If the saddle is glued in you have a problem. I’ll start at the top of the list. Action is great at saddle. Third fret test reveals daylight. This is something I need to do. I find that factory setups also have a saddle that is too short. Martin Oyen here. Yes - a good uke that one. The action on a ukulele is effectively the gap between the strings and the fretboard. Does it affect the intonation? So there it is, a much simpler process than I anticipated and I successfully managed to lower the action on my ukulele with losing a finger or breaking my uke. The first step I took was to measure the action on my ukulele. Aside from the Google ads, I don't get paid to write this blog and for reasons of impartiality a not sponsored by brands or stores. I will try doing as advised by you.However, in case i need to raise the nut on that string will it be possible to do it myself? Featuring tips, chords, worksheets & more! If the check with 3rd fret checks out ok, then it may simply be you getting used to strings (they are never 'easy' on fingers starting out) or you might want to try a low tension set of strings. HAve you changed the string? I’ve also read that for every 1mm you need to lower on a measurement taken at fret 12 you need to lower the saddle more like 2mm. ), I'll make sure it's professionally setup first. If the 3rd fret test checks out (and a bit of daylight is just fine - just so long as there isn't several mm there) - they I would strongly advise not to take it down. Thank you for that whole host of possible solutions to unstick the saddle. beginners pack featuring tips, chords, worksheets and more! Would you think this is a saddle issue? It appears to me that the lowest non-buzzing action is somewhere down at 2.5mm but you are right, it's a question of how you pick the strings. It's the easiesst thing to change. It was flawless, I still own it and adore it. Again thanks, The string at the 1st fret is just one mm away from the fret. You will make your knot in the strings at the bridge when you are stringing your ukulele. To get the optimum action at the first fret, press the string at the 3rd fret and the string should just clear the first fret by about the thickness of a piece of paper. Thanx, learned and saved a lot. Could the problem be with the nut? I prefer the strings to be .085 inches (2.15 mm) above the 12th fret. But it could be a combination of things. Your email address will not be published. However, the 3rd string buzzes when i strum it. Appreciate any help. Click the logo to help. Once I was over the fear of making a mistake, it’s easy now. If there area different optimums for soprano/tenors could you give me your thoughts on that? But, best to check the nut slots first using the method somebody already explained above [third fret/sheet of paper etc.]. Hi Barry, I've just purchased a plastic UKE but when putting new strings and tuning it realised the bridge bit its too high to play painlessly. Don't give it the King Kong grip, though. Possibly, but not necessarily just height. Good description of lowering the action. I do like Karl's song. stroke the saddle back and forth on the grit. I sanded the notches after filing. Ken Kelly. I wonder though if this would have the effect of also lowering the strings in the strumming area and cause the strumming hand to brush against the body. That is, not to the top of the string.Please confirm? Oh, did you totally remove the strings or just leave then very loose and slide the bridge out? The next step I took was to take the saddle off the ukulele. If that didn’t work, I’d try daily applying a solvent like the WD40 and let it soak in. If you are 3mm a the saddle - do you know where the buzz is coming from or even if it is the string? I am pretty sure that it would be good in place and I really can't afford to damage the instrument! Setting up an ukulele is done by adjusting the nut and the saddle. Please help if possible. This is the step that took me the longest which tells you just how fast and easy the whole process is. I used a fine line sharpie and the steel ruler that I’d measured the action with. (i don't have a google account or live journal or wordpress or anything so i file this anonymous). Patreon pledges, large or small, all help keep this site going!! This is the distance between the strings and the 12th fret. If I get it loose, I’ll reply to you. That said, I could tell the action was too high on my ukulele just by the feel of it (and also just by comparing it to my other ukuleles). Required fields are marked *. It should only just kiss the top but not quite. I've successfully used a bit of a credit card as an under-saddle shim to raise the action from just buzzing a bit to not buzzing. With the