1981 Washburn B-20 bridge saddles

Houston · #1 12-19-2006, 09:58 PM

I hope this is the right section of the forum for this post. The height adjustment screws on my bridge saddles are rusted and will not come loose. I would like to replace the saddles, but can't find quite the right thing. These saddles are brass with a large hole through the middle (for stringing through the body), and the intonation screw comes right into the center of the back of the saddle. I'd really rather not muck around with a new bridge altogether since it strings through the body. The bridge itself is just a flat piece of metal with a 90 degree bend at the back for the screw.

Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Joey

Espidog · #2 12-20-2006, 05:41 AM

Have you tried a squirt of WD-40 on the adjustment screws? Give it a few minutes to work its magic, then try wiggling them.

How about contacting Washburn? Even if they don't stock the saddles, they may be able to offer some advice.

Failing that, I think it'd be easier to fit a new bridge.

Houston · #3 12-20-2006, 09:53 AM

I soaked them for several days in a rust-penetrating fluid; a few of them turned but not all. I called Washburn, and the bass is so old they don't stock any parts. Advice from Washburn was not forthcoming. I may try to drill them out and insert new adjustment screws.

Espidog · #4 12-20-2006, 10:18 AM

I see. You really have tried all the sensible stuff, haven't you. Well, here's a completely bonkers idea that might just work....

You say that the saddles are made of brass, and I'm assuming that the adjustment screws will be made of some kind of steel.

Brass has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion/contraction than steel. Remove the bridge from the bass, make sure it's good and dry, then seal it in a plastic bag (perhaps with a little sachet of silica gel to absorb moisture) and put it in the freezer overnight.

When you remove it, take it outdoors to keep it as cool as possible while you work on it. The brass saddles and steel screws will have shrunk away from each other ever so slightly, effectively loosening the threads. It's a long shot, but who knows...?

Houston · #5 12-20-2006, 01:12 PM

Aha! I had not thought of that. I know some guys will put oversized pistons in the freezer overnight to make them shrink a bit. I'll give that a try.

jamesblue · #6 12-30-2006, 09:18 PM

I have a A-20 guitar w/flame top and love it.
Saw the bass version go for $1000 plus on bay.
You can find the late 80s reissues for under $200.
Maybe the use it to swap out parts.
If its just the saddles, they can be replaced with new ones,
look on a parts web site like allparts, or stewmac.com.