The Hub

I need some advice on replacing some saddles. I have been restoring a "dumpster dive" 1972 Gibson SB-400 bass, with a Multiplex bridge. It has nylon saddles, one of which has a crack. The screws upon which the saddles ride are not removable, as the end has an enlarged cap (see picture). How do I replace the saddles without destroying the screws? I repaired the cracking nylon saddle by supergluing two layers of fiberglass wrap (used for f…

Hi Folks. I have a new Gibson L-00 retro on the bench. It came in because the saddle had pulled forward and was extremely loose in the slot. the saddle was a narrow affair measuring out at 3/32. It had buzzing issues as well because saddle was low and neck angle is actually high (straight edge is 5/32 above bridge). Previous looth tried to correct by shimming saddle but recommended me for bridge work. I re-slotted the saddle slot wi…

I've got a Gretch G2420T with Bigsby B60 on my repair bench. When the customer plays, the strings are coming out of the saddles. We're thinking of replacing the B60 with a Bigsby B70 to increase the break angle over the saddles and bridge. Any concerns with that? I noticed the B70 is only on center block models. The G2420T is hollow body. Will the inside braces support the B70 enough?

Good Morning - the guy that runs the GuitarTechWorkstations channel on YouTube suggested I reach out to y’all to find a good luthier in the Houston area. I’m wanting to replace the plastic bridge & adjustable saddle on my ‘64 Gibson B-25. Any suggestions? Thank You! Thank You! I can be texted at 281-784-2306 or emailed at [email withheld]

I have two guitars I am working on that are missing a few parts and wanted to see if anyone has them that they would like to sell. I have a customer with an early 50's L5 that he got when he was 10 years old. He wants to reinstall the dearmond rhythm chief but is missing the long beam that connects the controls to the pickup and the small bracket affixes between the string run between the tail piece/bridge. Second, I have a 1978 telecaste…

We hear a lot in LoothLand these days about 3D printing. I think it's an awesome use of that technology for what we all do. With my long history with AutoCad and 3D rendering in my previous life, I should pull the trigger on a 3D printer, but I'm just not ready yet AND I have no available space for one in my little shop or in my office right now. Yes, 3D printing is great, but sometimes, good ole regular printing can be a surprise frien…

Just realized that I posted this on the main feed earlier and should have posted it here. Apologies for my poor posting skills. Will go and delete the original now.... Hello all, I’m new around here and excited to continue lurking and learning, taking in all the great content and the knowledge of all you experienced looths. I am more familiar with building than repairing, but I am interested in learning all I can about both. I’m happy to…

I have a Hoffner bass with a neck that broke loose. The main problem seems to be that that neck was loosely fit and was relying on a thick layer of glue at the bottom of the neck pocket to hold it in place, it looks like some shimming is in order. My question is about getting the neck angle correct. With the bridge thumbscrews at the bottom of their adjustment, should a straight edge on the finger board touch the top of bridge, or the to…

This ukulele came in with the bridge detached so it wasn’t playable. I have it repaired but the Question is whether it is supposed to have a saddle on this little ledge? It’s a little guy.

I recently installed a new "Billet T-Bridge" on a Mule tricone resonator guitar. The neck center line on this instrument is pointing 9/32" toward the treble side of the end pin. This means the saddle has to be as far to the treble side as possible so that the strings line up on the neck. This makes the angle of the treble strings coming out of the tailpiece more splayed than the bass strings. The guitar is coming back, as the player s…

I'm working on a Japanese Strat with a Kahler tremolo I've never seen before. I'm trying to find where the adjustment point for the saddle intonation is. The back side has openings for each string for... something. It's not an allen wrench, and it's not a screwdriver of any kind. The threads are 6/32" and when I tighten a screw into the holes, nothing happens. I haven't been able to find anything on google about this particular bridge.…

Hey y'all, just been tasked with setting up one of those hoffner violin basses — they're strange but fun things, this is one of the modern reissues but it still has the bridge with the frets hammered into it for saddles. The owner plays in a punk band and has had issues with the low E string jumping out at times. I assume without some way of getting the tailpiece to be held down rather than at the angle it wants to be, the best option w…