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If I wanted to lower the action differentially, or if my saddle were notched or otherwise damaged on top, I'd lower it from the top. I could use the same marking technique, or I could plot a new curve "by eye" to approximately the dimensions I think might work best:



Then I'd sand the top of the saddle to the line:


And recreate the radius or rounded top edge by rocking the saddle from side to side as I sand:


I'd finish up with some 320 grit sandpaper to further round and smooth the top edge to get a good bearing surface for the strings:



If I hold the saddle up to a straightedge, I can see my progress in rounding over the top:


If I go too far in lowering my saddle, I can shim it back up with little slips of wood veneer. But, I'd much rather make a new saddle rather than shim the old one both for tonal and structural reasons.

Some guitars present special difficulties. An older Martin may have a "through-cut" saddle which is glued in place. It's no mean trick to remove one of these saddles, which are often destroyed in the process. Likewise, it's a pain to make a new one, and messy to shim an old one.


Here, I'll work on the saddle without removing it:

I have the top of the guitar protected with some heavy card stock paper taped lightly in place.


I'm using a double cut file to grind the top of the saddle lower, leaving it flat on top:



This is a fret file:

I find it the ideal tool for rounding over saddles.

I can works safely on the bridge, and I can produce an ideal radius on the saddle:



Then, protecting the bridge with some masking tape, I can smooth the saddle with some 320 grit sandpaper:


I don't know any guitar mechanics who like working with glued-in saddles. There's always the risk that you'll need to raise the saddle later, and that's a lot of work, what with getting the old one out safely, making and gluing in the new one.

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