Buzzing saddles on Callaham Bridge

[dano8180]

Hey guys, anyone experience a buzzing from their saddles on any Strat bridge? I have a Callaham bridge and getting a ton of buzzing/rattling from the the G, B, and E saddles. Fresh stings, old strings, it doesn't matter; still won't go away. Any thoughts on the matter? Thanks in advance!

Danny

 

[dano8180]

Re: Buzzing saddles on Callaham Bridge

Well, after a quick search of the google kind, it seems maybe the culprit is that the saddles are not level. However, they look pretty damn level to me, this side of putting a bubble stick on them. No one else has had this problem?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Buzzing saddles on Callaham Bridge

On many vintage-style, stamped steel Stratocaster bridge saddles, the fit of the height adjustment grub screws through the threaded holes is not as precise as it could be. There can be a certain amount of waggle. Even when the tops of the screws appear level, the unseen portion of the screw can be off the vertical.

The only issue caused by the top edge of the saddles not being perfectly level is that string tension can draw the string off from its ideal line. (Tele owners know this issue only too well.)

Rattles can emanate from the springs around the intonation screws.

Buzzes are more likely to be caused by wear at the break off point on the top edge of each saddle.

On six-point vibrato bridges, the chief sources of buzzes and rattles are the tension springs and adjuster "claw" around the back of the guitar.