Acoustic/Lowered Saddle/Tone Change?

Chauncey Gardner · 08-09-2020 6:31pm #1

Hi all

I did a bit of DIY sanding on the saddle of a 6 string, it had plenty spare in it and the action is still high enough ie: the strings aren't kissing the fret board.

But, there now seems to be a tone change, the lower bass response seems to have diminished?

Is that possible?

feylya · 08-09-2020 10:25pm

Yup, very possible. Higher action, in general, leads to a fuller tone. https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/does-string-height-affect-guitar-tone/#:~:text=The%20%E2%80%9Caction%E2%80%9D%20of%20your%20guitar,resonance%20than%20a%20lower%20action.

martinedwards · 08-09-2020 10:25pm

Of course. Basic Physics.

an acoustic instrument has a whole raft of variables going on.

Chauncey Gardner · 08-09-2020 10:57pm

Indeed, thanks for the link. I'll test out a few saddle heights. The drop in action isn't worth the loss of tone.

martinedwards · 09-09-2020 12:13pm

use a slither of credit cards as a shim.

Chauncey Gardner · 10-09-2020 12:46am

martinedwards wrote: »

use a slither of credit cards as a shim.

Nice one Martin, AND I've been looking for a good reason to cut up the other halfs credit cards : )

martinedwards · 10-09-2020 11:26am

LOL, that's brutal........

I have a stack of old cards...... Amazon gift cards, Tesco clubcards, AA membership...... loads. they never get binned!

Chauncey Gardner · 10-09-2020 11:12pm

Put a shim in, got the old sound back, a lesson learned.

Acoustic/Lowered Saddle/Tone Change?

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