Help with filing saddles

[ChristoMephisto]

I have an old bass bridge found on 60s Hagstrom and Guilds that has 'new' saddles and my radius is flat. So flat I can lay a ruler on it.
What would be the best way to file the bakelite saddles down to follow the 15 " neck radius? leave the two center ones and just file the E and G saddles?

I have a understating radius guage to help.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I have an old bass bridge found on 60s Hagstrom and Guilds that has 'new' saddles and my radius is flat. So flat I can lay a ruler on it.
What would be the best way to file the bakelite saddles down to follow the 15 " neck radius? leave the two center ones and just file the E and G saddles? View attachment 3546595 I have a understating radius guage to help.

I can't tell from your photo; are there no height adjustments on the saddles, or even, any overall height adjustment possible on that bridge?

 

[ChristoMephisto]

Can adjust the overall height of the bridge, and move the saddles back n forth but no height adjustment

 

[ChristoMephisto]

Here's a better pic from a different angel

 

[Watchootognbout]

If you're handy with tools,use a pedestal sander to carefully sand down the angled face of the saddle pieces.

 

[ChristoMephisto]

Not in the direction I was going. The saddles already have notches. But they are all even. These were from the early 60s.
More or less looking for advise on how to shape the saddles notches to 15" radius

 

[Jeff Scott]

File down the notches in outer saddles (E & G) to create the radius you want/need. Another option is the sand down the bottoms of those saddles, instead.

How are the saddles mounted to the baseplate? Can shims be inserted between the A & D saddles and the baseplate to raise them up?

 

[ChristoMephisto]

That's what I was think but wanted to be sure. Didn't know if the two inner saddles came into play or leave them alone.
They have slots one the bottoms and curved meter tab to hold them fast. Could shim the but would have to work out the height needed while keeping the E and G low while giving me the radius I need

 

[Jeff Scott]

Could shim the but would have to work out the height needed while keeping the E and G low while giving me the radius I need

Shimming would be much easier to redo/reset than making/cutting/filing new saddles.

 

[sissy kathy]

Shimming would be much easier to redo/reset than making/cutting/filing new saddles.

Yep, adding stuff now lets you remove it later. Removing stuff now makes finding new saddles a PITA.

So you flip the saddles upside down and add a glob of epoxy to the bottom of the saddles (JB Weld steel stick works well for that.) Once cured, you can file the epoxy so you are at the desired height. Flip the saddles back over and you are done. You have also done a mod that can be removed if need be.

 

[Arie X]

i'd be interested to see what those small wedges under the saddles do.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

i'd be interested to see what those small wedges under the saddles do.

Wedges? Perhaps you are seeing reflections?

 

[Watchootognbout]

Wedges? Perhaps you are seeing reflections?

It looks like the saddles have a key that sits in a groove.

 

[Arie X]

ok, i see what those are. they're slots punched clean through the bridge plate. i thought they were inserts.

 

[ChristoMephisto]

Here's a newer version but with notchless ebony saddles
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