Is the bridge uneven?

Riaan

Hey guys...I noticed lately that the volume differs between different strings in my Cort electro-acoustic. The bass E is the softest, and the D,G and B strings are the loudest. I checked it with the guitar's equalizer all different settings on the pickups EQ and different settings with the input meter on Sonar LE. Definitely a difference between the strings with equal picking force.

I have in the past lowered the action by sanding down the bridge with very fine sanding paper, but it was done on a level metal surface - could it be that it's not sanded down evenly? If so, any suggestions as to how best to level the undersurface of the bridge?

Other thing is, I need to replace the strings so it's probably best to first do that, but I'm convinced that new strings is not entirely the answer.

AlanRatcliffe

It's usually the saddle - but not always. Can be debris in the slot, a bowing top (causing the bridge and the bottom of the slot to bow too), uneven spacers used to raise the action, a narrow pickup fitted to a wide slot (usually OK if it's sitting in the middle of the slot), a saddle that is too tight in the slot, uneven strings or - extremely rarely - a faulty pickup.

When filing a saddle, it's best to use a coarse sandpaper first and then move on to finer grits to smooth, as you are more likely to make a mistake and make it uneven doing the whole job with a fine grit. As mentioned in the other thread, check the results against the edge of a steel rule by holding them up to a light source. Usually it takes a few tries to get it perfect and often requires fitting and refitting the saddle, tuning up and testing.

If you are absolutely sure that the saddle is perfectly flat, sometimes you actually have to either rout the saddle slot (a pro job) or try and compensate the bottom of the saddle to make up for whatever is causing the balance problems (tricky and tedious).

Riaan

Thanks Alan...stupid me, I meant the saddle! :-[ And sometimes I can't remember where I parked my car also...

I'll check these when I replace the strings, probably this weekend. Whilst the Cort isn't bad for the money, and it sounds OK when amplified, the unplugged sound does not impress me. A very "plastic" kind of sound, and my old Yamaha sounds much better. I'm thinking of fitting an acoustic pickup system to this guitar. Any recommendations? I like the LR Baggs systems from what I've seen on the net.

Gearhead

I've said it before and I will say it again: the Dean Markley Sweet Spot is real value for money. They sell for under R500 and sound good. You do have to be careful installing it (or have it done). No preamp, not really required, just simple.
If you're not overly enthousiastic with the sound of your guitar, why would you want to spend money on it to get a pickup? Or did you mean the Yamaha?

AlanRatcliffe

Riaan wrote Thanks Alan...stupid me, I meant the saddle!

Goes to show... I didn't even notice. My brain just translated it to "saddle" because I knew what you were talking about.

Any recommendations? I like the LR Baggs systems from what I've seen on the net.

A bit after my time. I know the Fishmans backwards, but have little experience with the newer highly regarded models. I don't think you can go wrong with the better models of any of the good brands: Fishman, Highlander, L. R. Baggs or D-Tar. I'm a firm believer in the dual systems, whatever the brand.

Riaan

If you're not overly enthousiastic with the sound of your guitar, why would you want to spend money on it to get a pickup? Or did you mean the Yamaha?

I meant the Yamaha. The sound quality is far better to my ear than the Cort. I bought the Cort specifically to record DI, and in that respect it's not bad apart from the mentioned problem with the saddle, which may be the result of my lowering the action. But the Yamaha still is the acoustic I play the most, and the guitar I reach for instinctively when I just want to check something out or strum a bit. I've had it for about twenty years now, and I like the sound. I'll look up the Dean Markley Sweet Spot - didn't know about this.

Vintage-Vibe

Hi guys

I recently installed 2 LR Baggs I-Beam Actives.
Great systems, fairly simple installation BUT:

Top surface sensitive (YES Alan, I think it will suite you "slappers")
and TRUE TO FORM - if your guitar has a naturally loud G string unplugged eg, it will translate amplified - can be feedback-prone without a filter-notching unit like the Para DI - but at R 2000.00 for the pickup system alone not everybody's wallet allowance !

PS - a new guitar almost never sounds as sweet as one that has been worn in over time & "mellowed out" - pricing/quality issues aside ... IMO

VV