gerardo1000
Well-known member
I posted this thread on UkeTalk, but maybe the proper place is this section. Thanks. I am the owner of a beautiful new Kala all solid mahogany super tenor, i.e. with a tenor body (slightly large at the lower bout) and a 19 inches long neck, almost like a baritone. I admit that I am very picky with my instruments set up, and I would like to be reassured by competent forum members that the set up and the neck angle of my new Kala are correct.
The strings action at the 12th fret is currently 2.75 mm. The distance between the mahogany top and the bottom of the 4th string at the bridge is 10mm. The strings break angle at the bridge is between 15 and 20 degrees.The saddle height over the bridge (not the total saddle height, only the part that is outside the bridge) looks a bit low to me, it is 2mm. My other ukuleles, including another Kala, with similar string action have a saddle height over the bridge of at least 3mm, one even 3.5 mm. So, for example, if I decide to lower the action at the 12th fret from 2.75mm to a more comfortable 2.25 mm. I must lower the saddle by one millimeter, which will leave the saddle height over the bridge to ONLY 1 mm...I read somewhere that it is important to have enough saddle room over the bridge because if in the future the neck angle changes a bit due to strings tension, it is just a matter of sanding the saddle accordingly. I attach two photos for your reference. Any opinion will be welcome, thanks!
The strings action at the 12th fret is currently 2.75 mm. The distance between the mahogany top and the bottom of the 4th string at the bridge is 10mm. The strings break angle at the bridge is between 15 and 20 degrees.The saddle height over the bridge (not the total saddle height, only the part that is outside the bridge) looks a bit low to me, it is 2mm. My other ukuleles, including another Kala, with similar string action have a saddle height over the bridge of at least 3mm, one even 3.5 mm. So, for example, if I decide to lower the action at the 12th fret from 2.75mm to a more comfortable 2.25 mm. I must lower the saddle by one millimeter, which will leave the saddle height over the bridge to ONLY 1 mm...I read somewhere that it is important to have enough saddle room over the bridge because if in the future the neck angle changes a bit due to strings tension, it is just a matter of sanding the saddle accordingly. I attach two photos for your reference. Any opinion will be welcome, thanks!