String Action

[Scott Kevin]

So I have a Ce24 semi hollow. I set the neck relief just like I do on all my other guitars. But seems the string height adjustment bottoms out. It’s playable, To my eyes looks like the saddles are to big to go any lower , like I want to grind them down. Or replace them with fender strat type saddles. Anyone else have this problem?

 

[Going Modal]

This happened (slowly over time) on my '93 Telecaster, and I just resolved it recently. Turns out, something about the neck-body angle changed over time; thankfully there's a built-in "micro-tilt" adjustment within its neck attachment, and I was able to loosen the neck, adjust, check, adjust, check... and fixed it. Was able to get my saddles perfectly back to their medium-ish position where they should be.

Without that "micro-tilt" adjustment, I would've had to shim the neck--which, thankfully, since your CE is a bolt-on neck too, you could do (or have a technician do for you). I'm not saying that's specifically your problem--but if it is, it sounds fixable.

 

[Scott Kevin]

That might be what I need to do. I have only had the guitar a year. But it’s always been that way. I always had the 6 string saddle all the way down. I think StewMac might have those shims. I don’t think mine has a tilt adjustment. I don’t see a hole on the neck plate for it

 

[Uncle Bob]

Is the trem level?

 

[Scott Kevin]

Yes the bridge trem is straight parallel with the body. I check it because I wondered about adjusting the spring tension.

 

[Scott Kevin]

I just watched a video on using shims. Looks like that is the answer. Seems simple enough. But seem like a new PRS wouldn’t need that. Like I said it was like this when I got it new. I just decided I wanted lower action

 

[MPH426]

I just watched a video on using shims. Looks like that is the answer. Seems simple enough. But seem like a new PRS wouldn’t need that. Like I said it was like this when I got it new. I just decided I wanted lower action

I've had to do this to a few guitars over the years. The first one I did it to was a Teisco Del Ray... That was over 40 years ago! I was 15 at the time. It didn't need much more angle so I ended up using layers of construction paper. It worked out great and lasted several years.

 

[Uncle Bob]

Yes the bridge trem is straight parallel with the body. I check it because I wondered about adjusting the spring tension.

Sorry, what I meant was, how about from side to side? As in, is the bridge the same height away from the body at both ends? Spring tension will not affect this.

 

[IOI]

I'm sure no one else is a dumb as me but if there ever is and they find this thread my experience may help them.

I changed my string and the action was high, I lowered the saddles until the 1st bottomed out and left it there until the next string change.

After the next string change the action was really low, thinking about it now the only conclusion I can draw is that the knife edge ended up above the grooves in the screws after the first string change and remained there for the duration. Tuning was unaffected and the trem action was smooth, seems no harm done.