Post by CTGull on Jun 1, 2017 7:41:43 GMT -5
REPLACEMENT VINTAGE FG SADDLES
A guitar’s saddle can need to be replaced for a few reasons:
1. It is missing.
2. Part of it is broken.
3. It is too loose in the slot.
4. It is too short.
5. It has slots worn in it. The slots can pinch the string and cause buzzing.
6. You want to change the material from plastic to bone.
7. It has a compensated saddle.
Unlike modern guitars, vintage Yamaha FG’s saddle were not compensated. The angle of the saddle slot (from the edge of the bridge) is greater than modern guitars. This is their attempt at simple compensation, and it seems to work pretty well.
MATERIAL: I make the saddles from cow bone. Original 1967 to 1976 saddles are bone, 1977 and later are plastic.
MODEL & YEAR: **You need to specify what model and year you need the saddle for. RED, TAN & BLACK label FG’s use a longer saddle than the WHITE label models.
WIDTH CHOICES: I am offering saddles in 2 thicknesses:
**.114”/.116” (average width). The saddle slot is a nominal 3mm (.118) wide, although I’ve found they tend to be a little (.002” to .005”) tighter in the middle. There’s a chance the “average width” saddle may need a slight amount of sanding if your slot is tight in one area, or it could be very slightly loose.
**.118”/.120” (slightly oversize). So you can sand it to fit. It is very important for a shallow slot to have a close fit with the saddle, otherwise the saddle will lean forward.
OR! If you have dial/digital calipers and measure your saddle/slot and it is larger than the Yamaha nominal .118”, I can make it to any number you specify (+-.001), although I would recommend making it a little larger just in case. You can sand to make it thinner, but you can’t easily make it thicker.
I make every saddle individually. They are based on vintage FG’s I have or have worked on. I also have a few bridges I’ve removed that I use to test the saddles. The width of the vintage FG saddle slot is a nominal 3mm (.118), but I have found they are typically a few thousandths tighter, most times in the middle. .115” is a good average, but sometimes a slot can be a little larger or smaller. I’ve seen .110” to .117”. There’s no way I can make a saddle for a perfect fit in your guitar without having it to measure. I use precision gage blocks to check the slot width in mine or customers guitars. Then I can get a snug fit. You want the fit to be snug, but not floppy or pressed in. Guitars with a bridge that has been sanded (to lower the action) will have a shallow saddle slot. A precise fit is then required to keep the saddle from leaning forward. If you make the fit too tight (forced in) you risk splitting the bridge.
HEIGHT CHOICES: My standard saddle height is 7/16” (.44”). More than likely you will need it to be much lower.
**I can sand it to any height (.25” minimum) for no extra cost. Add an extra 1/32” (.03”) just in case. To measure the height you’re going to need to remove the saddle. But before removing the strings and saddle, write down the action at the 12th fret. It is important for good sound transfer that the bottom of the saddle be flat and perpendicular to the sides.
LENGTH: The length of Red, Tan & Black label FG saddles are 3.28”. White label saddles are 2.89”.
PAYMENT: Saddles are $35 plus $7 for shipping (First Class with tracking) in the US, $18 to Canada (US dollars), other countries by quote. $1 additional shipping charge each per additional nuts or saddles. **PAYPAL only to YamahaVintageFG@gmail.com.
SADDLE SLOTS: I can add slots to the top of the saddle to widen the narrow Yamaha string spacing from 1.97” to 2.06” or 2.09” for $5. The length will be 1/16” less to allow you to shift the saddle left or right to center the strings on the fretboard. Although 2.09" is possible, depending how much the edge of the frets have been rounded, you may have problems with the E strings rolling off the fretboard.
***SADDLE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS***
REPLACEMENT VINTAGE FG NUTS
A guitar’s nut can need to be replaced for a few reasons:
1. Part of it is broken.
2. Some of the string slots have been worn down due years of tuning and changing strings and the strings are buzzing when playing open notes.
