Saddle screws coming loose?

[Nick Pedersen]

I recently purchased a Fender P bass mim. The saddle screws on it become loosened and the action goes down with it after just playing for a couple of minutes.

I had the same exact problem with my Mim Jazz bass and I took it to a repair shop and they said the applied “thread locker” and seems to have completely fixed the problem. Should I buy thread locker to fix it or do something else?

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Sure. Get some blue loctite, take out one saddle height screw at a time, put a drop of loctite on the threads and screw it back in. You've cleverly left the other screw in place so, if the saddle height was correct to start with, you will know where to set the screw. Repeat as needed. Oh yeah, loosen the strings before you remove any screws but after you purchase the loctite. Bob's your uncle.

Another option is to use some clear nail polish on the threads.

Welcome to talkbass, by the way. Don't mind me having some fun . You are on the right track with loctite or nail polish.

 

[JGbassman]

Clear fingernail polish on the screws will fix that and is of course colorless.


I've been using it for years effectively on loose saddle screws

 

[Zooberwerx]

Blue Loctite is my first choice but with a specific application embellishment. Once you've re-introduced the screw, rotate it back 'n forth 360 deg with the hex key. In a minute or so as the Loctite begins to cure, you'll hear the assembly start to squeak...stop. This provides the best product distribution and essentially "gums-up" the works to prevent slippage. The screw can still be adjusted and no re-application is necessary. I stole this from Richard @Turnaround ...he gets it right once in a while.

Riis