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Improvement of saddles: How to avoid fast cracking strings?

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:17 pm
by Hotzenplotz
It is always the same:

Using the TI JS110 flats (these are recommended here in the forum as long lasting) at first the high e-string cracks, a bit later the a-string.
All this happens after about 50 hours of playing time. I do not play "brutal". Sometimes very soft, sometimes in an "intensive strumming" way. No much bendings, too.

Now I thought about using fine sandpaper (400 or 800) for to smooth the edges a bit. Is this a good idea, if yes, how to do? What is the best way to solve that problem?

Re: Improvement of saddles: How to avoid fast cracking strings?

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:54 pm
by electrofaro
I only have the g-string snapping on me TI .011 flats, I checked the saddle, smoothed it, but no effect, so curious as to what the exact action to take is!

Re: Improvement of saddles: How to avoid fast cracking strings?

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:07 pm
by Hotzenplotz
How to smooth the saddles correctly without causing a buzz or muddy tone?

Re: Improvement of saddles: How to avoid fast cracking strings?

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:56 pm
by jingle_jangle
Clean up the "ramp" transition from the saddle groove to the flat of the saddle on the bridge side of the saddle. Don't mess with the other edges of the string groove.

I use #400 and then #600 paper to smooth this edge into a nice soft radius.

Re: Improvement of saddles: How to avoid fast cracking strings?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:22 am
by iiipopes
In addition to what Jingle Jangle said, after you smooth the saddle notch, some people take a used wound string of the same diameter and run it back and forth burnishing the slot. But you have to keep it perfectly straight to the backramp of the saddle, or you will round over the leading edge and ruin what you're trying to accomplish: smooth travel with precise "witness point" intonation.

Re: Improvement of saddles: How to avoid fast cracking strings?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:08 pm
by electrofaro
What is the bridge side of the saddle? :?: :oops: Isn't the saddle the middle of the bridge? :?:

Re: Improvement of saddles: How to avoid fast cracking strings?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:32 pm
by jingle_jangle
I dunno--how would you describe the end of the saddles nearest the bottom/bridge end/lower strap peg of the bass?

Re: Improvement of saddles: How to avoid fast cracking strings?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 6:26 pm
by Hotzenplotz
Thanks so far! I think at first I have to look very close to the saddles with a loupe what You are talking about.

Are there some close-up photos of the corners I have to ply?

As far as I understood there is a small fin at the edge in the direction of the neck where the strings chafe themselves to death. And there is another angle in the middle (more or less) of the saddle that is very necessary for a good tone. Right?

Re: Improvement of saddles: How to avoid fast cracking strings?

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:32 am
by electrofaro
jingle_jangle wrote:I dunno--how would you describe the end of the saddles nearest the bottom/bridge end/lower strap peg of the bass?
Well, the bottom of the bridge to me is the underside, the front the side that face the neck, the back the side that faces the tailpiece.

Link to 12-string saddles:
http://brawer.com/wordpress/wp-content/ ... c05767.jpg

Re: Improvement of saddles: How to avoid fast cracking strings?

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 11:00 am
by Hotzenplotz
Yesterday I noticed - and changed - that the bridge was raised at the side to the tailpiece some noticeable degrees.

Could this have been the reason for cracking the strings very fast?

The concerning saddles I sanded carefully with fine sandpaper, too. Just to break the edges without loosing tone quality.
Did work.

Now I have to wait - and play it.