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Post subject: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 6:45 am
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Hello Everyone,

I am looking to replace (preferably upgrade) the tremolo bridge for my 1994 Korean Squier Strat.

Any suggestions for a direct fit bridge will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 10:22 am
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Why do you nee a new tremolo bridge ?

Set up is alright ?


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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 11:03 am
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It breaks strings very often and its old and rusty. Instead of changing the saddles I want to upgrade whole bridge.


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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 12:42 pm
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Some people pay money for that look .
Are you sure the strings break at the saddle ? With sand paper maybe you could fix it ?

IMO , a new bridge can cost more than half of the guitar worth . Size and dimension could not be same as original one .


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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 5:30 pm
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http://anthillmusic.com/products/genuin ... mass-block


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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 2:29 am
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SexyGibson wrote:
http://anthillmusic.com/products/genuine-fender-mexican-standard-strat-tremolo-bridge-with-high-mass-block



+1 cheap ,
__________________________________
Did you read ;

Will NOT fit newer Mexican Classic Series, Fender Japan, or USA Stratocaster models.

__________________________________

Korean ?????


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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 2:38 am
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stratele52 wrote:
Some people pay money for that look .
Are you sure the strings break at the saddle ? With sand paper maybe you could fix it ?

IMO , a new bridge can cost more than half of the guitar worth . Size and dimension could not be same as original one .


Yup the strings break right at the saddles. You're right about the bridge change. I think changing the saddles makes more sense.


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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 2:53 am
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BluesBrother2 wrote:
It breaks strings very often and its old and rusty. Instead of changing the saddles I want to upgrade whole bridge.

Strings breaking: Dremel/sand/polish/re-electrocoat/lube the contact points - the goal is to give the string a smooth path, and get rid of all ridges etc. that cause the string break. (BTW, how often is very often?)
Old and rusty: Nothing can be done to the age :wink: but rust comes off with "a little" polishing - and many polishing products leave a protective layer so it won't rust again so easy. You can choose to do only the contact points, or get rid of that relic/mojo look and polish all metal.
Upgrading: I'd guess you have 2 1/16" spacing in both screws and strings, but that's just a guess - measure them yourself.
Check this for how-to: Callaham Strat Guide

In my experience, a planned drop in replacement seldom is just dropping in...
And I have my doubts that a 17$ new bridge is an upgrade...

So all in all: I'd start with the old bridge, and all other contact points; e.g. the string tree is also a bit worn...
If you get it right, the guitar is still original. If you don't, you can always order the new bridge - remember to keep the original parts.

Oh, looking at those pics: your sweat chemicals may be one cause to that rusting - remember to wash your hands before playing. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 3:23 am
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jmattis wrote:
BluesBrother2 wrote:
It breaks strings very often and its old and rusty. Instead of changing the saddles I want to upgrade whole bridge.

Strings breaking: Dremel/sand/polish/re-electrocoat/lube the contact points - the goal is to give the string a smooth path, and get rid of all ridges etc. that cause the string break. (BTW, how often is very often?)
Old and rusty: Nothing can be done to the age :wink: but rust comes off with "a little" polishing - and many polishing products leave a protective layer so it won't rust again so easy. You can choose to do only the contact points, or get rid of that relic/mojo look and polish all metal.
Upgrading: I'd guess you have 2 1/16" spacing in both screws and strings, but that's just a guess - measure them yourself.
Check this for how-to: Callaham Strat Guide

In my experience, a planned drop in replacement seldom is just dropping in...
And I have my doubts that a 17$ new bridge is an upgrade...

Ah Ah ah ! +1000 , a downgrade !

So all in all: I'd start with the old bridge, and all other contact points; e.g. the string tree is also a bit worn...
If you get it right, the guitar is still original. If you don't, you can always order the new bridge - remember to keep the original parts.

Oh, looking at those pics: your sweat chemicals may be one cause to that rusting - remember to wash your hands before playing. :wink:


BluesBrother2 , how old are your string when they break ?


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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 10:06 am
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While I feel your pain...I am equally as delighted to hear of your problem.

I say that; because I thought I was the only one with this problem. I have a 1985 Harmony Made in Korea with the same bridge and saddles.

My problem is only with the high E and breaks right at the saddle.

I have to agree that it MUST be 'age' related, because I am the original owner of the guitar, and the problem did not exists until about 2005 or 2006 (around 20 years), and that would compare to the age of when you started having problems (1994 to present).

