Help With Lakland String Saddle

[AndyMan]

Hello guys--

I just purchased a new Lakland Joe Osborn 4 string. Very sweet bass. However, Lakland used very large string saddles/barrels, and consequently, my E string, even with the saddle screws loosened all the way and with the barrel sitting flush on the bridge, is still too high for my taste. I am temporarily using exposed core stings, but that's not a long term fix.

Does anyone know of a luthier that can sell me an E string saddle/barrel that is cut down to allow lower E string action?

Thanks!

[kalle74]

sounds like shimming the neck (correcting improper neck angle) could solve your problem... I´m suprised to hear about this kind of flaw on a Lak...

[AndyMan]

I'd really hate to have to resort to a neck shim. This is actually a replacement neck. I bought the bass new a month ago, and the dealer had the bass new in the box for a year, and never bothered to adjust the truss rod. Result was a warped neck. Lakland, to it's credit, as soon as dealer contacted them, immediately took the bass back and put a brand new neck on it.

I think it's more of an issue on the diameter of the string barrel, which is by far the largest I've ever seen.

I had a similar issue on a Stingray 4, which I sold because of the issue.

I might have to take it to a luthier and have the slots in the barrel cut deeper.

[xsubs]

Changing the saddle diameter may cause other issues. You'll be altering the break angle, which will usually lead to buzzing and intonation problems.
Lakland should have caught this when the new neck was installed... I would send it back.
Their customer service is outstanding, as you're already aware.