Tuning Stability Attainable without Lubrication?

[alexpigment]

Welp, looks like the low strings are binding in the mastery bridge, big time. Wish I knew that would happen before shelling out the money

I'd probably agree that the mastery is an unnecessary upgrade on the guitar - I personally like the newer American Pro bridges - but since mastery bridge binding is not a commonly reported issue around here, it makes me wonder if something else might explain the problem. When you pull up on your tremolo arm, do the saddles move back much? If so, is there a lot of forward/backward play in the saddles when a string isn't on one?

[ek11sx]

Well, the mustang bridge didn’t exactly do the job either. At a loss here...

[alexpigment]

Well, the mustang bridge didn’t exactly do the job either. At a loss here...

Mustang bridges (if you mean actual mustang bridges and not the bridge that came with it) aren't really ideal for those, since they are almost always (always?) 7.25" and wide spacing. I really think the updated American Pro bridge is the best one for this guitar.

But still, it's worth investigating further as to why you're binding at the bridge. The shape of the mastery saddles doesn't really seem like it should be doing that without some other factor. Is it possible the two saddles were swapped? I don't know if the saddles have different widths for each string or not.

EDIT: a picture of your bridge from the top down and also sideways might shed some more light.

[ek11sx]

Welp, looks like the low strings are binding in the mastery bridge, big time. Wish I knew that would happen before shelling out the money

I'd probably agree that the mastery is an unnecessary upgrade on the guitar - I personally like the newer American Pro bridges - but since mastery bridge binding is not a commonly reported issue around here, it makes me wonder if something else might explain the problem. When you pull up on your tremolo arm, do the saddles move back much? If so, is there a lot of forward/backward play in the saddles when a string isn't on one?

I have it set to not move at the moment. If I lower the saddles and raise the bridge the saddles start to slide back and forth

Correction: it looks like the whole unit rocks back a hair when pulling up. Saddles May move ever so slightly too. Any pulling up on the guitar results in it going sharp. Pulling down after results in a click and a return to relatively normal tuning. Not perfect, but better

[alexpigment]

I have it set to not move at the moment. If I lower the saddles and raise the bridge the saddles start to slide back and forth

Correction: it looks like the whole unit rocks back a hair when pulling up. Saddles May move ever so slightly too

Well, this might be getting closer to the problem. For the sake of testing, it may be worth tightening up the intonation screws (yes, I realize this might throw everything off) so that the springs are tighter and running some tests.

[ek11sx]

I have it set to not move at the moment. If I lower the saddles and raise the bridge the saddles start to slide back and forth

Correction: it looks like the whole unit rocks back a hair when pulling up. Saddles May move ever so slightly too

Well, this might be getting closer to the problem. For the sake of testing, it may be worth tightening up the intonation screws (yes, I realize this might throw everything off) so that the springs are tighter and running some tests.

Testing that momentarily.

I just raised the bridge and lowered the saddles by three turns each. The result is a very noticeable back and forth motion on the low string saddles, predominantly on the low e. The guitar stayed relativity in tune even with a dive bomb. Any upwards movement of the trem resulted in very sharp pitch change that stayed until wiggling the bar or retuning

[alexpigment]

Testing that momentarily.

I just raised the bridge and lowered the saddles by three turns each. The result is a very noticeable back and forth motion on the low string saddles, predominantly on the low e. The guitar stayed relativity in tune even with a dive bomb. Any upwards movement of the trem resulted in very sharp pitch change that stayed until wiggling the bar or retuning

OK, I think this makes perfect sense - in my head anyway. Your saddles are loose, so tuning the string up is pulling the saddle forward. When you go down on the trem, the saddle is staying forward. When you go up on the trem, the saddle is moving backward because the intonation spring force is not enough to keep it from doing so.

[ek11sx]

Alright, I gave each of the four intonation screws a full rotation and a half for good measure. Surprisingly, the saddles started to move more, specifically the low side.

I think you may be onto something though.

Shoot more tests you can think of my way

[alexpigment]

Alright, I gave each of the four intonation screws a full rotation and a half for good measure. Surprisingly, the saddles started to move more, specifically the low side.

I think you may be onto something though.

Shoot more tests you can think of my way

If you loosen the strings up to the point where you can completely take them off the saddles (e.g. off to the left and right side respectively), are you able to easily move the saddles back (toward the trem) and forth (toward the nut)? I know these types of tests suck with locking tuners since you don't really have much slack and can't take the the strings off/on easily, but it's worth a try. If there is any forward/backward wiggle in the saddles, that's going to cause a problem. They should be locked in position by the screw and spring.

[ek11sx]

If I lift the low e off the saddle, the saddle darts forward

[ek11sx]

Strings off: I can move the saddles back, not forward. The low e and high E sides move the easiest towards the tremolo

[alexpigment]

If I lift the low e off the saddle, the saddle darts forward

OK, so this almost certainly *is* the problem. What I don't understand is how this is possible if the screws are threaded into the saddles. Are you missing the swivels by chance? They're the part in the saddles that the intonation screw goes into. They're suppose to swivel so that the angle of the bridge can be adjusted, but they shouldn't allow for forward/backward movement. A few pictures might clear this up too.

[ek11sx]

It’s been like this since I got it a few weeks ago. I’ll see what I can find/get pictures

[ek11sx]

Images of the current set up

https://imgur.com/gallery/K1iEe5o

[alexpigment]

Am I right that the leftmost swivel (metal circle at the top is lower in the saddle than the other three? I’ve never owned a Mastery so Im not sure exactly how those are installed and if theres any right/wrong way to install them.