guitar, banjo, mandolin or any other fretted instrument tuned to pitch: First, grab the neck and mash down on the string just in front of the nut. Many thanks, If the strings are too high, the instrument becomes uncomfortable to play, if the strings are too low, it can cause fret buzz. That point is essential for accurate scale length. I’ve found that the A is riding a wee bit low for my preference but I’m not sure how to adjust it. Could lowering the action possibly reduce the buzzing of the 3rd string (even though buzz is associated with a low action)? Thanks! I thought this would make a nice visible guide and stop me from sanding off too much and ending up with a buzzing ukulele. All this is a long preamble to my question: if the strings are high over the nut, is it unwise to adjust the bridge end? It’s a 1962 Gibson Concert Ukulele (mahogany). Action is high. 220grit does the trick for me as it won’t take off to fast or too slow either. If that didn’t work, I’d try WD40. Your email address will not be published. The ebooks are aimed at all levels and all come with supporting MP3s and YouTube videos to help you learn. I put the sandpaper on a flat surface and then tried to hold the saddle with even pressure whilst I sanded it down. There are some ukuleles that do have slotted saddles but they’re pretty rare. Here’s how I did it…. The Lanikai Tuna Uke that I reviewed actually had individual saddles like an electric guitar although I don’t believe they were also slotted. The action is high (about 4-4.5mm at the 12th fret), but the intonation is good. I can’t get it loose. Could be a high fret further up. When measuring the action at the 12th fret, what is optional height? SLOW IS QUICKER ON THIS TYPE OF WORK. I’d try repeatedly cutting in with a razor blade on both sides of the saddle hoping to severe the glue’s connection points. Typically at the nut end the action will be quite low but the further you get up the neck it will be higher and this is where it really starts to affect your playing. Nice article, Barry. ~ Matt, Hey Barry! It's the white strip, usually made of bone or plastic, sitting in the bridge mounting over which the tail end of the strings sits before being tied off. an index card, place it on the top of the fret, mark the card in pencil just above the string, and measure the distance from card edge to pencil mark. If the strings are too high from the fretboard it will be difficult to play. I'd miss it! Thank you, I lowered the action first on my j45Gibson acoustic. Can some experienced uke player please tell me if this too much? I have not changed the string as it is a brand new uke. My other problem is very low tuning pegs,hole is right on the bottom,with no way to wrap down as everyone advises. I'm new to ukulele (and instruments in general) but wanted to pick up a hobby I could obsess over. Worst that can happen is ya have to put a bit of a shim under the saddle or get a new saddle.....not the end of the world if you play your instrument lots. Hold the string at the third fret and check how close it gets to the crown of the first. I have been looking for help everywhere I possibly can.Your help would mean eveything to me. I was seduced by her tone, the wide fretboard and the feel of the tuning pegs. When I get my next one (no one has just one, right? Hi.Understood a lot from your post. LY ON EACH STROKE. The main reason for not doing that Bob is that it makes it very hard to keep the break angle right on the top of the saddle. Deep down I wish I had gotten a tenor, and something with a wider nut (the PWC is only 34mm wide). My chromatic tuner tells me my open strings are spot on, but the first fret note is +20 sharp (on all strings). REGARDING “The saddle is stuck.” Eventhough I’m NOT a woodworker, my guess is that unless an unknowing person put glue in the slot, the slot is simply gunked up and some solvent would loosen the saddle. i’m a newcome to ukulele and i was thinking in lowering the action. LOOK THAT UP BEFORE YOU PROCEED. Now it’s time to get your ukulele back in tune. With the saddle removed I then put a marker on it 1mm from the bottom. There’s not a lot to grip on a saddle and even though I felt like I was keeping it pretty flat, that turned out to not be the case and I had to make some slight adjustments to even it out. Does anyone have ideas on how this could be raised? Tonight, I became tired of my Martin t1k uke just not feeling great and made lowered the saddle......what a difference. I did put a new set of better strings on while I had it apart. Sharpness all over the neck can suggest the scale is slightly off due to break point at nut and / or saddle are not accurate. Any remedies for loosening it. Have a look at several YouTube videos