Bridge Saddle Screw Question (Vintage)

crawdad · April 15th, 2008, 11:51 PM

I am looking for period correct saddle screws (that adjust saddle height) for a set of 70 notched steel saddles. I tried some from the reissue brass Fender saddles, but the threads are different. What I need are screws that have the same thread as the Fender screws that you'd use on a Tele bridge pickup, as those threads fit.

Do any of you know where I might find these screws? They have slot head top adjustments and an oval bottom that meets the bridge plate.

When I got this 70 Tele, the original screws had been replaced by some screws with hex heads--not cool. I eventually want to return this guitar to as close to original specs as I can. My problem is that I don;t know where to look for the proper replacements.

Help? Thanks for any you can offer...

jwells393 · April 16th, 2008, 12:38 AM

I made this saddle a while back as sort of a learning exercise.

......

Here are some of the drilling jigs I used. The one on the right was used to cut the slot in the height adjustment screws using a fine toothed hacksaw blade. The screws were made from 6-32 threaded rod.

......

crawdad · April 16th, 2008, 12:52 AM

Hey jwells--How did you get the nice taper on the bottom of those screws?

I did something similar as a temporary solution, but I must admit, your work is more impressive than mine.

jwells393 · April 16th, 2008, 07:59 AM

It's been a while. As I recall, I chucked the screw into the drill press and laid a file against it as it turned.

Hafner · April 16th, 2008, 08:36 AM

Do you mean exactly these ones ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1968-Fen...QQcmdZViewItem

April 15th, 2008, 11:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
crawdad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,275	Bridge Saddle Screw Question (Vintage) I am looking for period correct saddle screws (that adjust saddle height) for a set of 70 notched steel saddles. I tried some from the reissue brass Fender saddles, but the threads are different. What I need are screws that have the same thread as the Fender screws that you'd use on a Tele bridge pickup, as those threads fit. Do any of you know where I might find these screws? They have slot head top adjustments and an oval bottom that meets the bridge plate. When I got this 70 Tele, the original screws had been replaced by some screws with hex heads--not cool. I eventually want to return this guitar to as close to original specs as I can. My problem is that I don;t know where to look for the proper replacements. Help? Thanks for any you can offer... __________________ "The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. Oh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come."

April 16th, 2008, 12:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,913 101 Photos	I made this saddle a while back as sort of a learning exercise. ...... Here are some of the drilling jigs I used. The one on the right was used to cut the slot in the height adjustment screws using a fine toothed hacksaw blade. The screws were made from 6-32 threaded rod. ...... __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

April 16th, 2008, 12:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
crawdad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,275	Hey jwells--How did you get the nice taper on the bottom of those screws? I did something similar as a temporary solution, but I must admit, your work is more impressive than mine. __________________ "The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. Oh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come."

April 16th, 2008, 07:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,913 101 Photos	It's been a while. As I recall, I chucked the screw into the drill press and laid a file against it as it turned. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

April 16th, 2008, 08:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
Hafner Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Switzerland Age: 60 Posts: 1,541 14 Photos	Do you mean exactly these ones ? http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1968-Fen...QQcmdZViewItem __________________ Manfred