GUITAR BRIDGE SADDLE FILE
guitar strings snapping?
i have a gibson les paul and my high e was consistantly snapping at the bridge so i heard it was the saddle being sharp so i got a guy to file it down. it was ok for a while but now most strings are snapping on a constant basis as well at the bridge so i dont think that a sharp saddle is the problem. I also heard it being in need of some truss rod adjustment because of excess pressure on the saddle please help a brother out
Joe:
I’ve never heard of the truss rod adjustment having anything to do with strings breaking. The rod sets the amount of curve (bow ) in the neck. It has some effect on tone, and the ease of playing, but, to my knowledge, no effect on the likelyhood of a string snapping unless the neck is incredibly bowed. If the neck is bowed so much that you would be stretching strings a long way to pull them down onto the frets, you would have noticed this as a substantial intonation problem.long before the string problem emerged.
One thing on a Les Paul that can have an effect on string breakage however is the angle of the strings as they come back from the bridge to the tail piece. The instruments are usually shipped with the tail piece screwed all the way down. If you unscrew the two big tail piece studs a few turns, this lessens the break angle of the strings across the bridge.
Another possibility to look into is using graphite saddles on the bridge. These self lubricate, and don’t tend to “saw” at the string so much.
Rather than filing on the bridge, I would suggest getting a piece of fine grit (600 or greater) carborundum paper, folding it into a wedge, and using this to smooth the string slot. A file often leaves the very same burrs and sharp edges that can lead to breakage in the first place.
Good luck. the Les Paul is my favorite instrument.
Acoustic Guitar Setup : Acoustic Guitar Setup: File Saddle Height