Fix loose bridge saddle screw

Question

One of the bridge height adjustment screws keeps coming loose on my Precision Bass (leftmost screw in the picture). The screw doesn’t feel loose when the height is properly adjusted, but the E saddle works its way down to the deck on that side after just a few hours of play. The first time I noticed the problem, the screw had almost worked its way entirely out of the saddle.

My playing style doesn’t bring my hand in contact with the bridge much, so I presume that vibrations are working the screw loose. This of course affects the action and tuning of my E string, and I’m concerned that it might fall out completely. Is there something I can do to fix this? Do I need a new screw or some kind of (anti) lubricant?

Answer 1

First thing I'd do is swap round - takeout the offending screw , and any other one, and see what happens. If the screw is worn, it will behave the same in its new home. Replace it ! If the problem is still in the same place on the saddle, it will be the female at that point.Full solution - new bridge, Temporary solution - which may become permanent - use Loctite, or PTFE tape (Plumbers' Tape For Everything), a white tape used on threads, which will tighten the screw by bulking the thread.

Another solution would be to re-tap the female with the next size up. Just poss., I guess, or buy a re-threading system that makes a bigger thread and then puts a Helicoil in, bringing it back to original.There looks like just enough meat to do that.

Or - this might be the time to change it for a 5 string, as discussed previously...

I'd be surprised if one of these didn't do the job for you. Good luck.

Answer 2

Loctite might help. You pour a little bit on the thread (having undone it a bit 1st so that when you do the screw up again, the loctite is pulled into the thread) and is prevents things vibrating loose. People use it on cars and models a lot.

Loctite Homepage

Thread locking section

It allows you to undo the thread if you need to though. You can feel that it's locked up, then as you undo the nut/screw etc you feel it ping as it lets go (normally quite easily)

I'd advise trying a snmall amount at first - just enough to get the thread a bit wet. You don't what it locked to thight that you can't adjust anything !

You can buy it in most DIY shops or motor spares shops.

Answer 3

If you choose to use some loctite, you'll need to know a trick or so. Ordinary acetone (fingernail polish remover) will soften the loctite up and you should be able to back the screw out and clean it up. I had some red loctite on some bolts for a tractor rear end I had to pull back off, and I used the acetone trick. It did remove the paint on the parts in that area, but the loctite let loose in about 10 minutes. Be careful on your guitar's finish if you use acetone/fingernail polish remover.