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Post subject: Saddles crooked?
Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2015 1:08 pm
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OK, so I got the replacement MIM Standard Strat. Four of the saddles saddles are fine. But the high E and G string, well, the G string's a string's width away from the left pole. The high E is right next to its' saddle's left pole, but plays fine. It's not a levelling issue.

Should I care? I'm sick of returning stuff (and equally sick of what I consider to be substandard QC - goes for all brands these days, unless you have a couple thou to pay).

I guess what I'm asking is, if it plays fine now, do I need to concern myself? Slight G string buzz, but I doubt that's from the saddle (string sits flat on the saddle, not touching the pole, even if it's way to the left - besides, if there's one string you can count on to have at least SOME issues, it's the G string :wink: )

Additional questions, class:

1. Any way to straighten the saddles in question?
2. I de-tuned the E string, moved it so it at least doesn't touch the pole, tuned it back up - and it stays in place. Any downside to doing this other than string spacing, if that?

(3. Am I so OCD I should drop guitars and take up the triangle instead? :wink: )

Thank you for your time.

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Post subject: Re: Saddles crooked?
Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2015 6:57 pm
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Well, first of all, you're not OCD, it would bug me too.

Question: When you say "pole", are you referring to the height adjustment screws?
I don't know but, I've had the strings not sitting exactly quite smack dab in the center of the saddle,
but way over like you're talking about... sumpn' ain't right

That would irk me.
You use any kind of lube on the saddles when you put new strings on?
Are you just now noticing this with this set of strings?

If these are the factory strings, I wonder if they just did not pay careful attention when threading them over the saddles.
Would be curious to see how they lay in there after you re-string.
About that G-string buzz:
Is that constant? Just when played open? When fretted high up the neck?
That would drive me insane.
I would check string height, hopefully your neck bow might just be a little flat.

Three words: set up 8)
Interested to see what you find out.


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Post subject: Re: Saddles crooked?
Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:05 pm
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"1. Any way to straighten the saddles in question?"
Verify that the two height adjustment screws are set at the same level for each individual saddle.
In fact there was a recent thread about the effects of them being level.
While it may or may not impact your sound, you may be able to dial it in to a more suitable playing height.

"2. I de-tuned the E string, moved it so it at least doesn't touch the pole, tuned it back up - and it stays in place. Any downside to doing this other than string spacing, if that?"
No downside to that at all.
In fact, I believe you're on your way to fixing the problem 8)


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Post subject: Re: Saddles crooked?
Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2015 2:26 pm
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Can you post a photo from above looking vertically down and one from the bridge looking up towards the nut.
Not sure of what you are really asking, but also be aware that there are two distinct widths of MIM vintage trem bridges.. So photo's would help clarify if or not that is an issue of the wrong saddle on the wrong bridge..

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Post subject: Re: Saddles crooked?
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 11:55 am
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Thank you all for your replies!

I showed it to my local tech, and he thought the saddles were all right - at least that their alignments wouldn't cause any problems. He's never once hesitated to send something back that had something wrong with it, and has been playing and working on guitars for a long time, so I trust him 100%.

Didn't play him the slightly buzzing G string through an amp, though.
I had the GE-7 EQ jacked up, and it's naturally buzzing less if I don't boost those very frequencies.

There's still "something there", though, even if it's less audible with more sensible EQ settings (glass ear - a blessing and a curse :P )... But I figured, it's under warranty, so I'll see what it sounds like after the first time I throw on new strings.

Relief and all that stuff is just fine, and I can't see any fret buzz contact anywhere. If the saddle needs replacing, I'm sure they'll have Fender replace it. Shouldn't be a problem swapping one out, right?

Damn... it's good to have a good relationship with your local guitar store :)

(And with anybody and everybody who handles your food.)

Update/edit: slackened and re-positioned the G string on the saddle, tuned up - sounds the same. Which is a good thing, 'cos that means the angle of the saddle isn't the likely culprit (that'd be the hardest to fix). Nut looks good, tuner looks good. Could very well be the string. Will be interesting to see if the first string change fixes it.

Oh yeah: would Strat-itis on a G-string be a possibility? Not a whole lot of metal in one, but the G string on this one is definitely the closest to the pup poles.

Lots of questions - sorry! But this board seems like a good place to ask them :)

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