Filing TOM Saddles

[GuitarMadCap]

I’m thinking about pivoting from doing another WGD to a VIP or Mooncaster. I see that those require a TOM bridge so I would need to file the saddles. I’ve been scrolling through the forum looking for some information on filing these. Can someone point me in the right direction as I have never filed saddles before? It may be more work than I want to get into but I do love arch top semi-hollows. I’ve seen some of the examples of Mooncasters and VIPs by some of the experienced builders on the forum and man, they look sweet!

 

[ragamuffin]

I had to file the saddles for the t.o.m. on my double cut carved top build; I used nut slotting files but I'm sure that there's probably a cheaper alternative if you don't already have nut slotting files

 

[GuitarMadCap]

I had to file the saddles for the t.o.m. on my double cut carved top build; I used nut slotting files but I'm sure that there's probably a cheaper alternative if you don't already have nut slotting files

I definitely do not have the files. I see that they are not cheap and it seems like I would need to buy a different file for each saddle/string.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I learned the basics on needle files like the cheap kit from Harbor Freight, but actual nut files like the Music Nomad set make it far more precise.

 

[GuitarMadCap]

I learned the basics on needle files like the cheap kit from Harbor Freight, but actual nut files like the Music Nomad set make it far more precise.

Thanks for the advice. StewMac just had a tool sale so I bought the appropriate file for each string gauge. I watched a couple How To videos on it. It looks fairly simple.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Thanks for the advice. StewMac just had a tool sale so I bought the appropriate file for each string gauge. I watched a couple How To videos on it. It looks fairly simple.

Just don’t go too deep.
I have spare frets of varied sizes. I use a fret the next size taller than the ones already on the guitar. I use the fret tang nipper and sip the tang completely and polish it smooth. I do two of these and place one up agains the fretboard side of the nut, and another right up next to the first fret. This determines the lowest depth of the nut slot to be filed, and protects the first fret from getting scratched up.

 

[Rick]

Not a TOM, but instead used the GOTOH wrap around on my VIP with a regular compound neck. I thought I might need to do some filing, but I didn't and it came out great. Maybe I'm just lucky? No problems though.

 

[GuitarMadCap]

Not a TOM, but instead used the GOTOH wrap around on my VIP with a regular compound neck. I thought I might need to do some filing, but I didn't and it came out great. Maybe I'm just lucky? No problems though.

I chose the Gotoh wrap around as well. It looks like both types of bridges have the guide slots in place on the saddles. Are you saying those are sufficient to hold the strings in place? I seldom do the Townsend windmill these days.

 

[Rick]

Yep. Each little string is pushing down with 25 lbs on a tiny point. No problem. On tele barrel bridges no prob either. It's a lot of pressure holding things on a very small point.