The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Hi guys.

I have a CS-400 and while re-stringing it, the saddle broke on the bottom E string. It seems the bridge and saddles are actually corroding. Does anyone have any replacement saddles I can buy? Or maybe point me in the direction of aftermarket saddles that work on this model? Thanks.

That looks yucky, and I have a feeling that those are peculiar to Aria Pro II! There will be other saddles, or bridge and saddles, that will do the trick, though...

Good luck!!

Yeah, I don't know what kind of environment it lived in before I had it - but the metal seems to have become quite soft.

Uncle Mats made superb instruments.
But he did have his weak design moments, usually hardware pieces.

For some reason, bridges seemed to be one of those elements that we've seen go wrong on many models, including this one. Many of the design flaws were corrected over time, some were not.

IIRC these can be replaced with very little modification, and I think our Jorg has some expertise with these.

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Hmm, this is the first time I've ever been considered to have "expertise" in anything. . .

There are strat style saddles that will work but they're considerably shorter in height. To make up the difference, you'll have to make a shim to fit under the bridge.
Now, I haven't tried this this but, I wonder if longer height adjustment screws could be used without putting the shim under the bridge? I'm afraid that would put the intonation screws in a bind or they may not allow that much angle. Even if they did, you might have trouble installing/adjusting them.

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Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

Hmmm, I was afraid of this. Those tall saddles with the lip on the top. Shim under the bridge you say? I've got a headache thinking about that already.

It's not really that bad. Once you get passed the fact, you'll never know the difference.
And, your guitar will be playable again.
Now, I'm quite fond of the CS guitars if you wanna send it to me. . .

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Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

Ha ha. I'll probably try and hang onto this one.

I understand. . .
As much as I love my MAT guitars, I would trade most anything I have for a 400 in white.

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Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

The reason I have one is that I had a friend that had a black one with gold covered pickups in the 1990s. Sounded like God through a Marshall stack.