2 bases / 2 problems = both "screwed"

[Cryptomnesia]

bass # 1
I just got an Ibanez SR506 6 string (barely used, frets look NEW) I put fresh strings on .135-.035... I tune down one full step, and I play progressive metal with a pick for that twang and fast attack sort of sound but regardless of this basses great reviews all over the net, the bridge is obviously not designed for the type of high velocity picking I play. Progressively the bigger the string, the bigger the problem... if I'm rockin that .135 for a song or two THE SADDLE SLIPS DOWN ON THE ACTION SCREWS !!! It does it on the next couple strings too! I'm wondering if this is a common problem? Someone recommended using "lock-tight" to set the screws in place? (meaning I'd have 5mins to set the action...) I just don't want to order all new saddles/screws and have wasted my money...I hope I didn't waste 400 bucks on the bass as a whole. I'm not opposed to finger picking, I just prefer the attack of a pick for metal, and I bought this bass for my metal project.

bass # 2
I've had this ESP LTD F-4E for awhile now, love it, awesome bang for the buck. But at my last show I lost TWO yes TWO intonation screws due to the resonance of the bass they just slipped out, unscrewed themselves... I contacted ESP for replacement screws a minute ago... but how do I avoid this from happening in the future again? I can't afford down time with recording and gigs over and over!!! This problem has existed throughout it's history of tunings and string gauges ranging from standard tuning/strings -to- drop B with XL gauge strings. Once again, do I just lock-tight them? (which would REALLY suck to have to intonate before it bonds...)

I'm a guitarist #1 and I conquered the dreaded floyd rose of doom years back... but I guess basses just have a different set of problems: screws.

It's been years since I've had to hit a forum for info... I'm not too much of a newb haha here's my music:

http://www.myspace.com/cryptomnesiamusic

[Rockingbird]

Problem 1 sounds like stripped screws. Could be either them or the threads in the saddles themselves.

Problem 2 sounds like you have the action set too low. If your the action is low enough, the saddles are actually on the bridge plate, and the screws aren't under the pressure they normally would be. The bodies vibrations could have rattled them out.

[okcrum]

Blue Loktite (NOT RED!!!) should solve both problems.

[GregDunn]

Also, I'm sure the saddles are only moving when you play the bass steadily; you should be able to play a string enough to set the action on each one individually without causing it to move a noticeable amount. If you set the action, apply loctite and then wait till it dries, you should be good to go on to the next one. So maybe it takes you a little longer to set the action, but you won't need to touch it again for a long while. There's another thread in this forum where someone else had the same issue and this fixed it.

[FoHBass]

I had a MIM Jazz that had the same problem on the G. During the course of a song, the height adjustment screws would vibrate themselves down, dropping the action on the string, and putting it out of tune. The solution ended up being to shim the neck a tad. Shimming the neck required raising the action, which increased the break angle of the string over the saddle, putting more downward pressure from the string on the saddle and screws. That was about 3 1/2 years ago, and it has never had a problem since.

[elgecko]

Originally Posted by okcrum

Blue Loktite (NOT RED!!!) should solve both problems.

^ This!

[Pilgrim]

Clear nail polish or blue loctite - this has been discussed dozens and dozens of times. Do a search for "saddle screws" or something similar.