File or Files to Slot TOM Saddles

[agreatheight]

So apparently I need to slot the saddles for my Tune-o-matic bridge, lol. I wasn't expecting to but that's my fault. I have a basic understanding of what I need to do, but I need the file or files to do it. StewMac suggests buying their sized nut files at 13 - 17 $ each. DAMN... I'd be looking at drop almost 90 $. And then they want you to finish it with abrasive cord, another 50 $ or so. Man, is there a cheaper way to do it, and still get good results?

 

[Patrick from Davis]

A small triangle file, a little wet dry sand paper, and a light touch.  Should be about 10 to 15 bucks.
Patrick

 

[agreatheight]

OK, that is exactly what I was thinking. Thanks much!

 

[BigBeard]

A small triangle file, a little wet dry sand paper, and a light touch.  Should be about 10 to 15 bucks.
Patrick

+1,000,000

I found a tiny set of files at my local Harbor Freight store.  I think they were $4 for the set.  Cheezy handles, but the files are fine!! 

You can use an emory board for your A and E strings.  Heck, if it is a brass TOM you can use a steak knife, it will kill the knife, but it works.  I did the first two nuts I ever cut with a steak knife and an emory board.  You can actually use old wound strings and saw back and forth with them, they are harder than brass.  It will take you forever and a day to do any of these methods, there are better tools than what I am describing, but if you are cheap like me, and hate buying tools for one job, you improvise!!  I will say this on that note, it is far easier to do a job with the proper tools!!  Shop around a little, StewMac isn't the only supplier of small tools like that.  Think outside the guitar box.  Jewlers use small files and dentists use smaller dremel bits than Joe Public can buy, so that being said, Google Jewlers files or something to maybe find a cheaper source.

One last thought is this.... You can do the job with the smallest size file you need, and some time.  You can cut a bigger slot with a smaller file, just use more passes.

 

[RU36]

So apparently I need to slot the saddles for my Tune-o-matic bridge, lol. I wasn't expecting to but that's my fault. I have a basic understanding of what I need to do, but I need the file or files to do it. StewMac suggests buying their sized nut files at 13 - 17 $ each. DAMN... I'd be looking at drop almost 90 $. And then they want you to finish it with abrasive cord, another 50 $ or so. Man, is there a cheaper way to do it, and still get good results?

Did you order the bridge from warmoth?

 

[Steve_Karl]

This is where you can fine tune your individual height adjustments for each string so go slowly and test by playing.

The Les Paul Studio I bought a few months ago need the saddle slots tweaked to get the correct balance between the g,b,e.
The b is too low, so I'll have to deepen the E and possibly the G very slightly.