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tkdcal · October 23rd, 2012, 05:44 PM

Hey all,

What do you guys do, if anything, about the tele saddle screws sticking up? Those buggers irritate the heck out of my hand. Any suggestions?

stevopacnw · October 23rd, 2012, 05:57 PM

Get a shorter set of saddle adjustment screws.

Formerblonde · October 23rd, 2012, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkdcal

Hey all,

What do you guys do, if anything, about the tele saddle screws sticking up? Those buggers irritate the heck out of my hand. Any suggestions?

Well, you can't grind the top off the screws or you won't be able to adjust the string height anymore. What I'd do is count the number of threads sticking out the top, and remove that much from the bottom with a grinder or.... go to the nearest hardware supplier and watch them roll their eyes when you say you want 6 just a bit shorter than 'this' one.

Bones · October 23rd, 2012, 06:21 PM

Put the ashtray on.

1955 · October 23rd, 2012, 06:23 PM

You can cut them with a jigsaw, your foot, pair of pliers, and a metal cutting blade. Use care. Can you tell i am not a craftsman? Then you use a demel type tool with a few metal grinding attachments to get it smooth. The Big Lots store has a tool plus attachments for 10 bucks. Once youve done your setup you can use a marker to color the screw to know how much to trim off roughly on the screw.

waparker4 · October 23rd, 2012, 06:24 PM

I don't do anything about it and keep the meaty part of my hand still

tkdcal · October 23rd, 2012, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waparker4

I don't do anything about it and keep the meaty part of my hand still

Somethin' tells me I been doing it wrong.

Camplain · October 23rd, 2012, 06:59 PM

You have 3 options I can think of. Get new shorter screws, cut the old ones, or shim the neck...

I wouldn't go changing my picking style to accommodate uncomfortable height screws... I'd be most likely to shim the neck slightly at the rear of the pocket, that's not as practical as getting shorter screws, but I like my strings up kinda high off the body, so it works for me.

nadzab · October 23rd, 2012, 07:46 PM

Dremel those babies.

waparker4 · October 23rd, 2012, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkdcal

Somethin' tells me I been doing it wrong.

I think I am just lucky that I have never had an issue with even really overly long saddle height screws sticking out.

1955 · October 23rd, 2012, 08:10 PM

Make sure your tetanus shot is up to date as an aside!

trev333 · October 23rd, 2012, 08:11 PM

..if screws stick out or if the saddles need to go right down to get an acceptable action...I shim the back of the neck and raise the saddles, so the screws are flush....

or fiddle about and trim the small grub screws shorter....

either method will work..:)

Dr. Bill · October 23rd, 2012, 08:27 PM

I bought some shorter screws for the low and high E strings as the Fastenal store. Fixed!

Bartholomew3 · October 23rd, 2012, 08:28 PM

I also shimmed the neck on a vintage tele.

Plus it gave me more space for pick-up adjustments as I had to raise the bridge to compensate for shimming.

Solved 95% of the problem.

Rolling Estonian · October 23rd, 2012, 08:33 PM

Shorter screws is the way to go. Smaller mom and pop hardware stores are a better bet than big box. If you know the diameter, look online, I know Callaham offers them for their saddles.

M

qblue · October 24th, 2012, 12:55 PM

You are too sensitive ...MAN UP, DUDE!

FenderGuy53 · October 24th, 2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camplain

You have 3 options I can think of. Get new shorter screws, cut the old ones, or shim the neck...

Quote:

Originally Posted by trev333

..if screws stick out or if the saddles need to go right down to get an acceptable action...I shim the back of the neck and raise the saddles, so the screws are flush...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartholomew3

I also shimmed the neck on a vintage tele...

+1 re: "shim the neck".

There may always be a reason for longer screws.

ringosoft · November 2nd, 2012, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Formerblonde

Well, you can't grind the top off the screws or you won't be able to adjust the string height anymore. What I'd do is count the number of threads sticking out the top, and remove that much from the bottom with a grinder or.... go to the nearest hardware supplier and watch them roll their eyes when you say you want 6 just a bit shorter than 'this' one.

lol

ringosoft · November 2nd, 2012, 01:28 AM

And yes, shim the neck... it is easy and completely reversible

dadder · November 2nd, 2012, 02:56 AM

A combination of "either or" as described above to suit. Sad to say they used to be made with different height screws.
But hey, think about us luthiers. If all guitars left the factory player perfect, we'd have much less work.

