Members Dragon-Ash Posted November 17, 2018 Members Share Posted November 17, 2018 I have a SG Standard with a chrome Tune-o-Matic and stop bar tail piece. The intonation is off for the A and D strings, with the note at the 12th fret playing sharp. On other guitars I've had, it was easy to adjust the saddle back or forth with a standard flat screwdriver. The saddle can't be adjusted with a screwdriver on this Gibson, however. The screw head is circular and indented, almost like you'd need a hex (Allen) key, but I have a full set, and none of them work. I'm at a loss as to how to adjust the saddle back and forth. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted November 17, 2018 Members Share Posted November 17, 2018 It looks like you need a Torx driver, similar to an Allen wrench. They come in different sizes. You see Torx screws on cars sometimes. An auto parts or hardware store should have what you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sammyreynolds01 Posted November 17, 2018 Members Share Posted November 17, 2018 Deepend is right and I've never seen a Gibson with Torx screws Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jtr654 Posted November 17, 2018 Members Share Posted November 17, 2018 Are you sure you have a Gibson I've never seen these on a Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cooltouch Posted November 17, 2018 Members Share Posted November 17, 2018 If it were my SG, I'd replace that bridge with a real Tune-O-Matic and be done with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted November 17, 2018 Members Share Posted November 17, 2018 Are you sure you have a Gibson I've never seen these on a Gibson. It's a Torx screw head, and I have never seen that on a Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chordite Posted November 18, 2018 Members Share Posted November 18, 2018 Hmm In the photo they Look more like chewed up allens than torx. You may need to invest a couple of bucks on new onesYou can buy ball ended allen drivers to use at an angle avoiding the string, trying to use an ordinary key at an angle would gnarl themhttps://www.newport.com/p/BD-5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Into Nation Posted November 18, 2018 Members Share Posted November 18, 2018 If everything else about the saddles works to your satisfaction, you really should be able to detune and take the string off the saddle. Then, there should be very minimal friction and you should be able to turn it with something like a small flat head screwdriver or anything that can grab the inside walls. If they are still difficult to turn, I would then PUNT and replace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted November 18, 2018 Members Share Posted November 18, 2018 Ah ha, I think I found it.It's actually an allen head screw. IT was very difficult to tell in the pic, as it looks like a torx head. Might be this. https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/bridge-and-tailpieces/nashville-bridges/pinnacle-tune-o-matic-nashville-bridge-fits-usa-gibson-guitars/ It would be nice to see the top of the bridge thumb screws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted November 18, 2018 Members Share Posted November 18, 2018 If it were my SG' date=' I'd replace that bridge with a real Tune-O-Matic and be done with it.[/quote'] Yes, by all means replace the bridge rather than spend a fraction of the price on the right tool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted November 18, 2018 Members Share Posted November 18, 2018 Ah ha, I think I found it. It's actually an allen head screw. IT was very difficult to tell in the pic, as it looks like a torx head. Might be this. https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/bridge-and-tailpieces/nashville-bridges/pinnacle-tune-o-matic-nashville-bridge-fits-usa-gibson-guitars/ It would be nice to see the top of the bridge thumb screws. Okay, I've bought nut files from Philadelphia Luthier Tools. They sell decent stuff. The OP should be fine once he gets hold of the right tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WRGKMC Posted November 19, 2018 Members Share Posted November 19, 2018 Probably all you need is either metric or inch hex wrenches. If you have inch and they don't fit then you likely need metric (or vice versa) I've never seen those on an actual Gibson or Epiphone either. The bridge is likely a replacement is its an actual Gibson. You'd probably be better off getting an original bridge over a generic. I've tried just about every TOM bridge out there on builds and there is a tone of junk coming out of china these days. The metal is soft and strips out easily and the tone some of the cheaper bridges produce isn't very good. For replacements, the Gotoh are probably the best made. The steel is a bit bright but the saddles and screws have no extra schlock which makes for accurate intonation. Gibson on the other hand uses allot of zinc in their bridge and tail piece parts which gives them their distinct tone. Saddles are often chrome covered brass which adds to the warmer tone too. I've tried many substitute bridges on Gibsons and haven't found any that replicate the tone of an original Gibson bridge. Solid steel like the Gotoh is definitely more durable. I've used Shaller too which makes their hardware from high quality German Steel. Steel simply lacks the warmth of the Zink/Steel and brass Gibson uses. Unfortunately the Gibson stuff does age and wear quickly. I rarely get more then 10 years out of their TOM bridges before they become worn and ugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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