BenR

If anyone is interested, here's the finished project. The action is much better. To get it lower would require fret leveling and polish, since a couple frets are popping up. The neck block is reinforced at the top and back. The sound is much better. Replacing the saddle was well worth it. It even looks, smells and tastes better.

The mods are coming along.The reinforcing glue blocks are in. I'm not a pro at this, so the work is a bit sloppy. The neck with the inserts and the StewMac shim. I ended up using a .50 + .25 for .75 degrees. The saddle and spacer. It's a perfect friction fit, no glue needed. The saddle isn't completed, still needs final shaping. Removing that hunk of metal and fitting a saddle that contacts the bottom of the saddle slot should transform the sound. It better, after all those hours of hand sanding.

Reviving an old thread. I just got an FT-135 in ex+ shape, except for high-ish action. Everything is solid and I want to keep it that way. Here's the plan. 1. Reinforce the neck block with the extra glue blocks. 2. Install threaded inserts in the neck; make a new, metal neck plate, install long ss machine screws through the neck plate/top/block/neck (Strat style), in effect making a solid sandwich so the string tension won't be trying to pull the block away from the back. 3. Use a 1 degree StewMac shim to change the angle of the neck to correct the high action. 4. Replace the entire adjustable saddle system with a Tusq saddle and rosewood spacers in the saddle slot. Not glued, just a friction fit. I'm half-way though and should be done soon. I'll try and post pics.