Lowering the Action on an acoustic with an Under-Saddle pickup

Warren

Hi guys.

I got myself a Takamine acoustic not too long ago from Marshall Music in Woodmead. Cost me just under R5k after the "discount", so it's a mid priced instrument, which is perfect for what I need.

Initially strung with 12s, I found it extremely tiring doing barre-chord stuff, so I tried switching to 10s for a bit since I'm mostly playing it plugged in with my band.

However, I've realised that it's the very high action, rather than string gauge, which is giving me playability hassles. Even fretting an F barre chord at the first fret takes a great deal of effort, and trying to play stuff higher up the neck (it's a cutaway guitar) is pretty much impossible.

I've looked into lowering the action, but it would likely need to have the nut filed (or replaced) and correspondingly have the saddle adjusted too.

The problem I have is with the under-saddle pickups (the saddle is also split, so there are two pickups I think), which the guitar tech I took it to in Edenvale at Mercury Music said he didn't want to mess with. He had a go with the truss-rod to try and compensate a tiny bit, but obviously that's not where the problem is.

What would the best solution be? I've had my Epiphone LP set-up by Marshall Music previously and I'm very happy with the results to this day. Should I just take the Takamine back to them and ask them to sort the action for me? Should I haggle for a discount considering I only bought the guitar last month (I paid R750 for the previous set-up, but that included stuff like fret leveling and flushing out the electrics etc. since the Epi was second hand and needed a little love).

Or is this something I should entrust to someone who specialises in these sorts of acoustics (I imagine there must be people out there)? I think the pickups themselves are pretty decent (I've always heard good things about the Takamine stuff) so I don't want a replacement, just an adjustment that won't break the guitar or the bank ?

AlanRatcliffe

The Takamine split saddle doesn't present any real problems for action adjustment, it's just a little more work. It's actually easier to get the string-string balance right. I'd be wary of any "tech" who is scared to do the job (or recommends truss rod adjustment to compensate for action). If first position is a problem, then the nut action needs adjusting too.

Just find a decent tech and they'll sort it out.

[deleted]

Alan Ratcliffe wrote The Takamine split saddle doesn't present any real problems for action adjustment, it's just a little more work. It's actually easier to get the string-string balance right. I'd be wary of any "tech" who is scared to do the job (or recommends truss rod adjustment to compensate for action). If first position is a problem, then the nut action needs adjusting too.

Just find a decent tech and they'll sort it out.

LOL Alan, I was going to say...I know a tech or two who might suggest all manner of ailments and solutions (equivalent to going through the anus to extract wisdom teeth).

Warren, I think Andy McGibbon's place or Mando at Music Connection would be fairly safe bets for the work. But maybe you should speak to Marshall first in case they are prepared to make right without you having to spend your own dosh elsewhere to rectify the problem.

Bob-Dubery

I second what Stratisfear has said. Take it to Andy McGibbon's Guitar World or to Music Connection. They both have good techs who will do a good setup.

The UST shouldn't present a problem. They'll just take a bit off of the saddles. However you should discuss your concerns with them so that they can reassure and advise you before doing the job.

Warren

Thanks guys, much appreciated! ?