software

My bass player has this really nifty Ovation Celebrity acoustic/electric guitar that she really loves, and it sounds great. She know i work on my own axes so she asked me if the action could be lowered at all.

I got the action and relief to about as good as they're going to get by manipulating the truss rod. How do I lower the action just a little bit more? Like 1/16th of an inch.

The piezo pickup element sits under the bridge saddle, so if I took the saddle out and filed down a little, making sure its flat and smooth, then put it back in, would that work?

Whaddoido?

I used to know how to fix that problem. But now I cant find the book that I learned it from. Arg.

from : localhost/this'll help.

Yeah, that's all you need to do.....but do it in small increments, reinstall, etc, so you don't shave off too much. I like to mark the side of the saddle with a pencil, so I can see how much is being sanded off. I usually use fine grit gray sandpaper, laying flat on glass, then run the bottom of the saddle over it.


Originally Posted by GearjoneserYeah, that's all you need to do.....but do it in small increments, reinstall, etc, so you don't shave off too much. I like to mark the side of the saddle with a pencil, so I can see how much is being sanded off. I usually use fine grit gray sandpaper, laying flat on glass, then run the bottom of the saddle over it.

That simple, huh?

So the bottom has to be as flat as humanly possible? What happens if it's not? what if only some sections of the bridge don't contact the piezo element? Saddle replacement time?

You´re on the riht track... file the bottommof the saddle slowls and carefully, checking often .. .remember it´s better to have the action a hint too high than to have to remake the entire saddle from scratch.

The bottom needs to be perectly flat, as Piezo elements work on pressure change, and the flat botton distributes this pressure as best possiblke without causing higher pressure on one side and lower on the other....

if the saddle cracks or breaks that´s not necessarily an issue, as the Piezo likely runs the full length of the slot... but a skewed bottom will make the axe sound like crap, acoustically and over an amp ... can cause tuning issues as well becasue the saddle os then also more likely to shift under string pressure

Think i should let a pro handle this or should I fire up the belt sander and go to town?

Nah, it's easy. Like Zerb said, you just want to do a nice clean job, so the bottom of the saddle is perfectly flat. I usually use a capo at the 1st fret, so the windings don't go haywire on the tuners when I loosen the strings. I do the same thing when changing pickups.

Next, use even pressure to sand the bottom of the saddle on sandpaper sitting on glass.

Just do a little at a time, and keep reinstalling it. When you check it in the guitar, strum the guitar like you normally play it, so you can make sure you're not getting fretbuzz. If you take your time and do it carefully, you'll have an acoustic that plays like the best Taylor you've ever picked up.

My old Ovation Custom Balladeer has factory shims under the bridge and the action is adjusted by removing a shim if I want it lower or adding a shim if I want it higher. Do the Ovation Celebritys use a differant system? Lew


Originally Posted by LewguitarMy old Ovation Custom Balladeer has factory shims under the bridge and the action is adjusted by removing a shim if I want it lower or adding a shim if I want it higher. Do the Ovation Celebritys use a differant system? Lew
We'll find out soon enough.