Saddle on a Flinthill dread too high and leaning forward.

[Marc Duhamel]

Hello all, the guitar in question is at a local store being sold as new.  Would this pressure damage the bridge?  Does it need a new saddle?  (i want to install a pickup eventually.)  Otherwise sounds really good but action is a little high.

[William F.Eden]

Well Mark the way I fix the saddel leaning .I just glue a pice of paper on the front side of the saddel  that usely fixes that .As far as the saddle being to high just take some off the top off it .BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER that if you need to take the strings down at the 12th fret say 1/16th you will have to take 1/8th off the saddle. In other words what ever you need to lower the strings at the 12th fret you have take twice as much off the saddle.     So will you have enouff saddle left to do that and still be left with enoff angle left over the saddle to the pins? Bill.......

[Paul Verticchio]

Hi Marc.

The Flinthill guitars are budget/entry level guitars (MSRP's of $220-$400). ALL guitars in this price range are a series of manufacturing compromises to get the guitar to market at a certain price point.

I'm with Bill on the fact that you may not have enough saddle left after lowering the action (several pictures would be required to give you even a non-binding diagnosis) . This is a VERY common situation with low budget imports. Also, these instruments are truly not built in a way where they can be 'serviced' like other acoustic guitars primarily due to a a thing we call "Asian Mystery Glue. My point being; if it doesn't meet your expectations when new (and a leaning saddle is not something to be ignored), the chances of effecting a cost effective repair or modification are more difficult.

As a new instrument, it should be warranted against manufacturing defects. I urge you discuss your concern with the dealer and have it corrected under warranty before you purchase it. This serves two purposes: 1. You get a functional NEW instrument. 2: It sends up a red flag to the importer that QC needs improved in this area.

Personally, given the budget level of that particular instrument and the nature of the defect: I'd pass on it. Again, that is ONLY my personal point of view.

Best of  luck with your buying decision :)

[Kerry Krishna]

 Marc, buying an axe like this with problems that are obvious to the first person that sees it, is the hight of asking for trouble. 

 I won't go farther than telling you ( to add to the two other posts) that the first time this guitar gets dumped/falls over, will almost certainly be it's last, as the necks on most of these things are only held on with two pieces of dowling, and some glue. 

 They are not able to be repaired. 

 I seem to state my opinion here much stronger here than most of the other  repair folks here, so I would say, go buy a Simon and Patrick/Art and Luthier/ Norman ,  anything made in any of the three La Patrie Quebec factories  owned by  Godin.    They are available all over North America and consistently are at the top of the lists made every year on the Guitar Forums as 'starter' guitar.  

They are the  cheapest quality guitars in North America, and the Luthiers love them too because they are easily fixed.

These guitars are quite sturdy, and up Canada way were I live, there are thousands of 35 year old ones that still are daily players. 

 Just my opinion.

Marc,it's also great that you are actually doing your research too. It bodes well for you musical life down the road! 

[Greg Mirken]

I'll echo Kerry's advice. Have a look at the Canadian Godin instruments if you can. All of their brands are about comparable in terms of build quality. I sold them in my store for 10 years or so- the toughest part about selling them was they don't look as shiny as Asian products. Once I got customers past that so they could see the better construction, playability, and tone they were an easy choice for many.

That Flinthill likely has a shim or 2 stuck under the saddle as a last-ditch effort to get rid of a rattle as it was about to leave the factory.