3. You want to change the string spacing. A wider string spacing can make playing easier, but if the strings are too close to the edge, and you bend notes, you may have problems with the strings slipping off the edge of the fretboard.
4. You want to change the nut material, although the nut doesn’t affect the guitars sound as much as the saddle.
MATERIAL: I make the nuts from cow bone. Original 1967 to 1976 nuts are urea, 1977 and later are plastic.
MODEL & YEAR: **You need to specify what model and year you need the nut for. They are .21” thick x 1.72” wide (although I’ve seen some up to 1.75”), except early 1967 nuts are .25” x 1.75” wide. If you have dial/digital calipers to measure the width of the neck I will make it to your specification, otherwise I can check my FG’s for a similar model/year.
HEIGHT: I make the nut height based on an actual FG neck, and make it slightly higher so you can sand the bottom of the nut to get the proper nut action. See the Nut Installation Instructions for more info.
STRING SPACING: **You need to specify the required string spacing. Vintage FG’s have a narrow 1.38” string spacing (center of E to E). I can make them 1.38” to 1.50” in .02” increments. I suggest 1.44” to make the guitar easier to play. Wider is possible, depending on how much the ends of the frets have been rounded. I use Constant String Gap spacing vs. Equal String spacing. Equal String spacing makes the wound strings feel closer together. Constant String Gap spacing makes the space between the strings all the same making the guitar easier to play. See the STRING SPACING CALCULATOR for more info.
STRING SLOTS: The nuts are slotted for LIGHT strings. If you would like them slotted for MEDIUM strings please let me know.
PAYMENT: 6 string Nuts are $35 plus $7 for shipping (First Class with tracking) in the US, $18 to Canada (US dollars), other countries by quote. 12 string Nuts are $40. $1 additional shipping charge each per additional nuts or saddles. PAYPAL only to YamahaVintageFG@gmail.com.
***NUT REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS***
Email YamahaVintageFG@gmail.com with any questions.
A guitar’s saddle can need to be replaced for a few reasons:
1. It is missing.
2. Part of it is broken.
3. It is too loose in the slot.
4. It is too short.
5. It has slots worn in it. The slots can pinch the string and cause buzzing.
6. You want to change the material from plastic to bone.
7. It has a compensated saddle.
Unlike modern guitars, vintage Yamaha FG’s saddle were not compensated. The angle of the saddle slot (from the edge of the bridge) is greater than modern guitars. This is their attempt at simple compensation, and it seems to work pretty well.
MATERIAL: I make the saddles from cow bone. Original 1967 to 1976 saddles are bone, 1977 and later are plastic.
MODEL & YEAR: **You need to specify what model and year you need the saddle for. RED, TAN & BLACK label FG’s use a longer saddle than the WHITE label models.
WIDTH CHOICES: I am offering saddles in 2 thicknesses:
**.114”/.116” (average width). The saddle slot is a nominal 3mm (.118) wide, although I’ve found they tend to be a little (.002” to .005”) tighter in the middle. There’s a chance the “average width” saddle may need a slight amount of sanding if your slot is tight in one area, or it could be very slightly loose.
**.118”/.120” (slightly oversize). So you can sand it to fit. It is very important for a shallow slot to have a close fit with the saddle, otherwise the saddle will lean forward.
OR! If you have dial/digital calipers and measure your saddle/slot and it is larger than the Yamaha nominal .118”, I can make it to any number you specify (+-.001), although I would recommend making it a little larger just in case. You can sand to make it thinner, but you can’t easily make it thicker.
