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Post by ashcatlt on May 15, 2012 12:29:25 GMT -5
This is a problem which always seems to pop up for me on guitars with fender style bridges. Those damnable tiny Allen screws which set the height of the saddle seem to vibrate themselves loose and unscrew. The action for that one string drops with all the problems that entails. I've had instances where I didn't notice, or just didn't get around to fixing it until one day I notice the screw is gone altogether. It's quite frustrating, especially since I never actually keep track of that tiny Allen wrench which comes with the guitar! What can I do to make this stop happening? Does that LockTite stuff help? Or...
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Post by reTrEaD on May 15, 2012 12:50:27 GMT -5
Loctite works great. But I'd be concerned that it might work TOO well for this application. Once it hardens you might not be able to ever move the screw again.
I find that a tiny drop of clear nail polish (you can steal some from your wife or girlfriend if you aren't metrosexual enough to have your own) can keep threaded parts stable, but a drop of acetone and some time will loosen it enough so you could readjust when necessary.
Or you could try crushing the threads just slightly with a pair of pliers. Stay away from the end, so it will be easy to get the screw started. But you will find it takes considerable torque to turn the screw when you get to the slightly damaged portion. This works better on steel or stainless. Brass tends to gall and will eventually seize up.
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Post by cynical1 on May 15, 2012 15:49:17 GMT -5
LocTite Blue 242 Take the little screws all the way out, dab a little on the end and re-insert. You've got about 10 minutes before it sets up. The beauty of this stuff is that you can disassemble it later and not have to use a torch. It's designed to hold the threaded item without being permanent. HTC1
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Post by quarry on May 15, 2012 16:51:00 GMT -5
I second the Locktite Blue...
I also use it on every input jack thread. I see more problems with kids trying to tighten the input jack, only to twist the wires inside around and around til they snap off the jack...
A drop of Locktite stops that, and I've never had a problem removing the nut ( or screw) of a treated piece.
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Post by yakkmeister on May 15, 2012 18:03:07 GMT -5
I've used all different kinds of Loctite in the mechanics trade and I will third it - unless you're getting the wrong stuff, it's no problem to undo later on.
Don't use too much though.
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Post by ashcatlt on May 15, 2012 19:19:48 GMT -5
Thanks guys.
Not sure I love the idea of taking the screws all the way out. I hate setup work, and may never get it back to where my tech had it. Guess I could do the screws and then have it set up again, or just give him a thing of Loctite, but...
I was sort of wondering if this is as common as it seems. I can't think of a single bridge with this type of saddle (Tele or Strat style) where I haven't struggled with this on at least one of the saddles. I could understand back in the day when it happened to the first string saddle since I couldn't ever actually keep a string on it. I've mellowed a little, though, and don't break so many anymore. I actually lost the one from the low E on my hybrid within a week or two of its initial setup. That was replaced, but now the A string is sinking!
Does everybody fight with this? Is it indicative of inferior parts? I've seen "real" Fenders with this issue. Does everybody else auromatically Loctite the things? Why don't we hear more about it?
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Post by cynical1 on May 15, 2012 20:09:06 GMT -5
Is it indicative of inferior parts? That would be my guess...if I was to hazard a guess. Thread tolerance is important in a constantly dynamic application like a guitar bridge. I've used Schaller for years and have never had a problem with the saddles slipping on me as long as I have enough breakover across the saddles. Some top loading bridges can suffer from this as there isn't enough breakover to press the saddles into the baseplate. OEM parts and cheap aftermarket stuff are famous for this type of poor performance...so, one more time...buy it right buy it once. YGWYPF. HTC1
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Post by yakkmeister on May 16, 2012 3:30:50 GMT -5
I have only had that problem on cheapo bridges too. My Godin has never missed a beat but the pacifica's bridge is pretty bad for it - need a new bridge ... *wanders away*
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Post by sbgodofmetal on May 24, 2012 17:30:31 GMT -5
You could how ever replace the sadlles themselves and have your tech set them and not have to worry about it happening to the other 5 as well.
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