Anyone Find Saddles Sharp?

TeleMaster

The last two guitars I bought, a Suhr Pete Thorn and a PRS Tremonti, the edge of the saddle on the low E is razor blade sharp. So when I palm mute the edge of the saddle digs into my palm and irritates the crap out of me. 

I'm not sure if this is something I've just started to notice as it's been 25 years without an issue, or if my technique has changed recently, but I've had to file the edge of the low E so it's rounded. 

Anyone else notice this?

Jalapeno

Same applies to the grub screw tops on saddles, had to give them a going over too.

ICBM

And the corners of the nut, especially the treble side.

Philly_Q

I'm just waiting for the "man up" posts to start....

TeleMaster

Glad it isn't just me. It's very, very irritating! I never noticed this before so I don't know what happened. 

maltingsaudio

Grub screws on standard saddles a pain in the palm as well as tunamatic  brdges   

TeleMaster

I've got to say that doesn't bother me. Why don't they round the sides off and softened the saddles?

Sassafras

I wear gloves to lessen the injuries and agonising pain from sharp saddles.

rze99

I buy the small size replacement adjustment screws from Axecaster.No more sharp. 

ToneControl

Some guitars, yes

hessodreamy

I have, on occasion, sworn off telecasters because I don't like the way the screws hurt my delicate little fretting hand. I guess shortening the screws would be a less drastic solution.

*edit - I do mean picking hand!

ICBM

hessodreamy said:

I have, on occasion, sworn off telecasters because I don't like the way the screws hurt my delicate little fretting hand. I guess shortening the screws would be a less drastic solution.

Just don't do what a customer of mine did, and file down the *tops* of the screws .

stickyfiddle

I always use a combination of shorter screws and neck shims for Fender-type bridges to make sure the screws don't stick up out of the holes. I don't know how people put up with a guitar that hurts if you hit it wrong.

ICBM

stickyfiddle said:

I always use a combination of shorter screws and neck shims for Fender-type bridges to make sure the screws don't stick up out of the holes. I don't know how people put up with a guitar that hurts if you hit it wrong.

+1. I always aim to have the Es (with short screws), D and G saddles with the screws almost perfectly flush with the tops, and the A and B very slightly above, but not high enough to catch your hand on them. On most Strats this can be achieved without a shim, but I will use one if it can't.

guitargeek62

TeleMaster said:

The last two guitars I bought, a Suhr Pete Thorn and a PRS Tremonti, the edge of the saddle on the low E is razor blade sharp. So when I palm mute the edge of the saddle digs into my palm and irritates the crap out of me. 

Interesting, I can't say I've ever had that issue on a PRS! I presume this is a trem-equipped Tremonti?

merlin

This is the exact reason that I've moved onto violin. No more palm muting. 

TeleMaster

guitargeek62 said:

TeleMaster said:

The last two guitars I bought, a Suhr Pete Thorn and a PRS Tremonti, the edge of the saddle on the low E is razor blade sharp. So when I palm mute the edge of the saddle digs into my palm and irritates the crap out of me. 

Interesting, I can't say I've ever had that issue on a PRS! I presume this is a trem-equipped Tremonti?

Yea. Here it is.



The edge and pointed bit of the saddle is sharp, as most of these kind of saddles are. They're not rounded so they should have quite a pointed edge. Have a feel of yours, is it pointed?

It's most likely the way my hand sits on the bridge and as I palm mute and slide about mininally when doing muted syncopated rhythms it catches the edge and it irritates me. I filed the edge of the Suhr down and it's largely perfect now. 

Mudcrutch

You should try riding a donkey without a saddle for ten days.
There backbone will give you a whole new definition of sharp.

TeleMaster

Mudcrutch said:

You should try riding a donkey without a saddle for ten days.
There backbone will give you a whole new definition of sharp.

Why would I ride a Donkey for 10 days? Am I lost in the desert or something?

LastMantra

Something I've never had a problem with on my guitars. Don't have a telecaster though. Another reason not to like them 

Mudcrutch

TeleMaster said:

Mudcrutch said:

You should try riding a donkey without a saddle for ten days.
There backbone will give you a whole new definition of sharp.

Why would I ride a Donkey for 10 days? Am I lost in the desert or something?

It was a lighthearted joke.
I did 10 days in Wales without a saddle as a kid in the 60s