Help Needed

[skynyrd99]

I got this Fender DG-11 heavily used for free the other day but oddly enough its missing the bridge saddle. I've never really played much acoustic but am looking to get into it. Since my local shop over charges a lot on everything I'm want to try and do it myself. Any help would be really appreciated. Should I just buy one of the "Gibson-style" shaped saddles like this and if so what would have have to do with once it came?

 

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/Acoustic_bridge_saddles/White_Bone_Saddles.html

[AK47]

First you need to know which saddle it takes. I do not know myself. What you need to do is measure the slot in the bridge for length and width. Length you can get with a ruler. Width you will need calipers or a thickness gauge [auto feeler gauge].

get a pre shaped saddle so all you have to do is sand material from the [[bottom]] 'till the strings are the right highth on the fretboard. The "sticky" "is my guitar sick" by Freeman Keller has wonderfull information you should check out first. If the neck should need reset it might not be worth the effort.

If everything checks out in the ball park It will give you the measurements you need. Check for proper neck relief before sanding the saddle. You can sand material off the saddle but you can't put it back on so be careful not to sand too much. Take your time.

You might want to get a couple of cheap plastic saddles to practice on. That way when you get one right you have a master pattern to work with.

Rule of thumb--"measure twice, cut once"

"Research is a good thing."

If anyone has any other advice please jump in.

Good luck and have fun

[kwakatak]

Installing a saddle is relatively easy to do but like AK47 said you have to know what size it is so that it will fit in the slot. The rest can be solved with a little fine-grit sandpaper.

 

Normally I'd suggest checking out www.guitarsaddles.com, but a quick check shows that he doesn't sell pre-cut saddles for Fender acoustic guitars and would need a template (i.e. your guitar's saddle, which is missing) to fashion a replacement. My only other idea would be to check with www.stewmac.com (again, like AK47 has already pointed out) or www.fqms.com.

 

Given that, I'd just take it to a local tech and have him install a new saddle for you. It shouldn't cost more than $50 for parts and labor at the very most.

 

BTW, while he has it have him set it up for you too. A good luthier/tech can sometimes do wonders with inexpensive/free beaters like your Fender. I took this route with a 30 year-old Takamine beater that was a gift many years ago but had fallen into disrepair and when I got it back a week later (had more than a setup done) it was like a new guitar.

[AK47]

I agree with [kwak] that to get an experienced tech to do it would be worth it for you. If the tech starts talking neck reset the guitar is probabley not worth the cost of it. Then you coud just tune it to open tuning and learn slide. It is fun. If you decide to tackle this on your own do not continue to sand the same direction. For some reason this will take more off of one side. I could just never resist researching and tinkering. Have a tech look at it. Most techs don't charge to check it out only to do the work. Get a quote before you ok the work.

[skynyrd99]

Thanks for the advice guys. I don't think i'll take it to a tech because it really is pretty beat up and the repairs (at my shop at least) will cost more than half of what the guy who gave to it me paid for it like around $60. I think I'll just try it myself and set it up for slide and put the money towards a new acoustic.