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I knew I had a page someplace on how I recommend yanking out saddles, and found it while poking around for other stuff, today. I have never broken a saddle when doing this, and yes, pry against the bridge. I really didn't like the tool suggested in the previous thread; too much likelihood of twisting and breaking the saddle.

http://www.proulxguitars.com/guitars/saddle_replacement.htm

Thanks Mario.  Here is a working link.

http://www.proulxguitars.com/guitars/saddle_replacement.htm

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Those pliers (they are long nose, not needle nose) will still grip the saddle on its upper edge and can chip it. I use parallel jaw pliers.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I have a hole going through the center of the saddle slot, and on the inside, on the bridge plate I epoxy-mount a small broken-off needle valve (like you use to inflate a football with), and then if I need to remove the saddle, I just go in with a line from my compressor with a tire inflator valve. Takes about 120 psi, but it gets it out without the need for pliers. You just have to do this with the guitar on it's side, or you'll have to watch out that when it flies up in the air that you catch it before it comes down and dings the top.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Howard, they don't grip it on its upper edge, but at its widest part, and only on a tiny section. Parallel jaws would capture the whole of it, but then, you lose the prying ability. It works very well; mine are an interference fit, and often very tight(too tight, therefor must come out for adjustment), and i also pull glued-in saddles this way. Not the one broken, yet.

don't knock what hasn't been tried....\

Don, you serious?

[QUOTE=Don Williams]I have a hole going through the center of the saddle slot, and on the inside, on the bridge plate I epoxy-mount a small broken-off needle valve (like you use to inflate a football with), and then if I need to remove the saddle, I just go in with a line from my compressor with a tire inflator valve. Takes about 120 psi, but it gets it out without the need for pliers. You just have to do this with the guitar on it's side, or you'll have to watch out that when it flies up in the air that you catch it before it comes down and dings the top. [/QUOTE]

Don,

youre a man after my own heart. I love blowing things up when possible

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Reguards,

Ken H

[QUOTE=grumpy] don't knock what hasn't been tried....\
Don, you serious?
[/QUOTE]

Why wouldn't I be serious about this?
You know me well enough by now....I come up with all kinds of crazy things.

[quote=Ken]Don,

youre a man after my own heart. I love blowing things up when possible [/quote]

Well, I figured hydraulics were overkill. Air pressure seemed like a good idea instead...

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Hmm, air bags under the saddle; easy release, AND infinite adjustability.

.......

Grump, I'm not knocking what I haven't tried. I used to pull saddles just as in Mario's pictures. Have you tried a parallel jaw pliers?

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Yup, tried the parallel jaws before, and thought this worked way better because of the pinching.