Replacement saddle screws for MIM Fender Strat?

Neil

I've recently purchased a MIM Fender Strat Vintera '60's modified but now I have lowered the action to how I like it the saddle screws are sticking out a bit.

I've had a bit of a measure up and they seem to be 3/8" so I'm looking at getting some 5/16" I reckon.

I assume the Mex and US stuff are imperial?

Anyone know the best place to get them at a reasonable price?

Cheers. 

Funkfingers

Alternatively, file away some bottom ends of the stock grub screws. This is a tedious job but at least the screws are guaranteed to fit.

nonesuch

Discussed here:

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/3808224/#Comment_3808224

nonesuch

I you know if the Strat is American (imperial) or MIM (metric) you should be able to find replacement grub screws cheaply online.

I got these for an American Special Strat:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292725587589

I got sizes of 4-40 5/16" and 4-40 1/4".

For MIM:
M3 x 8mm
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252348960209

Neil

nonesuch said:

I you know if the Strat is American (imperial) or MIM (metric) you should be able to find replacement grub screws cheaply online.

I got these for an American Special Strat:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292725587589

I got sizes of 4-40 5/16" and 4-40 1/4".

For MIM:
M3 x 8mm
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252348960209

That looks great but unfortunately am unaware if my MIM Vintera is imperial or metric? 

thermionic

I asked something similar for my MIM Classic Series Strat a couple of years ago - just looked up my ebay history and I bought some M3 in a couple of lengths.

nonesuch

Neil said:

nonesuch said:

I you know if the Strat is American (imperial) or MIM (metric) you should be able to find replacement grub screws cheaply online.

I got these for an American Special Strat:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292725587589

I got sizes of 4-40 5/16" and 4-40 1/4".

For MIM:
M3 x 8mm
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252348960209

That looks great but unfortunately am unaware if my MIM Vintera is imperial or metric? 

I reckon it'll be metric, and the grub screws are cheap enough to take the risk. 

(Edit: The Mexican Fenders I've had have all been metric.)

Yorkie

My MiM strat has all metric stuff. Could be due to a cost cutting strategy. 
These are the ones I used on mine, if only to increase the number of parts sourced in Yorkshire: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293031451883?itmmeta=01HRFBZTDZPWQYTR9C1MXW0GP8&hash=item443a091ceb:g:~ugAAOSwRgJXlfnE

Neil

Thanks Gents.

So it seems metric is the way to go. I'll get on it. 

Neil

nonesuch said:

Neil said:

nonesuch said:

I you know if the Strat is American (imperial) or MIM (metric) you should be able to find replacement grub screws cheaply online.

I got these for an American Special Strat:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292725587589

I got sizes of 4-40 5/16" and 4-40 1/4".

For MIM:
M3 x 8mm
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252348960209

That looks great but unfortunately am unaware if my MIM Vintera is imperial or metric? 

I reckon it'll be metric, and the grub screws are cheap enough to take the risk. 

(Edit: The Mexican Fenders I've had have all been metric.)

Just received the grub screws I ordered, M3 x 8mm and they are the wrong thread for the bridge sections. 

Oh well.  

nonesuch

Neil said: Just received the grub screws I ordered, M3 x 8mm and they are the wrong thread for the bridge sections.   

Oh well.  

Sorry for giving you duff information. Fender certainly don't make it easy do they?!

Yorkie

Important info on the eBay page I linked:

Most new Mexican strats seem to use standard imperial/USA screws.

Early indications are the new MIM Player Series Strats may use uncommon fine threaded (UNF) USA screws, as used on US Standard Strat's from 2008 onwards.

Neil

nonesuch said:

Neil said: Just received the grub screws I ordered, M3 x 8mm and they are the wrong thread for the bridge sections.   

Oh well.  

Sorry for giving you duff information. Fender certainly don't make it easy do they?!

No they don't. 

Don't worry about it, they were only £3.

Neil

Yorkie said:

Important info on the eBay page I linked:

Most new Mexican strats seem to use standard imperial/USA screws.

Early indications are the new MIM Player Series Strats may use uncommon fine threaded (UNF) USA screws, as used on US Standard Strat's from 2008 onwards.

Thanks, I'll look into that.

Yorkie

Best of luck, mate. These things can be frustratingly unpredictable.