I took my 1994 EVH Hardtail to bits!

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Well I recently had the frets dressed on my 1994 EVH Purple hardtail and swapped the saddles from Graphtech to the factory block saddles.

As a result of this, the strings were getting very close to the bridge pickup and the adjustment screws were sticking out on the D and G saddles. After speaking to a local luthier a shim was in order!

I am sure there is a 'proper' material to use, but I used a bit of business card. As its a totally reversible 'mod' I though I would give it a try. Worst case I can send it to someone who knows what they are doing!

So I though I would share the pictures of taking it apart. Only the 2nd time the neck has been off since 1994!



I am pleased to report that the patient is doing well! It totally solved the problem and the adjusters are now not scratching my hand up. Plus there is more of a gap between the strings and the bridge pickup.

Enjoy this pictorial representation!

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

 

[Tollywood]

That purple still looks really purple. That's a great evh, Tim.

 

[beej]

Nice work Tim. Business card works perfectly.

 

[ozzyrules]

Great story. How are those chewy granola bars? Lol


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[Eric O'Reilly]

Great story. How are those chewy granola bars? Lol


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I was gonna say the same thing! Ha!

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

Do you mean a paper buisness card or like a credit card? Im looking to shim my saddles on my ax40 because when i lower my bridge to where its flat on the body the strings are buzzing and unplayable, but i like the bridge flat because the trem bar is much closer to the body the way i like it. The shims under the saddles seem like a logical plan, i was even before thinking of shaving the wood on the bottom of the neck where it joins the body so it sits lower, but after hearing this, it sounds much more logical.

 

[mtrejo]

…i was even before thinking of shaving the wood on the bottom of the neck where it joins the body so it sits lower, but after hearing this, it sounds much more logical.

Oh oh, CAREFUL, we don't want to see another DIYGW thread after you get your new neck in. I'd say take it in for a setup if you still have problems.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Great story. How are those chewy granola bars? Lol


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Delicious! Just wanted to show that I do actually use Food Lion products as per my signature!

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

Oh oh, CAREFUL, we don't want to see another DIYGW thread after you get your new neck in. I'd say take it in for a setup if you still have problems.

Oh God, you are so right, im just gonna put it on string it up and thats it.lol! But the shims under the saddle thing sounds harmless and reversible, i just need to raise the action while keeping the bridge low and flat on the body, i will try some business or playing card pieces under the saddles to raise it to my liking.

 

[DrKev]

Do you mean a paper buisness card or like a credit card?

Business cards. I like using Paris metro tickets. Cheap, plentiful where I live good thickness and not too soft.

But the shims under the saddle thing sounds harmless and reversible, i just need to raise the action while keeping the bridge low and flat on the body, i will try some business or playing card pieces under the saddles to raise it to my liking.

Yep under saddle shims would be good here but I would metal shims. There is a lot of pressure in a very small area from string tension under the saddles and anything compressible may not give you the result you need for very long. (Card, wood or thin plastic is fine for the neck pocket). Web search for "Floyd saddle shim" for more info and possible sources.

Any Floyd veterans around here care to make suggestions?

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

This is the shim I used. I cut it from a business card. It was a little thicker than a reg-ular business card and it turned out almost exactly the right height.

 

[Tollywood]

Delicious! Just wanted to show that I do actually use Food Lion products as per my signature!

waaaaaaaahahahaha! Hilarious!

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

What if i cut a plastic card to the size of the saddles and put them under each saddle, or maybe home depot may have some tiny pieces of metal that may work?

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

Well i took a semi rigid plastic card , cut it to a very narrow strip and slid it under all 6 saddles, it raised it about maybe 1mm, and re tightened the saddle screws. And then checked it from every angle and it looks good! The radius is still perfect and the saddles fine tuners still move, just a little tighter, and i think this will solve my action problem, now i cant wait for the new neck and to string it up! It will feel great to have good action AND have the bridge perfectly flat against the body( so my trem bar will be close and comfortable) before my trem arm was always far from the body because i had to have the posts a little high, now it will feel great!