Aging Saddles
A common issue with TransTrem and S Trem-equipped guitars is faulty roller saddles. These saddles need to spin smoothly for the tremolo to function correctly, but over time, they can fail.
How to Identify bad saddles
There are a few key symptoms of a bad roller saddle:
- They do not roll freely.
- The note tuning between strings “drifts” when using the tremolo arm or while transposing.
- The instrument does not return to pitch when not using the tremolo arm.
Solutions
Fortunately, this is an easy replacement that anyone can do. You can find high quality replacement saddles that exceed the specs of the originals:
Once you have these, you simply have to unlock the saddles using the set screw in the low-E side of the bridge, take them out, and replace them with the new ones. Then, the instrument should be tuned, intonated, and set up according to the instructions. We have instructions on how to do setups in our Information section.
Another option is to have your saddles burnished, a process by which the roller saddle is corrected by spinning it at very high RPM, and polishing the metal down to remove burrs and other irregularities in its shape. Often times, it is less expensive and a better outcome to replace them outright, but the originals can be restored if desired.
Take-Aways
If you do not feel comfortable replacing your saddles, or need a professional setup after you have, please contact us for repair services.
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