Help! My Saddle Colappsed!

[tooloudalex]

So there i was... playing, jamming, having a grand ol time, and BOOM the saddle falls down, my E string becomes SUPER hot (probably because it got alot closer to the pickup) and i look like the idiot who plays super loud in an interlude...

how can i fix it? obviously i turn the saddle screw back and put it back up, but how do i keep it from going down again ( it has done this before but now i have talk bass to ask what to do )

[BigOldHarry]

sounds like your bass has more than one problem here...

Take it to a tech. You may need as little as a new bridge screw, a new bridge saddle or maybe a whole new bridge.

As for you string getting "hot" that should have nothing to do with it getting close to your p'up. Again, a tech can sort it out for you.

What brand of bass is this? I'm thinking it has to be a fairly inexpensive one - yes?

[m_bisson]

It probably got hot because you were embarrassed and felt like a complete tool.

[tooloudalex]

its an ibanez srx2ex2

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by tooloudalex

its an ibanez srx2ex2

okay, that explains the bridge issue. Ibanez makes many (if not all) of their bridges out of Zinc - a very cheap metal that will wear out faster than steel or brass.

I you really enjoy this bass, then look at having the bridge fixed or replaced and then carry on. Heck, even if you want to sell it, you need to get the bridge looked at!

[Pilgrim]

This has been discussed many times...when saddle screws back out, re-adjust them and add a drop of either blue Loctite or clear nail polish on the threads. That secures the set screw but with a firm twist of a tool the paint bond can be broken and the screw re-adjusted.

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

This has been discussed many times...when saddle screws back out, re-adjust them and add a drop of either blue Loctite or clear nail polish on the threads. That secures the set screw but with a firm twist of a tool the paint bond can be broken and the screw re-adjusted.

this doesn't sound like it 'backed out' - it sounds like it popped out altogether. If it just backed out your advice is sound... nailpolish/locktite/whatever.

[tooloudalex]

I may not have been clear, its almost like the saddle just slid down, I hadn't thought about nail polish that sounds like it should fix it, thanks!!

[lethargytartare]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

As for you string getting "hot" that should have nothing to do with it getting close to your p'up.

I think he's saying it spiked in volume -- which would happen if the string suddenly dropped a lot closer to the pickup.

[Caca de Kick]

I like using a dab of Elmers white glue. Or you can put a touch of Loctite, and I mean just a touch.

[9mmMike]

A "sudden drop" does not sound like a screw backing-out. It sounds like a stripped screw/hole to me. Just sayin'.......

[ExaltBass]

You may have also had the screw at the end of it's thread engagement (high bridge saddle adjustment). If so, there aren't enough threads engaged in the saddle to be stable. If so, you need a longer screw for the saddles. You should be able to get longer ones at a good hardware store.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by 9mmMike

A "sudden drop" does not sound like a screw backing-out. It sounds like a stripped screw/hole to me. Just sayin'.......

It certainly could be. In that case, options include:

1) Inspect set screw; replace if threads stripped off
2) Inspect saddle; if threads damaged, tap for oversize set screw and replace set screw with oversized one
3) Inspect saddle; if threads damaged, replace saddle

Perhaps there are other options which don't occur to me at the moment...

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

It certainly could be. In that case, options include:

1) Inspect set screw; replace if threads stripped off
2) Inspect saddle; if threads damaged, tap for oversize set screw and replace set screw with oversized one
3) Inspect saddle; if threads damaged, replace saddle

Perhaps there are other options which don't occur to me at the moment...

Another option is to throw out the bass with the bad bridge/screw/saddle and get the one you've been gassing for.

Hey, it's Christmas - you deserve a new bass right?

[billiam5billion]

I was a mechanic in the army and have been involved in many loctite fiascos and believe me, if you do get to that point, a tiny little bit goes a LONG way.

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by lethargytartare

I think he's saying it spiked in volume -- which would happen if the string suddenly dropped a lot closer to the pickup.

AH... I thought he was talking Temp -

Yeah, a string right on top of a pole piece will suddenly get goofy loud...

[Shovelbone]

How's the horse?