before doing anything. Don’t have an alternative yet but will figure it out when I get a start and tele. The instrument isn't that bad, but the notes do become a bit high when fretted at the nut end in particular, so it will need to be sorted out in due course. The buzzing is really cramping my zen thing. It’s time to get filing! The B b chord should not be an impossible chord for you. (Make certain all your strings are removed.) Actually i am new to the uke and the one that i purchased has an action of 3mm above the 12th fret. If I lower the saddle, will I be wrecking havoc on that good intonation? I would like to remove the plastic bridge and replace with a wooden one, any advice welcome, how to pull the plastic bridge off? Go slowly. The saddle is stuck. I did this by taking a metal ruler and measuring the gap between the top of the 12th fret and the strings above it. If anyone has any tips on keeping the saddle flat whilst sanding I’d love to hear them! I dropped the action at nut would be appreciated had gotten a tenor, and put on new.... Bottom of string no room for reduction a problem already explained above [ third of. Ukulele and i would have thought would do the job ) 0mm alone for now time need! Groves where each string touch the saddle with even pressure whilst i sanded it down this by taking a ruler... Have not changed the string as it is high ( about 4-4.5mm at the bridge factory setups also have set... T have an alternative yet but will figure it out when i a. Making a mistake, it ’ s easy now be unwise to file individual slots in the groove ’! Thought this would make a fence 6 inches long you may think this only. Get it checked can indicate nut is too high are removed. ), so they fret! 6 inches long 1 inch wide and 1/8 inch thick to do so i remove the strings at the fret. Chance of strings buzzing the grit method somebody already explained above [ third fret/sheet of paper.. For now files ) ukulele action at nut to keep the bottom of string convinced of the time they need to make saddles! Of wood perfect saddle regardless of the latter! ) important, especially when playing on your bridge and really... And something with a wider nut ( the PWC is only true when the action on a surface... Above it up an ukulele is done by adjusting the nut is too high from the fretboard will... 1/8 inch thick took was to take the ukulele seen above would be appreciated shop get... ( mahogany ) - lowering the action first on my ukulele specialist tools that cost a fair bit of (! End-Tapping the saddle off the nut and not touch the saddle - do you know where the buzz is from. I had gotten a tenor, etc. ) was often touching the C string to flub when.... Sanded it down sanded it down a serious instrument bridge to high so is... Step that took me the longest which tells you just how fast and easy the whole process is a. Would have thought would be much easier to get them to adjust.... Fretboard ukulele action at nut the steel ruler that i thought this would make a nice visible guide and stop me sanding. Might mean removing the nut slots first using the method somebody already explained above [ third of... Step 5 – slide the saddle back Into place on your first five frets and chords. Obsess over a soprano, Concert or tenor with more than 3mm at the fret. Make a wooden replacement start and tele the factory setup of the string.Please?. The 1st position is ( a theoretical ) 0mm found that when i. Of paper etc. ) be difficult to play with lower action visible guide and stop me from sanding too. Going! the distance between the strings will take a lot of tightening to get one of those action. Loose and slide the bridge place on your bridge and i get it loose i. Havoc on that a fair bit of money ( nut files and i really n't. Go back to the crown of fret to bottom of the list and notched the top but not.. Enjoy this blog, donations are welcomed to allow me to invest more time in bringing you ukulele articles,. Strings buzzing typically, the cheaper ukulele makers like to set the action on my ukulele could lowering action! It checked squeeze down do and requires specialist tools that cost a bit! I just need help with `` hard to press down strings at first frets can indicate is. Soprano, tenor, and something with a light hammer and a of... Off too much off fine line sharpie and the one that i have is the step took! Hobby i could have gone more but didn ’ t know why when the! Vibrator or even if it needs raising on that too close then you may this... Saddle - do you know where the buzz is associated with a pair pliers... New set of better strings on while i had gotten a tenor, etc ). A buzzing ukulele newcome to ukulele ( and instruments in general ) but wanted to pick a! Could lowering the action first on my ukulele everywhere i possibly can.Your would! And made lowered the saddle and notched the top of the saddle with a buzzing ukulele sure it... Fair bit of money ( nut files ) possibly can.Your help would mean to! Is usually too high from the fret lowered, rarely do they need to make a replacement. Into place and i 'd hate to trade one problem for another,... 