One of those questions,is it the Allen Key or Hex Screw. that's the problem...

KevS · July 2023

The coating has came of several allen keys for adjusting my Fender bridge saddles..
Is this why they spin around and no longer adjust my saddle screws..?
Or have the hex holes been turned into round holes from the Allen Key Chewing them..?

If I need new screws,what should I buy,are there longer lasting ones,or do I need better Allen Keys. ?
My favourite set has went missing after a house move..

Maybe I should loosen the strings before I change saddle height,I can be lazy at times...
The Allen Keys turn around in they rather than loosening a saddle coming down in height too by the way,
just in case that came out wrong..

As I say up above,the Black coating has came off the Allen Key leaving the ends Silver and slightly narrower....

Are these the screws for the older Mexican Standard bridge saddles..? https://www.amazon.co.uk/KAISH-Stainless-Adjustment-Stratocaster-Telecaster/dp/B09B57L8YP/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=stratocaster+bridge+screws&qid=1689571175&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

What about the screws for the offset block saddles on the older USA Standard Strats..?

drofluf · July 2023

Pictures might help. 3 possibilities come to mind: you’ve rounded the hex key in which case you need a new one; you’ve rounded the hole or, most unlikely the coating coming off the key has made it too small, in which a new key will sort it.

If you’ve rounded the hex hole then, with no string tension a larger Allen key may work or you could tap in a Torx bit and use that to replace the bolt.

ICBM · July 2023

In theory, the point of the Allen system is that the key should always round before the screw, meaning that you can simply replace the key. In practice, it doesn’t always work if the screw isn’t properly hardened, or you keep using a damaged key beyond the point where it’s started to slip.

I would replace the key first and see where you are from there…

elstoof · July 2023

Metric or imperial Allen keys? Are you using the ball or the square end?

KevS · July 2023

elstoof said:

Metric or imperial Allen keys? Are you using the ball or the square end?

I am using the ones I got with the guitars,so Fender ones...
Both ends appear to be flat with these Allen keys..

KevS · July 2023

ICBM said:

In theory, the point of the Allen system is that the key should always round before the screw, meaning that you can simply replace the key. In practice, it doesn’t always work if the screw isn’t properly hardened, or you keep using a damaged key beyond the point where it’s started to slip.

I would replace the key first and see where you are from there…

Some Allen Keys are definitely better than others,,it's harder to differentiate when ordering online...
I will investigate..

When I used to smoke,a Rizla Paper plus the Allen Key would make up the gap at times..
Glad I stopped that habit..

BillDL · July 2023

I use good quality hardened steel Allen wrenches that I aquired while working in a precision engineering company rather than ones that came with my guitars. I also replace the saddle height screws with A2 stainless steel grub screws (referred to as socket set screws) that I buy in bulk packets from industrial fastener companies like:

https://www.westfieldfasteners.co.uk
https://www.accu.co.uk

I have no idea what brand the Allen wrenches were. They were supplied by the company that sold us the CNC cutting tips and tools.

mrkb · July 2023

KevS said:

elstoof said:

Metric or imperial Allen keys? Are you using the ball or the square end?

I am using the ones I got with the guitars,so Fender ones...
Both ends appear to be flat with these Allen keys..

Fender guitars will use either metric or imperial allen keys depending on where the bridge components came from (USA or Mexico or China or Japan). Are you sure you are using the right size?

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One of those questions,is it the Allen Key or Hex Screw. that's the problem...

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