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Finally New Saddles For My Luke !!!

tristan

tristan

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2004
Messages
1,313
Location
france
Hi there...

for almost one year that I own my kuke II ( I bought it brand new in a french store) I was very surprised to break A LOT of strings...

my luthier checked it out and guaranteed that the saddles were guilty....no problem for me, the guitar stayed for 3 years in the store before I buy it, so it has been played a lot before it was mine...

first thing that I did was calling the french distributor that sent me back to the store...I asked them for graphtec , they sent it for free...but I did not like it...

so I called back the store to order music man saddles...they told me "OK, but it is not under guarantee..." no problem, I'll pay for it...this was october , and still I dont have the new saddles...

so I wrote a mail to music man USA...then, things became to go really quick :D

the french distributor called me back to offer me the saddles for free, as fast as possible...they said the french store was guilty and did not never ever order the saddles to them.

the french store called me back to confirm thay had my order (they could even date it ) and said the the distrubutor FORGOT their order for new saddles...so they offer me the saddles for free to repair their mistake...

???? what the hell is that :p

anyway, I'll have my new saddles very quickly..now I could use my whammy bar again !!!
 
tristan said:
Hi there...

for almost one year that I own my kuke II ( I bought it brand new in a french store) I was very surprised to break A LOT of strings...

my luthier checked it out and guaranteed that the saddles were guilty....no problem for me, the guitar stayed for 3 years in the store before I buy it, so it has been played a lot before it was mine...

first thing that I did was calling the french distributor that sent me back to the store...I asked them for graphtec , they sent it for free...but I did not like it...

so I called back the store to order music man saddles...they told me "OK, but it is not under guarantee..." no problem, I'll pay for it...this was october , and still I dont have the new saddles...

so I wrote a mail to music man USA...then, things became to go really quick :D

the french distributor called me back to offer me the saddles for free, as fast as possible...they said the french store was guilty and did not never ever order the saddles to them.

the french store called me back to confirm thay had my order (they could even date it ) and said the the distrubutor FORGOT their order for new saddles...so they offer me the saddles for free to repair their mistake...

???? what the hell is that :p

anyway, I'll have my new saddles very quickly..now I could use my whammy bar again !!!
Click to expand...


I'm sorry to hear that, sounds like you got the run around from the guitar store you bought it from, but one quick call to Ernie Ball and bam, problem solved, gotta love Ernie Ball.

Now that you have your saddles, giddy up!!!!!!!

Or

saddle up patner, it's ganna be one hell of a ride. :D

Scott.
 
I just got a Luke and I've been wondering about the saddles as well. They're different from the ones on my Axis Super Sport (bought from Jon); also vintage trem.

So- does the super sport have different saddles than the Luke? Jon- can I ask if you upgraded them?

Just find that when I adjust the action/string hieght, the Luke saddles are vey uncomfortable on my picking hand- they're rougher and the screws protrude up from them grabbing my hand.
 
Hey Beej,

This was an issue with me too. It used to rub my palm raw (probably gonna take some on this).

The screws do come in different sizes so that they don't protrude. Your local store may have the different sizes.

And my piezo asses have different saddles than my regular Lukes. But the same as my Piezo Luke.
KEITH
 
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Thanks Keith- maybe I'll try shorter screws then. (Was thinking about graphtech saddles, but I like the sound of the originals and I'll take Tristan's opinion on replacing them.)

> It used to rub my palm raw

Yeah ... not going to touch that one ... :eek:

Hey! Just noticed I passed post 200 and officially became a "Senior Member"!!! Totally missed that little milestone in my life!
 
a set of brand new saddles was on my mailbox today... :)

thanks to jean paul @ HTD ;)
 
kbaim said:
Hey Beej,

This was an issue with me too. It used to rub my palm raw (probably gonna take some on this).

The screws do come in different sizes so that they don't protrude. Your local store may have the different sizes.

And my piezo asses have different saddles than my regular Lukes. But the same as my Piezo Luke.
KEITH
Click to expand...


When I set up your Luke I changed the screws in the saddles. :D
 
beej said:
I just got a Luke and I've been wondering about the saddles as well. They're different from the ones on my Axis Super Sport (bought from Jon); also vintage trem.

So- does the super sport have different saddles than the Luke? Jon- can I ask if you upgraded them?

Just find that when I adjust the action/string hieght, the Luke saddles are vey uncomfortable on my picking hand- they're rougher and the screws protrude up from them grabbing my hand.
Click to expand...


The solid saddles on the SSPT are standard. The stamped saddles on the Luke are standard.
 
Hi everyone,
so it seems like string-killing saddles are not only an issue to me. On one of my last gigs I broke four(!) strings on my Luke until I changed to my backup bastardocaster for the rest of the evening - it was like a curse laid on the Luke :(
The funny thing is, the strings did not break on heavy soloing action but on normal chord strumming - at the end of one song, two strings broke simultaniously on the last chord, so at least the front row of the audience took it as a joke ;)
I helped myself by sanding 'em carefully with oil-lubricated fine sand paper - seems to work, no string broke since then *knock on wood*
 
Last edited:
Banger said:
Hi everyone,
so it seems like string-killing saddles are not only an issue to me. On one of my last gigs I broke four(!) strings on my Luke until I changed to my backup bastardocaster for the rest of the evening - it was like a curse laid on the Luke :(
The funny thing is, the strings did not break on heavy soloing action but on normal chord strumming - at the end of one song, two strings broke simultaniously on the last chord, so at least the front row of the audience took it as a joke ;)
I helped myself by sanding 'em carefully with oil-lubricated fine sand paper - seems to work, no string broke since then *knock on wood*
Click to expand...
for my side, even with the new saddles, I broke 2 strings the same day...I decided to stop using de whammy bar again .

very disapointing.
 
tristan said:
very disapointing.
Click to expand...
I second that. I think it's quite normal for used saddles to get a bit harsh, especially those for the wounded strings, but new ones definitely should not.
Have you tried sanding/polishing 'em just like I did? (Well, try the old ones first ;))
 
Brand?

I've never had a problem with GHS 9-42 on my Luke's, but I may not play as aggresive either. I never break 'em.
 
tommyindelaware said:
are you using d'addario strings ?????
Click to expand...

As for me, I use a german string brand named "Pyramid", pure nickel round wound superiours .009-.042, they cost about the half and last about twice as long as d'addario, eb or fender (tried them all *sigh*) - I don't know if you get them outside germany, but if, give them a try :)

Insomnia? Aaah, those time zones - it's just 3:30pm here, sittin' still at work ;)
 
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