replacing individual saddles?

[eric22rr]

I need an instructions guide on replacing individual saddles on a tune-o-matic style bridge. I keep hearing a reference to "popping them out" but I have no idea how to do it.

Anyone have a link to a tutorial?

Thanks!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: replacing individual saddles?

Just loosen the string and slip it off of the existing saddle. Turn the adjusting screw counterclockwise until the existing saddle comes out. Reverse the process with the new saddle.

By "popping them out", what is meant is that it is easy.

 

[blueman335]

Re: replacing individual saddles?

When get a guitar, I recondition the fretboard and restring it (you never know the crud/bacteria factor). When the strings are off I flip the two middle saddles (D and G strings) so that I can get extra travel room forward for the D and extra travel rearward for the G. I use a small flathead to pry off the retaining wire, and with the saddle screws positioned in the middle of the bridge, they come out easily.

 

[eric22rr]

Re: replacing individual saddles?

Just loosen the string and slip it off of the existing saddle. Turn the adjusting screw counterclockwise until the existing saddle comes out. Reverse the process with the new saddle.

By "popping them out", what is meant is that it is easy.

Ok, that makes sense. I haven't tried it on an LP, but I hoped it was that simple. The reason I asked is because I was trying to do it on my friend's ESP first, but the screw had a little locking washer-type thing just on the inside of the saddle, up against the metal edge. Once that was out, it wasn't too hard to unscrew it. I wasn't sure if that was the "correct" way of doing it. It may have worked, but I wasn't sure...

I guess the Gibsons don't have that little locking clip (what is that called? It's kinda shaped like a C). I said 'locking washer', but that's something else... but it does sorta "lock" the screw in place, so you can't unscrew it. I should find out the terminology for that thing.