I make every saddle individually. They are based on vintage FG’s I have or have worked on. I also have a few bridges I’ve removed that I use to test the saddles. The width of the vintage FG saddle slot is a nominal 3mm (.118), but I have found they are typically a few thousandths tighter, most times in the middle. .115” is a good average, but sometimes a slot can be a little larger or smaller. I’ve seen .110” to .117”. There’s no way I can make a saddle for a perfect fit in your guitar without having it to measure. I use precision gage blocks to check the slot width in mine or customers guitars. Then I can get a snug fit. You want the fit to be snug, but not floppy or pressed in. Guitars with a bridge that has been sanded (to lower the action) will have a shallow saddle slot. A precise fit is then required to keep the saddle from leaning forward. If you make the fit too tight (forced in) you risk splitting the bridge.
HEIGHT CHOICES: My standard saddle height is 7/16” (.44”). More than likely you will need it to be much lower.
**I can sand it to any height (.25” minimum) for no extra cost. Add an extra 1/32” (.03”) just in case. To measure the height you’re going to need to remove the saddle. But before removing the strings and saddle, write down the action at the 12th fret. It is important for good sound transfer that the bottom of the saddle be flat and perpendicular to the sides.
LENGTH: The length of Red, Tan & Black label FG saddles are 3.28”. White label saddles are 2.89”.
PAYMENT: Saddles are $35 plus $7 for shipping (First Class with tracking) in the US, $18 to Canada (US dollars), other countries by quote. $1 additional shipping charge each per additional nuts or saddles. **PAYPAL only to YamahaVintageFG@gmail.com.
SADDLE SLOTS: I can add slots to the top of the saddle to widen the narrow Yamaha string spacing from 1.97” to 2.06” or 2.09” for $5. The length will be 1/16” less to allow you to shift the saddle left or right to center the strings on the fretboard. Although 2.09" is possible, depending how much the edge of the frets have been rounded, you may have problems with the E strings rolling off the fretboard.
***SADDLE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS***
REPLACEMENT VINTAGE FG NUTS
A guitar’s nut can need to be replaced for a few reasons:
1. Part of it is broken.
2. Some of the string slots have been worn down due years of tuning and changing strings and the strings are buzzing when playing open notes.
3. You want to change the string spacing. A wider string spacing can make playing easier, but if the strings are too close to the edge, and you bend notes, you may have problems with the strings slipping off the edge of the fretboard.
4. You want to change the nut material, although the nut doesn’t affect the guitars sound as much as the saddle.
MATERIAL: I make the nuts from cow bone. Original 1967 to 1976 nuts are urea, 1977 and later are plastic.
MODEL & YEAR: **You need to specify what model and year you need the nut for. They are .21” thick x 1.72” wide (although I’ve seen some up to 1.75”), except early 1967 nuts are .25” x 1.75” wide. If you have dial/digital calipers to measure the width of the neck I will make it to your specification, otherwise I can check my FG’s for a similar model/year.
HEIGHT: I make the nut height based on an actual FG neck, and make it slightly higher so you can sand the bottom of the nut to get the proper nut action. See the Nut Installation Instructions for more info.
STRING SPACING: **You need to specify the required string spacing. Vintage FG’s have a narrow 1.38” string spacing (center of E to E). I can make them 1.38” to 1.50” in .02” increments. I suggest 1.44” to make the guitar easier to play. Wider is possible, depending on how much the ends of the frets have been rounded. I use Constant String Gap spacing vs. Equal String spacing. Equal String spacing makes the wound strings feel closer together. Constant String Gap spacing makes the space between the strings all the same making the guitar easier to play. See the STRING SPACING CALCULATOR for more info.
STRING SLOTS: The nuts are slotted for LIGHT strings. If you would like them slotted for MEDIUM strings please let me know.
PAYMENT: 6 string Nuts are $35 plus $7 for shipping (First Class with tracking) in the US, $18 to Canada (US dollars), other countries by quote. 12 string Nuts are $40. $1 additional shipping charge each per additional nuts or saddles. PAYPAL only to YamahaVintageFG@gmail.com.
***NUT REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS***
Email YamahaVintageFG@gmail.com with any questions.