Build #3: sitka/black walnut 000

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Good work Neil
You're almost there
That's alot of glue squeeze out around the bridge. I hope you cleaned that off before it hardened?

[nkwak]

I did clean it off with a slightly damp sponge and them I used a chisel when it started to stiffen. I didn't think I used that much glue really. I'm hoping that that means it will stay put!

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Ha ha I think it will.
You'll be playing tunes soon

[nkwak]

Ha ha I think it will.
You'll be playing tunes soon

I hope so, but the drop in saddle I bought is too thick and the bone bridge pins I ordered are still a day away. I’m actually relishing going through the setup process.

BTW for comparison I went to my local Martin dealer to try a Custom Shop 000-28 just to see what to shoot for. I’ve got a LOT of work ahead of me!

[Stray Feathers]

It will be a great guitar. For your saddle, I actually like them a little too thick, so I can sand them down for a no-wiggle fit. I use progressive grits of wet-dry sandpaper (using it dry) on a piece of plate glass, rotating end to end and side to side frequently to keep it flat. I made up a simple sanding device that is a block of wood with a wood rim on all four sides, lower than the finished saddle thickness, so there is a recess for the saddle blank to lie in. It makes it easier on the fingers when sanding-you push the block back and forth, and the saddle blank underneath gets sanded. Bruce W.

[rcnewcomb]

I made up a simple sanding device that is a block of wood with a wood rim on all four sides, lower than the finished saddle thickness, so there is a recess for the saddle blank to lie in.

Do you have a photo?

[Stray Feathers]

Here it is - in all its splendor . . . . I have sometimes put a shirt cardboard shim in the bottom if I am doing a thinner saddle. You could also customize it for certain sizes if you make your saddles consistent (mine tend to be all one-offs). And with a larger recess you could do more than one saddle at a time, which might give flatter results.
Bruce W.

[nkwak]

I managed to sand it to fit using a piece of polished marble that was supposed to be a backsplash for a bathroom vanity. I also got the bridge pins today and reamed out the bridge pin holes so that they now fit. Now the only issue I’m having is dealing with a botched nut slot. Ugh.

[TEETERFAN]

Ha, we got a new bathroom vanity installed and all the scraps became assorted sanding blocks.