ET Phone Home wrote
Hey Bob, thanks for the reply. Well it fits nice and snug in the Walden however I did notice that the guy who installed the saddle for me shaved off probably 2/3's of it before dropping it in. No doubt to get the action lower but would this maybe affect the tone? When I went to the store to choose the saddle the guy dropped it on the counter to show me how bright it is, but now when I drop it it sounds pretty dead???
I'm no luthier, but one picks up things from experience.
The test of dropping something on a counter just indicates that the material is good or not good (generally the good materials for saddles give a nice "ping" when dropped on a glass counter top). It doesn't mean that the saddle that is eventually cut will be any good.
Too low a saddle could effect tone because the strings will break over the saddle at a more shallow action, and that in turn will effect the downwards pressure the strings exert on the saddle and THAT will effect energy transfer from string to saddle.
Saddles can fit too snugly and choke off some of the energy transfer, or send it to the sides of the slot rather than to the bottom.
The bottom of the saddle might not be properly flattened.
The one thing you DO know is that it's NOT the material - both saddles are made from the same material.
Take it back to the guy and demonstrate what you have found. If he doesn't get it or you don't know if he has the skills then take the guitar and the saddles to Music Connection in Randburg where they have a good workshop. Worst case scenario would be another new saddle.
Saddle material does effect tone. If you had a cheap plastic saddle before then changing to Tusq should make a noticable difference.
