floyd-rose trem saddle problem : it jumped while adjusting intonation

[Djabthrash]

Hi guys,

i feel bad now and need your help...

Let me explain : when adjusting intonation (turning the intonation lock screw) on my floyd-rose tremolo, the low e-string saddle kinda "jumped"/slipped suddenly toward the neck... way too far from where it's supposed to be at i guess
I forgot to loosen the string (to give it some slack) before turning the intonation lock screw so i guess that's how the problem occured.

Any idea about how to fix this ?

I tried turning the intonation lock screw the other way around (counter clockwise ?) (after having detuned the string slightly to get some slack) so that it slowly comes back to its original position but it feels too stiff and wouldn't move so i think it could be stuck and i don't wanna damage it trying like crazy to force the intonation lock screw to turn ...
I also tried pushing it back (further from the neck) but it wouldn't move...

Here are some pics (see "jumped"/slipped saddle in red) :

http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/15008135/1/Saddle issue?h=a54763

So i finished setting up my guitar like this but i guess it's not fine and i would like to fix this and set up the guitar again "properly".

EDIT : i've read this thread but i'm not too sure it's addressing the same issue i'm having : http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=568698

 

[ttrentt]

All those screws do is hold down the saddle. You need to either use heavy pressure, or loosen the string, move the saddle back where you need it, and then lock the screw back down. Floyds are terrible to set the intonation.

 

[Code001]

1. Slack the string like crazy or just take it off
2. Loosen the intonation bolt so you can adjust the saddle
3. While pushing it back, be sure to depress the fine tuner adjustment spring (that's what's most likely preventing you from pushing it back)
4. Retune/restring
5. Adjust intonation with a competent tuner

 

[Djabthrash]

2. Loosen the intonation bolt so you can adjust the saddle
3. While pushing it back, be sure to depress the fine tuner adjustment spring (that's what's most likely preventing you from pushing it back)

Thanks for your help but just to be sure :

-What do you call the "intonation bolt" exactly ? Is that the same thing as the intonation lock screw (see here what i mean by that : http://whatchamagoo.com/mgstuff/pic/projects/frsetup/Floyd-Rose-Parts.gif), or is it the string lock crew (which you use when changing strings) ?

-"While pushing it back" : Am i suppose to push the saddle back with my bare hands/some tool via pushing it back toward the bridge ? Or should that happen just by turning the intonation lock screw counter clock-wise (which i'm afraid to do since it feels stiff and stuck...), or that "intonation bolt" thing if you mean something different (see above) ?

-"depress the fine tuner adjustment spring" : By "fine-tuner adjustment spring" you mean the thing called "fine-tuners" on that pic (http://whatchamagoo.com/mgstuff/pic/projects/frsetup/Floyd-Rose-Parts.gif) right ? If not what is it ?
By depress you mean turning it so that it goes up ?

 

[Code001]

Thanks for your help but just to be sure :

-What do you call the "intonation bolt" exactly ? Is that the same thing as the intonation lock screw (see here what i mean by that : http://whatchamagoo.com/mgstuff/pic/projects/frsetup/Floyd-Rose-Parts.gif), or is it the string lock crew (which you use when changing strings) ?

Yes

-"While pushing it back" : Am i suppose to push the saddle back with my bare hands/some tool via pushing it back toward the bridge ? Or should that happen just by turning the intonation lock screw counter clock-wise (which i'm afraid to do since it feels stiff and stuck...), or that "intonation bolt" thing if you mean something different (see above) ?

Bare hands

-"depress the fine tuner adjustment spring" : By "fine-tuner adjustment spring" you mean the thing called "fine-tuners" on that pic (http://whatchamagoo.com/mgstuff/pic/projects/frsetup/Floyd-Rose-Parts.gif) right ? If not what is it ?
By depress you mean turning it so that it goes up ?

No, I mean the fine tuner spring:

http://audiozone.dk/images/tip/trem-diag.jpg

#2 in that diagram

 

[Djabthrash]

Yes



Bare hands



No, I mean the fine tuner spring:

http://audiozone.dk/images/tip/trem-diag.jpg

#2 in that diagram

Thanks a lot for your help sir !!! I'm gonna try that !

Next time i'll remember to get the string some slack before turning the intonation screw for sure !!! I guess i'm learning the hard way

 

[Djabthrash]

All those screws do is hold down the saddle. You need to either use heavy pressure, or loosen the string, move the saddle back where you need it, and then lock the screw back down. Floyds are terrible to set the intonation.

1. Slack the string like crazy or just take it off
2. Loosen the intonation bolt so you can adjust the saddle
3. While pushing it back, be sure to depress the fine tuner adjustment spring (that's what's most likely preventing you from pushing it back)
4. Retune/restring
5. Adjust intonation with a competent tuner

OK i tried it (namely : giving the string some serious slack, loosening the intonation lock screw a lot, and then pushing the saddle back closer to the bridge with my bare fingers like a madman, and when reaching a "decent" position, tightening the intonation lock screw, and then tuning my guitar again) and it worked like a charm !

Thanks guys i was so worried at first ! You saved my ass and you rule !

Now i need to understand how that thing works exactly (if the intonation lock screw only acts like a "lock", how can turning it one way LIGHTLY can have the saddle move LIGHTLY and STAY PUT in that new position ?).
I guess i don't know shit about screws and stuff

 

[Code001]

Now i need to understand how that thing works exactly (if the intonation lock screw only acts like a "lock", how can turning it one way LIGHTLY can have the saddle move LIGHTLY and STAY PUT in that new position ?).
I guess i don't know shit about screws and stuff

That's physics. String tension + the lack of sufficient clamping force on the saddle can cause the saddle position to shift, and it's one of the causes of floyd instability that a lot of people overlook. Basically, once you get the intonation to where you want it (which is a pain without an intonation tool), tighten it down nicely. For those that have Ibanez guitars, you'll want to be extra careful as the heads of the screws are more likely to strip. If that happens, you'll need to break out the drill press.

 

[Djabthrash]

That's physics. String tension + the lack of sufficient clamping force on the saddle can cause the saddle position to shift, and it's one of the causes of floyd instability that a lot of people overlook. Basically, once you get the intonation to where you want it (which is a pain without an intonation tool), tighten it down nicely. For those that have Ibanez guitars, you'll want to be extra careful as the heads of the screws are more likely to strip. If that happens, you'll need to break out the drill press.

Thanks for the info !

 

[bryan_kilco]

+2 to Code001!!

 

[Djabthrash]

Quick bump since i had the same issue yesterday night and solved it super fast thanks to the advice given above !

 

[AD Chaos]

Good info.



Btw, those Floyd drawings look like the blueprints for some nuclear reactor