Matt237

Ha Ha Jesse, you can fit a new saddle bro! Next time you change the strings on it, take them all off, and see if the saddle falls out when you turn the guitar over. If so, I would say its a loose fitting one, and would surely benefit from fitting a slightly wider one for a snug fit. On my 'bird, the original saddle was so loose that when i took all the strings off, the saddle lifted itself out with the springiness of the Baggs UST under it!! Now that MUST have been impeding the potential of the whole guitar....and thats kind of the point for me - I love to tinker with my guitars, cos sometimes the simple things can maximise the guitars potential. I'm not looking to change the tone - I love how my Hummingbird sounds, but some simple changes can certainly 'improve' the way the guitar works and sounds. Plus, I enjoy seeing how it all works! Matt

Just weighed it in - its 97grams total weight, which includes the whole wiring, pre-amp end pin, 9v battery and all the clips / battery bags etc. I'm sure its my imagination, but I could believe that removing the velcro battery bag from the inside has produced a slightly crisper and more resonant bass response!!! Removing the actual under saddle transducer bit from under the saddle that I did a while ago had a definite improvement on the sound. In line with the LR Baggs recommendation I guess, the standard Gibson saddle fit was quite sloppy in the bridge. So after I removed the pickup, I refitted with a proper tight fitting saddle, which probably accounts for most of the sonic improvement. Matt

Well, I posted a while back about removing the LR Baggs Element UST from my Hummingbird - I'd pulled the UST out, fitted a new saddle and left the pre-amp and all the wiring inside the guitar.....and all was good. Today I set about removing the whole wiring loom, as I was happy with the set up and will never use the Baggs in the future.....what a sticky, messy job!! Easy removing the pre-amp, and unclipping the wiring loom. But then removing the wiring clips and battery bag was a big pain in the arse. They are stuck to the inside of the guitar with self adhesive little sticky pads...which when removed leave a sticky, gluey residue!!! Took me 2 hours of gentle scraping, scratching and rubbing at it to get it all off! Especially where the battery pack was on the neck block - had to resort to rubbing at the residue with some 80 grit sand paper! Didn't want to use any sort of chemical as it is bare wood on the inside, so just good old time and effort! Anyway, just a warning to anyone thinking of doing the same - it does all come off, but it ain't so easy! Wish I'd taken some photos of it, but grabbing the camera was the last thing on my mind at that time!! Feel better now though not having a load of redundant wiring inside the body. Fitted one of the NoJak endpins, which works like a dream. Matt

I'm currently using a set of Dean Markley Helix PB 12-53 on my HB MC, which are sounding fantastic. I'm not a fan of coated strings, and generally like the tone of standard D'addario's, but find they don't last any time at all before they sound dull and feel yack for me. Tried a set of Dean Markley Helix, as they are supposed to be wrapped with a different shaped wire to make them longer lasting. Well, they are easily outlasting any other non-coated strings I've tried, and they sound awesome. And I mean, awesome! The PBs have a perfect tone and balance for flat picking, and are warm and mellow when finger picked. May try a set of the 80/20s next for a bit more brightness as I tend to fingerpick more.... its all subjective of course, and just my opinion :) Matt