Lowering the action on my A100

[crofty]

I wonder if anyone can help me with advice on lowering the action on my A100.It is currently a smidge over 3mm at the 12th(low E).
I have read on this forum that there is a spacer below the saddle.
If not is it recommended to shave a bit off the saddle or is there some truss rod adjustment required as well.All advice gratefully received.
Thanks
Steve

[JB]

Hi Crofty, welcome to the forums

There should be a rosewood shim under the saddle, it's approx 1.3mm thick (same thickness as Fishman pick-up) and the quickest way to lower action is by removing it and test.

Sanding a very small amount, otherwise known as a "smidgon", of the bottom of the saddle is fine as long as you do it carefully and evenly.

If it's not flat and even you could mess up the balance if you ever put a pick-up in it.

Hope this helps
Jim

[crofty]

Thanks Jim I will try that for starters.It looks easy to sand the saddle when you look at websites like Frets.com but I know from bitter experience that these things arnt always as easy as they look.
Many Thanks
Steve

[monkey587]

Thanks Jim I will try that for starters.It looks easy to sand the saddle when you look at websites like Frets.com but I know from bitter experience that these things arnt always as easy as they look.
Many Thanks
Steve

I lowered my own action on my A101. The bridge sanding thing isn't as scary when you actually do it, I find. I did, however, overdo it and have to shim it back up a bit. The hard thing was to get it to be even.

[crofty]

Thanks for the advice from you both.I took out the shim yesterday and the action is fine now,as good as my L'arrivees.
I think putting that shim in is an inspired idea,it makes the guitar so versitile,higher action for volume and flatpicking or lowering it for a gentler fingerpicking style.
One thing I did notice that all the wood shavings left over from the bridge being drilled out were still hanging there inside.The first change of strings could dislodge them into the body of the guitar and maybe cause some annoying rattles,just a wee thing but it would only take a few seconds to clean them out.

Steve

[JB]

The easiest way to keep the bottom of the saddle level as you sand it, is to place the "fresh" sheet of sand-paper on a piece of flat glass

works a treat

[monkey587]

The easiest way to keep the bottom of the saddle level as you sand it, is to place the "fresh" sheet of sand-paper on a piece of flat glass

works a treat

I did that... the problem, apparently, was uneven pressure.

[Petrainy]

My brother builds acoustic guitars and warned me to watch out about lowering the action too much on my 201A, it changes the angle between the strings and top, perhaps giving less volume and noticable change in the sound. I removed the shim and right away "heard" that he was right...I did it anyway because I preferred the lower action.