by Stefan Harder
This is a more advanced topic, so make sure to read the instructions before going to work on the Ukulele.
I found it hard to play some barre chords on my baritone, so I checked the action (aka the height of the strings) above the 12th fret.
Why the 12th fret ?
It is the half of the distance between nut and saddle (aka the scale) of the Ukulele. It was about 2.7 millimeters, which I felt was too high for me. So I decided to lower the action and this requires some calculation:
The height of the saddle determines the height of the action.
To lower the action to a certain height, you have to lower the bridge twice that value. For instance: to lower the action 2 millimeters you have to lower the bridge 4 millimeters.
Step 1 – Measuring
I measured the height of the strings at the 12th fret with a string action ruler.
I dediced to lower the strings to 2.5 millimeters, what led to lower the bridge a half millimeter
You can get the bridge out of the saddle by loosen your strings, or maybe it is about to change the strings, then it might be easier to get it out.
Step 2 – Marking the bridge
I aligned my brigde under the ruler and marked the parts,of the bridge that must be sanded down, to lower it.
Step 3 – Sanding
I put a sheet of sandpaper with a 120 grit on the desk, put my bridge on it an with light preasure and circular movments I sanded the bridge down to the marked line. Make sure you hold the brigde thight and even on the sandpaper. Don’t use too much speed to sand it down, just a steady movement with decent pressure.
This may take some time, dependig on how much you need to sand down….
Step 4 – Reinstall bridge, check action
I reinstalled my bridge, thighten my strings and checked the action again, to see, if I had worked properly
Tip
Since I had loosen my strings, they needed to stretch again like new installed strings, because of the lowered action.