What size Bridge set screws do I have?

[Mike_LA]

What size Bridge set screws do I have?

I have bought 5 different sets of set screws and none are correct.

As you can see these are too long.
Yes i could cut them but I'm sure I'd mess up at least one of the 12...
They really dig into the side of your hand when you play it. A good anchor in a storm I guess...

 

[Phrygian77]

American is 4-40. I'll have to go look at what I have for metric. You probably just need a neck shim though.

Edit: M3

 

[Phrygian77]

Put a straight edge on the frets extending out over the body to the bridge and take a picture.

 

[dsutton24]

Figure out the diameter (see above). Measure from the top of the saddle to the surface of the bridge plate. That's your length. Or, shim the bridge end of the neck and jack the saddles up.

 

[shallbe]

Yeah. That angle may be wrong. Looks like shim time PLUS shorter adjusters.

 

[yegbert]

I’m guessing that threads are SAE 6/32 for most if not all Fender US-made 3 saddles, SAE 4/40 for most if not all US-made 6 saddles, and 3 mm for most if not all non-US made stuff? Does that seem about right?

Unless you have just one or two guitars that use them…

For length, learn how to grind, cut or file them shorter. And/or buy some extras of different lengths. And keep all loose and spare ones you find from various sources. Sort through them in your spare parts and bag the different threads and lengths in small plastic bags, marking the bags with a sharpie to indicate size (threads at least!); when taking a break from practicing playing.

I haven’t found a need for any that are longer than 1/2” long, or shorter than the depth of my thinnest saddles. You can sink them into the saddle a little if they are a little shorter than necessary, except that might be somewhat more of a challenge for bent steel saddles.

 

[Mike_LA]

Yeah. That angle may be wrong. Looks like shim time.

Yah ... that's not going to happen

 

[Mike_LA]

American is 4-40. I'll have to go look at what I have for metric. You probably just need a neck shim though.

Edit: M3

Ok now we're talking 6/32 4-40 or M3
Got to see what i bought so far...
Thnx

 

[bondoman]

Never could figure out why they thought they needed screws that long. Saddles are up off the plate that far you got other issues. Should be just 3mm if import and you can buy shorter set screws. My local Ace Hardware has them in stainless. Personally I'd just throw a nice Schaller on and call it good

 

[Mike_LA]

Never could figure out why they thought they needed screws that long. Personally I'd just throw a nice Schaller on and call it good

Naw, all of the hardware is gunmetal grey to match the abalone inlays and it works just fine except for the long screws.

 

[Phrygian77]

Metric 6mm long:

https://www.mcmaster.com/92605A100/

4-40 1/4:

https://www.mcmaster.com/94355A140/

 

[Fenderbaum]

Grind down the screws

 

[tomasz]

Just file down the originals from the bottom, to the length that suits your needs

 

[shallbe]

Yah ... that's not going to happen View attachment 906011

Well, that is settled!

 

[Mike_LA]

Just file down the originals from the bottom, to the length that suits your needs

Grind down the screws

Hummm, see I don't really want to do that. I'm afraid of messing one of them up, (they're pretty freaking tiny) and not having a replacement would make it unplayable until I find one, which kind of puts me right back here @ "what size screws do I need"? Rather just get the right part.

 

[Mike_LA]

Metric 6mm long:

https://www.mcmaster.com/92605A100/

4-40 1/4:

https://www.mcmaster.com/94355A140/

Thnx, now I just need to find them in black, or color them with gun barrel bluing.

 

[dsutton24]

If you hope to blue them don't buy stainless.

 

[justin]

I just went through this with a Strat I built. I wanted shorter screws for the low and high E strings and bought 1/4" 4-40 screws. The vendor gave me bad information on the screw type so I had to eventually go with 6mm M3 screws. I should have known as the allen wrench size for my existing saddles is 1.5mm (metric).

I bought them on eBay for a few bucks and free shipping. They came very fast too.

If you already tried 4-40 I think the next most common is indeed M3.

 

[Phrygian77]

Thnx, now I just need to find them in black, or color them with gun barrel bluing.

Now you're just being picky. They will probably be short enough that you won't really notice, but it looks like they do have some that are black oxide alloy steel.

 

[kafka]

What size Bridge set screws do I have?

View attachment 905918

I have bought 5 different sets of set screws and none are correct.

As you can see these are too long.
Yes i could cut them but I'm sure I'd mess up at least one of the 12...
They really dig into the side of your hand when you play it. A good anchor in a storm I guess...

View attachment 905915

I went through this exercise on my Wilkinson trem. I now have a very complete collection of set screws.

Don't cut them. It's not really practical. Just keep shopping.