Fender Electric XII Saddle Buzzing
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 8:04 am
Hi Folks,
I have posted before, but still haven't solved this problem. I have a 66' Fender XII and I have some sitar-sounding saddle buzz coming from the high octave D (.13) and G (.10) strings. I am 100% confident it is coming from the saddles. As you know, the Fender XII saddles are round, so unlike a tune o matic, or other bridges with minimal contact between string and saddle, there is a lot of contact here, due to its shape, and I am getting a sound as if the string is vibrating against the saddle behind its initial point of contact. I've tried flipping the saddles around, cleaning them, etc.
I have taken it to the two most reputable shops in my city.
The first basically told me they don't hear it (ie we can't fix it and you're overreacting).
The second shop said they absolutely hear it and also trace it back to the saddles. They first buffed down the saddle to smooth out any thing that could be causing vibration. When that didn't work, they tried to file a string slot into one of the saddles. Problem is, the saddles are made of steel and they could not file a path with saddle files. They said they'd have to use a rotary dremel wheel to literally cut into it. They didn't want to do that, and I am skeptical it will even work because those wheels are very wide.
1. Their next idea was to basically cut a small section out of the saddle, almost like a piece of pie, with a cutting wheel, which would give a point for the string to sit on, ensuring no part of the string could touch anything behind the point of contact with the saddle. Imagine from 12 to 3 o clock on the saddle there is no material. The string rests at 12 o'clock and there is literally no material behind it. If I had a spare saddle I'd absolutely try it. Unfortunately if it doesn't work, these things are HARD to replace.
2. Their next idea that was to remove the saddles and saddle block entirely, and fit a tune-o-matic style bridge where the saddle block is currently located. A Gibson-style 12 saddle tune-o-matic bridge would fit in the space https://www.guitarparts.co.nz/media/cat ... -web_1.jpg but the problem is the overall string width of those bridges is significantly narrower than the fender XII width, so there would be a LOT of empty space on each side of the fretboard and the strings would be very close together.
Does anyone have tips on other bridges out there that string up tune-o-matic style? I measured a Rick 12 saddle bridge and it has the same issue with the bridge width. Gotoh style will not work because of the string through pattern through the back of the guitar.
For reference, here's an image of the bridge (not mine):
I have posted before, but still haven't solved this problem. I have a 66' Fender XII and I have some sitar-sounding saddle buzz coming from the high octave D (.13) and G (.10) strings. I am 100% confident it is coming from the saddles. As you know, the Fender XII saddles are round, so unlike a tune o matic, or other bridges with minimal contact between string and saddle, there is a lot of contact here, due to its shape, and I am getting a sound as if the string is vibrating against the saddle behind its initial point of contact. I've tried flipping the saddles around, cleaning them, etc.
I have taken it to the two most reputable shops in my city.
The first basically told me they don't hear it (ie we can't fix it and you're overreacting).
The second shop said they absolutely hear it and also trace it back to the saddles. They first buffed down the saddle to smooth out any thing that could be causing vibration. When that didn't work, they tried to file a string slot into one of the saddles. Problem is, the saddles are made of steel and they could not file a path with saddle files. They said they'd have to use a rotary dremel wheel to literally cut into it. They didn't want to do that, and I am skeptical it will even work because those wheels are very wide.
1. Their next idea was to basically cut a small section out of the saddle, almost like a piece of pie, with a cutting wheel, which would give a point for the string to sit on, ensuring no part of the string could touch anything behind the point of contact with the saddle. Imagine from 12 to 3 o clock on the saddle there is no material. The string rests at 12 o'clock and there is literally no material behind it. If I had a spare saddle I'd absolutely try it. Unfortunately if it doesn't work, these things are HARD to replace.
2. Their next idea that was to remove the saddles and saddle block entirely, and fit a tune-o-matic style bridge where the saddle block is currently located. A Gibson-style 12 saddle tune-o-matic bridge would fit in the space https://www.guitarparts.co.nz/media/cat ... -web_1.jpg but the problem is the overall string width of those bridges is significantly narrower than the fender XII width, so there would be a LOT of empty space on each side of the fretboard and the strings would be very close together.
Does anyone have tips on other bridges out there that string up tune-o-matic style? I measured a Rick 12 saddle bridge and it has the same issue with the bridge width. Gotoh style will not work because of the string through pattern through the back of the guitar.
For reference, here's an image of the bridge (not mine):