Hi all,

I have owned my first USA Standard for a few months. I generally happy with it apart from one issue. Please help!

The saddle for my high E string keeps slipping down on one side - the screw comes though the hole and the saddle drops down.. I have to adjust the height often to counteract this. I play blues so I do a lot of bending.

I have tried putting some sticky tack (Prestick) in the hole and around the screw but it has not solved the problem.

Has anyone else had this problem before, or does anyone have any suggestions?

Is it a design flaw? Perhaps the thread on the saddle or screw is faulty.

Thanks

Welcome!

Actually, yours is a rather common problem where oftentimes, one's palm touching that area intermittently while playing is the culprit. Most players use either a drop of Loctite or nail polish to solve the problem.

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You dig?

I use teflon tape for thread/screw problems like those.
This ensures that the screw still is moveable if I want it.

Same teflon tape generally is used to seal water dripping threads in kitchen and bath. You get it in every DIY store for a couple of cents.

It's not easy to apply though, the screws on a guitar bridge are tiny but it works.

I do the same with sloppy trem arms (no pop ins!).

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

Thanks for your replies.

I wrote my original post at about 2.30am here (I live in South Africa) so I was not thinking clearly. I have now edited it to say that it is my high E string, and not my lower E string, that has the saddle problem. So I do not think that it is my palm.

I will try using that tape, or some glue. Are there any other suggestions?

Don't use glue. Use nail polish, or a thread-locking compound. (Loctite is a common brand but I don't know if it's available in South Africa -- there's certainly some similar thread-lock compound there.)

Thread-lock compounds are available in different strengths -- from "really permanent" to "releasable". You want the releasable stuff. It'll hold the screw tight, but if you ever want to adjust it the wrench will easily free the screw. If it gets loose again after you adjust it, you can just dab a little fresh compound on the threads.

Same for nail polish. Most of them are nitrocellulose paint based -- some close to pure nitro, others with acrylics added. (Some have "hardeners", "nutrients", other odd things added -- avoid those and look for the cheap nitro or nitro/acrylic polishes.)

American Standards have tough polyurethane finishes, but they're not quite as solvent-inert as Mexican polyester finishes. It's probably best to mask off the face of the guitar with tape. (Nail polish and thread-lockers will eat right through nitro finishes -- always mask those off.)

Thank you for your advice.

I will take what was said into consideration and hopefully solve my problem.