October 23rd, 2012, 05:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
tkdcal TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Los Angeles Age: 53 Posts: 52	Saddle Sore! Hey all, What do you guys do, if anything, about the tele saddle screws sticking up? Those buggers irritate the heck out of my hand. Any suggestions?

October 23rd, 2012, 06:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
1955 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: U.S.A Posts: 3,782 98 Photos	You can cut them with a jigsaw, your foot, pair of pliers, and a metal cutting blade. Use care. Can you tell i am not a craftsman? Then you use a demel type tool with a few metal grinding attachments to get it smooth. The Big Lots store has a tool plus attachments for 10 bucks. Once youve done your setup you can use a marker to color the screw to know how much to trim off roughly on the screw. __________________ "Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment." Jim Rohn

October 23rd, 2012, 06:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Camplain Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Hamburg, Arkansas Age: 29 Posts: 639	You have 3 options I can think of. Get new shorter screws, cut the old ones, or shim the neck... I wouldn't go changing my picking style to accommodate uncomfortable height screws... I'd be most likely to shim the neck slightly at the rear of the pocket, that's not as practical as getting shorter screws, but I like my strings up kinda high off the body, so it works for me. __________________ I used to Rock & Roll... Now I Country & Biscuit!

October 23rd, 2012, 08:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
1955 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: U.S.A Posts: 3,782 98 Photos	Make sure your tetanus shot is up to date as an aside! __________________ "Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment." Jim Rohn

October 23rd, 2012, 08:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
trev333 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Coolum Beach,Australia Posts: 6,118	..if screws stick out or if the saddles need to go right down to get an acceptable action...I shim the back of the neck and raise the saddles, so the screws are flush.... or fiddle about and trim the small grub screws shorter.... either method will work..:) __________________ "by degrees the flood of music drove all speculations out of his mind. It was as though it were a kind of liquid stuff that poured all over him and got mixed up with the sunlight that filtered through the leaves."

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October 23rd, 2012, 05:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
stevopacnw TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Renton, WA Posts: 62	Get a shorter set of saddle adjustment screws.

October 23rd, 2012, 06:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bones Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Luddite Island, NY Posts: 11,452 1 Photos	Put the ashtray on.

October 23rd, 2012, 06:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
waparker4 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 4,781	I don't do anything about it and keep the meaty part of my hand still

October 23rd, 2012, 07:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
nadzab Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New England Age: 45 Posts: 2,142	Dremel those babies.

October 23rd, 2012, 08:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
Dr. Bill Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2003 Location: Upstate, SC Posts: 1,030	I bought some shorter screws for the low and high E strings as the Fastenal store. Fixed!

October 23rd, 2012, 08:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
Bartholomew3 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,570	I also shimmed the neck on a vintage tele. Plus it gave me more space for pick-up adjustments as I had to raise the bridge to compensate for shimming. Solved 95% of the problem.

October 23rd, 2012, 08:33 PM	#15 (permalink)
Rolling Estonian Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bethesda, MD. Age: 44 Posts: 3,666 1 Photos	Shorter screws is the way to go. Smaller mom and pop hardware stores are a better bet than big box. If you know the diameter, look online, I know Callaham offers them for their saddles. M __________________ "This here's a joy ride so I say en-joy!" Dana Carvey as H. Ross Perot

October 24th, 2012, 12:55 PM	#16 (permalink)
qblue Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Clarks Summit, PA Posts: 959	You are too sensitive ...MAN UP, DUDE! __________________ I'm a million miles away, yet I'm right here in your picture frame..., J. Hendrix, Electric Ladyland 1971 Stratocaster, 1991 Strat Ultra, 2007 Baja Telecaster, 1980 Gibson L6-S, 1991 Gibson ES-347 1986 Yamaha SBG2100

November 2nd, 2012, 01:28 AM	#19 (permalink)
ringosoft TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: out there Posts: 81	And yes, shim the neck... it is easy and completely reversible

November 2nd, 2012, 02:56 AM	#20 (permalink)
dadder Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 172	A combination of "either or" as described above to suit. Sad to say they used to be made with different height screws. But hey, think about us luthiers. If all guitars left the factory player perfect, we'd have much less work. __________________ I once knew a fella who liked modern English guitars. His girlfriend was considerably older than him and American. I can't help thinking he'd mixed things up a bit.

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