't be glued.

 

[JohnW63]

I try to keep it humidified, but it's always rather dry here. Averages in the teens and low 20s RH. Today, it's 38%

 

[JohnW63]

Would a careful use of a hair drier be helpful?

 

[jfilm]

Would a careful use of a hair drier be helpful?

I had this same problem with a guitar a while back- the bone saddle was shaved so low there was not enough material sticking out to grab with pliers, and it was stuck in there and not budging. The action was fine so I ended up just leaving it that way, and later parted ways with the guitar. Hopefully someone with experience will chime in here, but I'm curious as to the solution. I think one thing to do is carefully drill a small hole in the saddle so you can get a tool in there to lift it out. Of course this destroys the saddle.

 

[Guildedagain]

Superchill the saddle?

I like to make em short on the ends and grind a tiny bevel under the bass corner to get a tool under it, jeweler's screwdriver, and pry it up.

 

[cupric]

Would a careful use of a hair drier be helpful?

It sounds like it might. I know that the smallest increase in moisture can cause the wood to swell. I'm in Arizona so out environment is similar.

 

[SFIV1967]

In the worst case that the bone saddle would be glued in (which nobody in his mind would ever do) only a soldering iron will help to heat the saddle and get it out. (won't work if the saddle is made from plastic...).
Ralf