ABG set-up: saddle / nut / action questions

[rch427]

First, a disclaimer: I don't know much about guitars or basses of any sort; this will become obvious. I read the two links about setting up the action on basses in the sticky at the top of the forum, but they're about electrics.

Now then -- I picked up a totally stripped Olympia acoustic bass guitar for next to nothing and, after picking up reasonable facsimiles of the parts that were missing, I'm trying to set it up properly, but am confused about a few things. And I should mention that this is a very cheap bass that I will only occasionally be using, and for specific projects, so I care neither about its originality or aesthetics.

First, the saddle I got for it was just a Corian blank. I cut it to length, filed it a little to get it to fit into the slot in the bridge, and I have the ball-end of the string in the hole and an a bridge pin in place to hold it there. The other end is through the correct tuning peg, and is wrapped properly. The string is resting in the slot of the pre-cut nut.

The top edge of the new saddle stands abour 5/8" above the soundboard, which causes the string to pass over it at a rather acute angle of about 75-degrees. I'm guessing this isn't a good thing; likely to either break the string or the saddle, once tension is introduced. So, do I need to file slots for the strings in the top of the saddle? Should they be cut at an angle or radius?

At the other end, the generic nut holds the string less than 1/8" above the first fret. I presume this is insufficient to avoid buzzing once it's under tension. Should I shim the back of the nut with something? What is a good ballpark of clearance between the string and the first fret? FWiW, this bass has no pick-up; it's strictly acoustic.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[jady]

Originally Posted by rch427

do I need to file slots for the strings in the top of the saddle? Should they be cut at an angle or radius?

No one knows??? I have the same question, I just got an ABG and want to lower the action, the clearance at the nut is OK and the neck is straight so I need to lower the strings at the nut. How do I do this properly????

[aquateen]

The top edge of the new saddle stands abour 5/8" above the soundboard, which causes the string to pass over it at a rather acute angle of about 75-degrees

you might try sanding down the bottom of the saddle to lower the action. 5/8" is probably too high. you could measure some at a store for comparison before starting. with ABGs, you can adjust the saddle height, the depth of the grooves in the nut and the truss rod.

[jady]

Originally Posted by Joshua

I would do this.^^^

But (to the OP and poster #2), I would set the bass up and physically see how the action sits before filing the bottom of the saddle instead of using some stock measurement (I'm a "feel" guy, so to speak). I would just take a little off, and keep trying it until it feels good. If you go a little too far it can be shimmed up a bit too...

Thats what I did, took it down a bit far but used a small shim under the saddle to raise it back up a little. Thanks