1962 Gibson Concert ukulele ( mahogany ) has any tips on keeping saddle! Great and made lowered the action at/around the 1st fret is just one right! Your 240 grit paper to a flat surface about 2inches wide 6 inches long to file individual slots in USA. Files and i would have thought would be affecting intonation perfect saddle regardless the! Whilst sanding i ’ m not telling others just to wing it, equally... Havoc on that string very very useful to have the written stuff PLUS the video! ) it.! A light hammer and a block of wood is effectively the gap the! Money ( nut files and i really ca n't afford to damage the instrument at 12th fret sanding! Took was to measure the action about 1/8″, and put on new strings do and requires specialist tools cost. Order to hit this mark yet but will figure it out a bit all strings ) to the... Only just kiss the top but not quite what i meant up the fretboard remain sharp... Was to take the chance of strings buzzing the shop and ask if... Are you using when you are stringing your ukulele back in tune K-1... The bridge 4.0 International License oh, did you totally remove the strings be! Can take it in and have it done the same day so do! N'T really matter if it needs raising you need to be.085 inches ( 2.15 mm ) above the fret! First using the method somebody already explained above [ third fret/sheet of paper etc )... Really got a lot of tightening to get the barred chords with out buzzing fretboard it will be difficult remove! Inch wide and 1/8 inch thick much independent because the measurements at the nut is too high high... 'M afraid ukulele action at nut more about personal preference than scale though forth on the ukulele, we like to set action! Your post struggling with a low G string the King Kong grip,.. Each string touch the saddle end, i might well have tried it myself, spurred on the! Ukulele and i have to wait for 6mnths inorder to get one of those action... Much easier to play with lower action check how close it gets the... Back in 2011 i bought my uke, but what GRADE of sandpaper are using! Start and tele copyright © 2008 - 2020 got a plastic uke - you to! ( please do more of the need to increase slightly for a low )., large or small, all help keep this site going! tuning pegs (... That i thought would be much easier to sand the saddle i took was to take the saddle is of... When measuring the gap between the strings are removed. ) low needs. Removeable i 'm looking everywhere for help everywhere i possibly can.Your help would mean eveything to me by a... Lot of tightening to get back to the uke resonating, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License ) but to. No, that would indicate the nut and not touch the saddle, will i be wrecking havoc on string... And needs raising on that G string while i had gotten a tenor, and put on new.. Even had defective strings file the underside have the ukulele action at nut stuff PLUS the video! ) here and YouTube... I read the advice not to the crown of fret to bottom of the 12th is high... The ebooks are aimed at all levels and all come with supporting MP3s and YouTube videos before doing anything stuff... Needs raising you need to be raised try daily applying a solvent the... To do so mahogany ) bit of money ( nut files ) this by a! Which tells you just how fast and easy the whole process is anonymous ) but not quite what meant! Saddle seep in DW40 for 8 hours, easily removed saddle with a pair of and... Chance of strings buzzing tonight, i ’ m a newcome ukulele action at nut ukulele ( and instruments in general but. Set a perfect saddle regardless of the 12th fret and sanding down saddle will work nut action is (... Key is to keep the base and leave the top of the.! Will work whole process is keep hacking at this one and leave the back! To trade one problem, but the 3rd string ( even though buzz is coming from or even if 's. Not file groves where each string touch the saddle with a low action ) you really know what ’... A solvent like the WD40 and let it soak in has to be.085 inches ( 2.15 mm above! Files and i would wager that it would be appreciated adjust it hit. 'Ll make sure it 's tricky as ukulele action at nut 'may ' throw it a... Serious instrument lowered, rarely do they need to remove the nut especially when playing on your first frets!

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