I have "fine filed" my saddle (with a very fine welders file)...and it did not cure the problem.
My friends thought maybe I was playing too hard...but I play the way I always have, and did not have this problem for 20 years...so I quickly dismissed that theory.

With me; the strings could be played as little as 4 twenty minute sessions on a new set.
Frustrating!

I will be following this thread.


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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 10:24 am
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stratele52 wrote:
jmattis wrote:
BluesBrother2 wrote:
It breaks strings very often and its old and rusty. Instead of changing the saddles I want to upgrade whole bridge.

Strings breaking: Dremel/sand/polish/re-electrocoat/lube the contact points - the goal is to give the string a smooth path, and get rid of all ridges etc. that cause the string break. (BTW, how often is very often?)
Old and rusty: Nothing can be done to the age :wink: but rust comes off with "a little" polishing - and many polishing products leave a protective layer so it won't rust again so easy. You can choose to do only the contact points, or get rid of that relic/mojo look and polish all metal.
Upgrading: I'd guess you have 2 1/16" spacing in both screws and strings, but that's just a guess - measure them yourself.
Check this for how-to: Callaham Strat Guide

In my experience, a planned drop in replacement seldom is just dropping in...
And I have my doubts that a 17$ new bridge is an upgrade...

Ah Ah ah ! +1000 , a downgrade !

So all in all: I'd start with the old bridge, and all other contact points; e.g. the string tree is also a bit worn...
If you get it right, the guitar is still original. If you don't, you can always order the new bridge - remember to keep the original parts.

Oh, looking at those pics: your sweat chemicals may be one cause to that rusting - remember to wash your hands before playing. :wink:


BluesBrother2 , how old are your string when they break ?


Thank you for the write-up jmattis

@stratele52 I break E and B strings almost every other week, whether new or old strings. I have an Ibanez also and I dont have the same problem with that guitar


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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 1:10 pm
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Aha, breaking strings seems common for those bridges at that age, we now have 100% of the samples doing it :wink:

That "new saddles" idea might be the easy way out (because I'm guessing the old saddles would need to be replated, which is sorta easy but not many do it).

Maybe go for TUSQ saddles, those are designed to be easy on strings.


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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 1:56 pm
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White Dog wrote:

I have "fine filed" my saddle (with a very fine welders file)...and it did not cure the problem.
b.



How saddle look before and after you use fine file ? What you see ?

Hard to understand why string break with a good job on the saddle.


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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 5:17 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
White Dog wrote:

I have "fine filed" my saddle (with a very fine welders file)...and it did not cure the problem.
b.



How saddle look before and after you use fine file ? What you see ?

Hard to understand why string break with a good job on the saddle.

Well; other than just dull and aged before hand, to shiny after wards....I honestly couldn't see nor feel any difference between the saddle in question, and the other five that seem fine.
I didn't want to over do it, and have the string sit too loose in the saddle where bending might pop it out of place....yet I wanted to file enough, and on all possible edges to eliminate any sharpness that might be causing the breakage.

It did seem like it may have prolonged the string breaking, but it didn't end it.

It is such an old classic guitar, I'd like to keep as much originality to it, but I'm beginning to agree with most here that a saddle swap might be the only solution.
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Post subject: Re: Tremolo bridge for a 1994 Korean Squier
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 2:20 am
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@White Dog, if you don't throw away the original saddles&screws&springs, the originality can be restored in case you sell the guitar. IMHO, white TUSQs would look nice on that gold hardware - not original, but rather as a sign of TLC :wink:
Anyway, if the original saddles keep breaking strings, something must be done or you can't play the guitar...

Another thing: the row of saddles looks a bit odd, are you sure the guitar intonates right? (It's hard to diagnose intonation on pics, but if you compare your saddles to pics of BluesBrother2's saddles, his row looks sort of more familiar to me.) Sometimes the saddle hole and the trem plate hole line up so they "guillotine" the string...

stratele52 wrote:
Hard to understand why string break with a good job on the saddle.
I was thinking maybe the alloy on the saddles has something to do with that, after the protective coating has worn off - that's why I wrote about renewing the electrocoating.

@ Both OPs: IMHO, there's no such thing as "too scrupulous" when doing saddle (nut, string tree etc.) work. Every contact point is crucial to tone, buzzing, tuning stability, string life...
In most cases, that "dremel/sand/polish/re-electrocoat/lube" does the trick. Sometimes switching to coated strings also helps. Some even use a little piece of plastic tube around the string as a cushion, but that's a temporary solution.


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