Big deal?

[danny.guitar]

I was changing strings today on my acoustic. I usually change one at a time but I took them all off so I could wipe down the fretboard with some lemon oil stuff.

Well, the plastic saddle/bridge piece that the strings go over fell off and 2 little wood (shims?) came out with it. I just recently got the action raised so I'm guessing that's what those are for.

I looked to see if they should go in a certain way but I couldn't tell, so I just put them back in and put the plastic piece over it.

Is there a certain way they're supposed to go in?

Just thought I'd ask before I put the new strings on.

 

[joro]

Is there a certain way they're supposed to go in?

Just thought I'd ask before I put the new strings on.

sure....


the left handed shim goes on the right side of the bridge on the top....

the right handed shim goes on the left side of the bridge on the bottom.....



















better take it back to the Luthier and find out man......

he should have made it permanent....sort of cheesey using loose shims....ya know?

 

[danny.guitar]

Not sure I understand...

They were both real thin, flat little pieces of wood. Each fit into the slot where the plastic piece goes in. (On top of each other).

I noticed that one side on each was rounded, and the other side was flat. They looked to be about the same width/size though.

 

[SoComSurfing]

Are they the same length as the saddle, or did you have the action raised slightly higher on the bass or treble side? If they're the same length, and span the entire length of the saddle route, then it really shouldn't matter. Just drop them in the slot, put the saddle back in the right way, and throw some strings on.

 

[danny.guitar]

I guess it would have been better to have them in there permanently, but I can't really complain. For $20, it fixed all the problems I was having.

Are they the same length as the saddle, or did you have the action raised slightly higher on the bass or treble side? If they're the same length, and span the entire length of the saddle route, then it really shouldn't matter. Just drop them in the slot, put the saddle back in the right way, and throw some strings on.

They seemed slightly less in width than the slot. But they were both the same length and I believe they were flat.

I think the guy raised the action on all strings because they were all buzzing and giving problems, and they don't anymore.

I'll put the new strings on and see how it works.

 

[danny.guitar]

I put the new strings on. I don't hear any difference.

 

[Light]

It depends on what needed to be raised. If (for instance) the bass side needed to go up more than the treble size, the shims may be tapered from one side to the other. If that is the case, then yes, it matters which way they go in. Which way, of course, depends on what was going on when they were put in. If they are the same thickness over the full length, then it doesn't matter.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[jaykeMURD]

The "shims" you described sound like toothpicks!

I've used some "fancy" toothpick with the one rounded end before!

 

[muttley600]

The "shims" you described sound like toothpicks!

I've used some "fancy" toothpick with the one rounded end before!

I think the rounded part is at the end of the shim rather than the section. At least it should be to echo the saddle slot. Ideally a shim should be one piece regardless of thickness or taper. Two pieces would be ok but to be really picky you want to get as much contact with the bridge as possible. This is essential if you have an under saddle transducer. I always mark shims I put in with a dot or pin hole on the bass side facing up so I know which way they go back if I ever have to remove them later.

There are some exceptions to this. It is becoming increasingly popular for some makers to cut the saddle from the bottom of the saddle to just below point where it clears the bridge between each string. This can help in balancing the strings in volume and projection. I have experimented with this and in some cases it can really help open up an instrument. But thats for another discussion.