G&L ASAT nut and bridge questions...

[2tonejones]

Hi there,

I have a beautiful ASAT Special with ebony fretboard that has been my main gigging guitar for about a decade. I had it set up by a top professional in town in the spring after it had developed a bit of a buzz, and it played great for about a couple months, then the summer hit and my high e string started buzzing like a sitar, and as the winter has progressed, the b string has decided to join in on the sitar buzzing. I have tried many adjustments (truss rod-string height) to no avail - the buzz always comes back.

I am wondering if it is possible that the nut has been worn down a bit too much and that possibly a replacement may solve some of my woes. I also find that the g string when played on the first fret (G#) is significantly sharper than it should be - seems like it has slowly been getting worse. I couldn't find a replacement nut on the online store so any direction on where/what nut to get is appreciated.

Lastly, the saddle on my low E string has been worn way from my hand so much that I can no longer adjust the height and its just a tad too low. Was wondering if there is anyway to just get the saddle(s) as the rest of the bridge is fine and do not necessarily want to shell out for a whole new bridge if I don't have to. The g&L online store only seems to sell the entire bridge.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Miles Smiles]

A replacement nut you may find here: http://www.graphtech.com/products.html?SubCategoryID=4

I had one of these on my ASAT Classic Bluesboy, before I made one out of a bone blank. But for that you'll need a set of files. Any guitar-tech should be able to make a perfect fitting nut out of a blank.

The problem with worn out string saddles I had too. I drilled out the screw without destroying the threads and put in new screws. Screws you might get from here: http://www.graphtech.com/products.html?SubCategoryID=41 or http://guitarpartsresource.com/screws_bridge.htm

[darwinohm]

I have experienced the sitar issue several times. It is almost always a result of saddles or saddle adjustment. Based on the amount of playing that you have done, I would suspect that new saddles may be in order as the area where the string goes over the saddle is worn so you no longer get a clean break. Also, with the adjustment issue with the high E would warrant a new saddle anyway. I believe that they are available from the G&L online store and not that expensive. The nut could need work but I doubt that it is causing the sitar buzzing.-- Darwin

[Miles Smiles]

There are just the saddles for Dual Fulcrum bridges there. Would be great, they would sell saddles for the saddle lock bridges too, as for their ~0.4 inch height, no replacement saddles will properly fit.

[darwinohm]

Sorry for the incorrect information and I'm glad that you pointed it out Miles. I didn't realize there were only DF saddles available. I wish that G&L were a bit more proactive on replacement parts. -- Darwin

[louis cyfer]

take it back to the tech and have him make you a nut. that is too important to get a premade one or to do it yourself. is the sitaring only on the open string or on the fretted notes as well?

[2tonejones]

Hey thanks for the reponses guys.

The sitaring is actually worse on the first few frets - particularly the 3rd fret on the b string, but does it a bit open as well. I have adjusted the saddles a million times but it just keeps coming back.

I can't actually get any traction on the screw in the low E saddle at all, otherwise I would have taken it out by now.

I guess my best bet is to have a new nut made, and call G&L to see if it's possible to just get the saddles for the bridge. If there was a G&L guy here who could help me out with that, that would be greatly appreciated. I love this guitar, but it has declined to an unplayable state.

Cheers,

[Craig]

I'd like to get some information about you and your guitar:

Where are you located? Please add your location to your G&L Forum profile.

Please register your guitar in our G&L Registry. That way I can determine
the approximate age of the guitar. I did read that you've been playing this guitar for
about a decade, but would like to know the build year. Have you, by chance,
removed the neck and recorded the body and neck date stamps?

I don't know if you have seen this post in the G&L Knowledgebase, G&L Tech Tips sub-forum:
Set-Ups, answering some questions.
A number of members here have commented that it has helped them in the past.

I have tried many adjustments (truss rod-string height) to no avail - the buzz always comes back.

After adjusting the neck setup, does the buzzing go away. Your comment seems to imply that.
If so, I would focus more on the neck setup and make sure it has stablized after adjusting. Re-check the neck
measurements to insure they are still in spec. See the G&L Owner's Manualfor the setup procedures.

If you still have the sitar buzzing, and still think it is caused by the G string saddle,
try swapping the G saddle with the low E saddle and readjust the saddle heights.
Does that eliminate the sitaring buzz?

Also, can you post a closeup photo of the bridge?

I will check with the Factory about obtaining single saddles for the Saddle-Lock bridge.

Hope this helps.

[2tonejones]

Ok, I added my location and registered my guitar. I bought it new in around 99 or so. Might have been in the store a little while...

The G string hasn't been buzzing too bad - it is more the B and high e string. The G string question was about how to deal with the fact that when I tune the open G correctly, when I press on the first fret (G#), it is significantly sharp.

Unfortunately the low E saddle will be usless anywhere as it can no longer be adjusted due to corrosion and is currently too low.

I think my best bet is to just get a whole new set of saddles to potentially help solve a couple of these issues. Then take it to my tech and get him to cut a nut and set it up.

btw I talked to Chris R. on the phone and sent him an email. He thought he could get the saddles for me

I'll post a pic soon. I'm just a bit computer retarded so I don't really see how to do that now - although I did take a couple of pics. I'd also like to add one to the registry, but will try to read up on how to do that here. Thanks for the links too. I think I read those before, but will take another gander at it.

These damn Canadian winters are probably part of the problem. It just hasn't been this bad before...

Cheers

[louis cyfer]

when the g string is sharp at the first fret, see what happen when you fret the note with just barely enough pressure to make contact with the fret. see if it's still sharp. depending on the answer, you'll have different directions to go.

[Craig]

Ok, I added my location and registered my guitar. I bought it new in around 99 or so. Might have been in the store a little while...

The G string hasn't been buzzing too bad - it is more the B and high e string. The G string question was about how to deal with the fact that when I tune the open G correctly, when I press on the first fret (G#), it is significantly sharp.

Unfortunately the low E saddle will be usless anywhere as it can no longer be adjusted due to corrosion and is currently too low.

I think my best bet is to just get a whole new set of saddles to potentially help solve a couple of these issues. Then take it to my tech and get him to cut a nut and set it up.

btw I talked to Chris R. on the phone and sent him an email. He thought he could get the saddles for me

I'll post a pic soon. I'm just a bit computer retarded so I don't really see how to do that now - although I did take a couple of pics. I'd also like to add one to the registry, but will try to read up on how to do that here. Thanks for the links too. I think I read those before, but will take another gander at it.

These damn Canadian winters are probably part of the problem. It just hasn't been this bad before...

Cheers

Chris will make it happen and take good care of you, I'm sure.

See this post for details on posting photos: Tutorial: Posting photos.

Our G&L Registry does not currently have provisions for adding photos to a registry entry.
We do have a Registered User's Gallery in the GbL Gallery, where you can upload photos
of your G&L instruments.