New Gibson…neck overset. Concern or should I just shut up and play the dang thing.

[davenumber2]

Originally Posted by Myopic Squirrel

Enlarged both pictures trying to see the gap. Would someone please point out where it’s located for these old eyes? Thank you in advance!

At the back of the saddle. Even a slight gap can cause the saddle to lean forward toward the headstock putting a lot of pressure on the front of the bridge. It can (worst case scenario) cause the bridge to crack or distort the saddle slot over time, especially with a taller saddle.

[Myopic Squirrel]

Dave#2 - thank you along with explanation as to the potential consequences.

[PineMarten]

The bridge/saddle geometry is very similar on my G45 Standard from 2020, so perhaps that's just how they're making them lately. Mine is four years old and doesn't seem to have had problems but it does have the belly type bridge. I suppose it could be a concern with the way many undersaddle pickups advise a somewhat loose fitting saddle, on mine I'm going to take all that out and give it a snug fitting bone saddle.

[CharlieBman]

I'm in the "If it ain't broke..." camp. I'd just get on with playing it.

[Nick84]

Gibsons tend to ship with a tall saddle. I’d rather have it that way than the other way around.

I wouldn’t worry. I’d imagine the slightly looser saddle is for the benefit of the UST which will be installed.

[Lillis]

Yeah, I’ve decided not to worry about it. I’m going to change the strings and evaluate saddle fit. A couple of people have mentioned a slightly loose saddle is normal for under saddle pick ups. Why is that?

[PineMarten]

Originally Posted by Lillis

Yeah, I’ve decided not to worry about it. I’m going to change the strings and evaluate saddle fit. A couple of people have mentioned a slightly loose saddle is normal for under saddle pick ups. Why is that?

It's actually written into the fitting guide for the Baggs system that Gibson uses in many models, Baggs even stress the importance of shaping a slight angle into the bottom of the saddle to allow for the lean. I know it seems contrary to what any luthier says about saddles, but it does look like they do it intentionally.

[Lillis]

Originally Posted by PineMarten

It's actually written into the fitting guide for the Baggs system that Gibson uses in many models, Baggs even stress the importance of shaping a slight angle into the bottom of the saddle to allow for the lean. I know it seems contrary to what any luthier says about saddles, but it does look like they do it intentionally.

Interesting. Since I never play plugged in I'll probably fashion a saddle with a more snug (not overly so) fit.

[abn556]

I can’t tell if its too high without the frame of reference of looking down the neck from the headstock down. That give you the perspective of how tall the bridge and saddle are in relation to the surface of the fingerboard. Also the LG-2 has an under the saddle pickup wire right? You could try pushing the wire back through the hole in the bridge and the reinstalling the saddle. You’ll find it will sit lower and may even need to be shimmed or possibly replaced. If you pull the pup wire out there and you start seeing any buzzing from the 10-15 fret range then its too low.

As for the LG-2, I have been wanting to get one of those. What do you think of the sound? I find my wife’s L-00 and my LG-0 to both be a little thumpy on the low end at times. They are also both very midrange focused. Is that the case with the LG-2? Is it rich and full, or does it sound like a small guitar? I have played a couple before, but wasn’t able to reach a conclusion as I was there primarily to buy other guitars.

[JonF]

I just picked up a J-45 last week that also had a tall and slightly loose saddle (and a very slight lean). It worried me a bit as well... but this thread is putting my mind at ease...

[Lillis]

Originally Posted by abn556

I can’t tell if its too high without the frame of reference of looking down the neck from the headstock down. That give you the perspective of how tall the bridge and saddle are in relation to the surface of the fingerboard. Also the LG-2 has an under the saddle pickup wire right? You could try pushing the wire back through the hole in the bridge and the reinstalling the saddle. You’ll find it will sit lower and may even need to be shimmed or possibly replaced. If you pull the pup wire out there and you start seeing any buzzing from the 10-15 fret range then its too low.

As for the LG-2, I have been wanting to get one of those. What do you think of the sound? I find my wife’s L-00 and my LG-0 to both be a little thumpy on the low end at times. They are also both very midrange focused. Is that the case with the LG-2? Is it rich and full, or does it sound like a small guitar? I have played a couple before, but wasn’t able to reach a conclusion as I was there primarily to buy other guitars.

Yeah after measuring the current saddle then checking what is available I might push the pickup into the body and tape the wire to the top. If I did it with current saddle it would be too low.

As far as tone I would say it is rich and full. I don’t find it boomy but it does have adequate bass. I wouldn’t say it sounds boxy but there certainly is a significant difference between it and my J35.

[PineMarten]

I will say, I excised the accursed Sonitone from my G45 today and fitted a bone saddle that fits snugly in the slot to the same height as the original Tusq one plus pickup, and I'm sure it's added a little something to the acoustic tone of the guitar. Some of that may be conformation bias, but a better saddle fit without the slightly squishy piezo cable underneath probably contributes too. And losing the leaning saddle seems like it must be healthier for the long term robustness of the bridge.

[rllink]

If intonation is good, the string height is good, and it plays good, then it is good. Don't go looking for problems that aren't there.

[abn556]

Originally Posted by Lillis

Yeah after measuring the current saddle then checking what is available I might push the pickup into the body and tape the wire to the top. If I did it with current saddle it would be too low.

As far as tone I would say it is rich and full. I don’t find it boomy but it does have adequate bass. I wouldn’t say it sounds boxy but there certainly is a significant difference between it and my J35.

That pickup wire is pretty thin. Gibson sets them up with the wire, so it could end up being a tad too low. This happened to me when I removed the electronics from my wife’s L-00 and my J-45. I got a shim kit from Bob Colosi’s web site. Its not complicated to install a shim, but it takes patience with a razor to cut a thin strip of rosewood laminate the length and width of the saddle. I would say, I spent no more than 30 minutes shimming each saddle from start to finish, including removing strings and restringing the guitar.

How do you like your J-185?

[Lillis]

I love my J185. It was kind of a bucket list guitar and I’m so glad I pulled the trigger on one. Sweetwater heavily discounted them at the end of last year.