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Hi:

I build classicals but have a new resonator to study. I noticed first that the biscuit was over to one side of the cover plate hole and rubbing against it. I loosened the strings to center it but the string slot locations on the saddle want to pull it back to off center. I am thinking a new biscuit bridge and saddle with a slightly different slot location to better center the bridge.

My newbi question is about the saddle slots. Do I make them shallow and shape the saddle to the correct level for the best action or cut them deeper to get to the right action? Saddle shape on classicals is important. Is it as critical on the wood saddle of the resonator?

Thanks.

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GEO
perpetual beginner

Hey George, I'm not a resonator expert here, but I have fiddled with biscuit types a bit. It definitely sounds like your saddle is slotted wrong if it's riding to the side like that, so either see if you can remove the saddle and glue in a new one or just replace the biscuit and saddle altogether.

Now on the next part, I don't believe it matters much which way you go to get the action right. If you choose to just cut deeper slots just make sure they're more open at the top so they don't bind the string which could interfere with the sound. Maybe someone else with more experience can nail this question down for you.

Joe

Joe:

Thanks for the response. I think a new saddle will do the trick.

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GEO
perpetual beginner

I do them pretty much like a nut except to set them the full depth of the string. A nut file works great.