Rattle in the bridge

[Shades of Blue]

I have a MIM Strat and changed the strings on for the second time this past weekend (only had it two months). When I was done, I get a weird buzz and rattling sound from the bridge on the high E, B, and G strings.

Any ideas what this could be? Everything looks normal.

JB

[jmasin]

I have no idea if this is the issue - but I've had this on my American on occasion, always seems to be the B string, and only when open. If the two saddle height adjusters aren't perfectly (or near) even then the bridge saddle sits a little funny against the one next to it. I was able to verify by pressing down on the saddle when plucking the open B and sure enough it went away. Evening out the height adjusters and pushing the saddles against each other helped.

Good luck.

[Boris Bubbanov]

I think jmasin has it covered. One or both of the saddle height screws will back out partially while the tension is off. If the legs aren't equal, it tends to rattle.

Another remote possibility is that one of your 4 or 5 trem springs has popped off while the tension was mostly off and is rattling around in the back there.


Bubban0v

[metalguru72]

I just cured this on my Strat by turning the trem screws in a half turn. I think this might have created a little tension in the springs and stopped them rattling by taking up the slack. I can't see any difference in the height of the strings or bridge but once I retuned the buzz had gone.

[mustang_steve]

It could also be the saddles are not back far enough...when that happens, the saddle lacks the aft tension needed and rattles to high hell and back when vibrated strongly enough (as the wound strings tend to do).

Check them...they need spring tension, if they lack that, check the intonation, if the intonation is right, tehn get bigger springs, if the intonation is wrong then just fix the intonation.