How to lower saddles on a 74 Precision Bass

[Justbeingjosh]

I just got this 74 P Bass and I cannot lower the saddles on this bridge. I got a small flat head in there and the screws won't budge. I don't want to force because I don't want to strip screw. Is this something where you need to spray WD40?

 

[Reverend179]

Try some 3-in-1 or penetrating oil before you do anything. Unfortunately when you've got two dissimilar metals laying next to each other for long enough, they can sorta weld together. If that doesn't work, you may have to take some pliers, cut some carboard to the shape of the squeezing surfaces, tape them on with painter's tape, take the saddles off completely, and try to grab them from the bottom to apply a bit more force. Apply penetrating oil to both sides first, though.

 

[DrBnz]

Agree ..... but one bridge mount screw (between E and A) doesn't look flush (or the same) as the others. Might try to torque it up.... OR take it off and soak the entire bridge over night in a Tupperware bowl of your favorite solvent. Try to turn everything in the morning, verify the bridge ground, put it all back together.

 

[buldog5151bass]

If the above two ideas don't work, just buy a new bent plate bridge for $20-30 bucks, and save the original.

 

[godofthunder59]

I just got this 74 P Bass and I cannot lower the saddles on this bridge. I got a small flat head in there and the screws won't budge. I don't want to force because I don't want to strip screw. Is this something where you need to spray WD40?

Soak in Kroil mystery oil.

 

[Bikeguy57]

Thick towel under the saddles, and penitrating oil of your choice over night.

 

[Justbeingjosh]

Thank you!!! I actually took bridge off this morning and sprayed with WD40, put back on and still won't budge. I will let sit and see tomorrow.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Heat 'em up with a soldering iron (each screw)...it's a crud-cutter.

Riis

 

[Justbeingjosh]

If the above two ideas don't work, just buy a new bent plate bridge for $20-30 bucks, and save the original.

That would be most ideal lol

 

[Justbeingjosh]

Try some 3-in-1 or penetrating oil before you do anything. Unfortunately when you've got two dissimilar metals laying next to each other for long enough, they can sorta weld together. If that doesn't work, you may have to take some pliers, cut some carboard to the shape of the squeezing surfaces, tape them on with painter's tape, take the saddles off completely, and try to grab them from the bottom to apply a bit more force. Apply penetrating oil to both sides first, though.

 

[Justbeingjosh]

Thank you. I ended up spraying the screws and then ended up taking bridge completely off not to mess up finish. Sprayed bridge again and reinstalled and then put back on strings and screws still won't budge. It will let sit and see what happens.

 

[Abner]

Just curious, but why are you not trying to turn the screws before you reassemble everything? Would save you considerable effort, methinks.

 

[Reverend179]

Also- WD-40 is good for a lot of things- cutting through dissimilar metal corrosion ain't one of them. Go grab some penetrating oil. Another one I'd give a shot is once the penetrating oil has set on for a while, flip the saddle over and LIGHTLY tap on the bottom of the slug with a rubber mallet, or a small hammer using a piece of wood as a buffer. Anything to try to break up that spot weld.

 

[Turnaround]

Penetrating oil, not WD40. Wrong tool for the job.

 

[202dy]

Wrong tool for most jobs.

 

[Justbeingjosh]

Just curious, but why are you not trying to turn the screws before you reassemble everything? Would save you considerable effort, methinks.

Oh I did.

 

[TawodiDalonige]

WD40 is a water repellant. It can prevent corrosion if used on assembly but it is a terrible penetrant and an even worse lubricant.

Heat is your best friend in this. The soldering iron trick mentioned earlier would be a good place to start. Thos threads are so fine that even a penetrating oil is going to have a hard time getting in there. The surface area taken up by the threads is massively greater than the surface area of the slotted head.

 

[ThomasTronics]

I have the exact same problem with my 73.
You can tell the age appropriately by the extra long screw for the g saddle.

I ended up replacing two saddles that i could not for the life of me get loose.
Tried the penetrating oil, tried the soldering iron. Let it soak for days...
Eventually it came down to i want to play it so i replaced two saddles. Oh my god its not all original!!! So what it plays and sounds amazing. They are just saddles and i kept the originals in a bag in the case.

 

[Justbeingjosh]

Lol I may end up doing the same!!!

 

[Justbeingjosh]

Thank you for the info

Also- WD-40 is good for a lot of things- cutting through dissimilar metal corrosion ain't one of them. Go grab some penetrating oil. Another one I'd give a shot is once the penetrating oil has set on for a while, flip the saddle over and LIGHTLY tap on the bottom of the slug with a rubber mallet, or a small hammer using a piece of wood as a buffer. Anything to try to break up that spot weld.