Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Is there an easy way or short cut to adjusting each saddle on this bridge? Here's my problem: When adjusting the octave G string, the screw turns but the saddle doesn't appear to move, so my intonation is not changing. Is there any way to adjust this thing without removing the neighboring strings? Would WD40 help? Is this one of those Rickenbacker tasks that requires a 12 pack and a magnifying glass?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Is the screw backing itself out of the bridge? I noticed that they would do that on my 6-string.

The thing that worked for me was to keep going until I overshot where I wanted the saddle to end up, then turning the screw back in.

Hope that makes sense!

- Scott

The easiest way is to start with all the saddles positioned at the end closest to the bridge pick-up. That way, you are only lengthening the strings, i.e., tightening the screws. Otherwise, you are sometimes trying to loosen a screw, and the saddle can't get by the adjacent saddles. If you mess up, and move one too far, you can re-position that saddle by loosening it all the way, jiggling it out of there, and starting that one over. Really, if you want the bridge to operate properly, it needs to be taken apart, and the saddles machined so they don't stick. However, that's rather excessive, isn't it ? My solution does the trick and always works.

If there is too much tension from the string, the saddle will not move. If you haven't already, try detuning the string before adjusting the saddle. Also, pushing the saddle with your finger can sometimes nudge it into place.

12- pack

Definitely stay away from the WD40 or your finish may suffer.

Use something small like a jeweller's screwdriver to lift the string off the bridge while you are moving it. Easy to temporarily leverage against the adjacent saddle.

Thanks for the good ideas. The 12 pack was a great idea but it took 2 days to adjust the bridge.