New R7 owner - first post - tech question

[danocaster]

I'm new to this site - as well as the proud owner a R7 Goldtop ( circa 2000) !! Your chats have been a big help and a set of Rolphs are in route to me - as well as a nice aging from the guys at RS, anyway - thanks for all the advice

Now..the question

How in the world can I get my ABR-1 to STOP rattling !! Its driving me nuts. I have a ES335 that has the same bridge - yet perfectly quiet..any "tweaks" that can help - short of buying a TonePros AVR-II ?? ( i'm running outta cash making this guitar "right" )

Please post here or email at DanStrain@comcast.net

Do these threads have auto email notification of posts ??

 

[gmann]

I've had this happen on a couple of my Historics and few of my older guitars. It is the screw rattling in the saddle that you are hearing. They are not machined to a very close tolerance. What works for me is this; I put a small drop of clear fingernail polish on the screw where it goes into the saddle. It has no lasting effect other than keeping the screw fm rattling. It's clear so you can't see it. It only takes the smallest amount. I've seen several postings here of guys using the same method. If you want to be notified of replies to your posts click on User CP, click on edit options, then click on messaging and notification.

 

[vintage58]

One other thing to consider is the possibility that your ABR-1's retaining wire might not be "tight" enough, and, consequently, may not be sitting firmly on each of the six saddle-adjustment screws. If this circumstance indeed holds true, one or more of those same screws might vibrate when you play and thus cause the annoying rattling sound that you described.

An alternate solution to this problem is to press indentations into the retaining wire, using a flat-head screwdriver. Since there are six screws, you'd be making five indentations (one between each pair of screws). Also -- given the combination of: (1) the amount of pressure on the screwdriver necessary to actually make impressions in the retaining wire; (2) the direction in which force needs to be applied with the screwdriver; and (3) the considerable ease with which the screwdriver can slip -- note that it's extremely important to be careful to not damage the guitar's finish in the area below the ABR-1.

Note, too, that it may take several "re-pressings" of the retaining wire to get the rattling sound to be completely absent. One thing that appears to tighten the wire particularly well is to put *two* indentations between adjacent screws, rather than just one.

Below are a couple of "before and after" photos (well, not technically, since they are of two different guitars) of the above-described process; the upper image shows an ABR-1 with a "loose" retaining wire, and the lower image shows an ABR-1 which has had indentations pressed into its retaining wire. Note that the guitar shown in the lower image buzzed loudly before said indentations, and did not buzz at all after them:

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Also -- welcome to the Forum!

 

[Johnnytone]

And finally one more suggestion. A drop of clear Elmers school glue on the screws and take the wire off completely.

 

[ashbass]

I've never heard anyone else mention this, but when I had some terrible rattling, it would get worse or almost go away as I adjusted the neck relief and intonation. Typically, dead-on intonation would result in the least rattle.

Then, I just made a new retaining wire out of a guitar string and all the noise stopped.

 

[Gtrplyr1]

When you put the nail polish on, make sure you drop it right on the wire above the screw this takes care of the screw and the wire. I used to do the bending thing but had much better success with the nail polish in the right place.

Nail polish trick number 2.

After you have your bridge height set EXACTLY where you want it, remove the bridge carefully and also put a drop of nail polish right on the bridge stud at the top of the adjusting wheel, in fact I install my bridge while it is wet. This way it not only never goes out of adjustment but the bridge will never fall off by accident when changing strings.

Word of warning, if yu have a custom authentic reissue that is aged by Gibson, the nail polish will make that part of the bridge look shiny, a little goes a long way.