MIJ Strat intonation problem

[afireinside7444]

I just got a early 80's MIJ Squier SQ strat that has the 6 screw vintage trem on it, not the 2 post modern, also has the 70's large block saddles. I disassembled all parts due to rusting used wd40 and steel wool got everything shiny again but my dog ran through the loose saddles so I mixed them up from their original location. I put them back in a random order. Now I cannot intonate the low E, any notes on it sounds wobbly, and I have the saddle as far towards the neck as I can (adjuster screw has no more thread left) and it is still when fretting the 12th fret it is still flat compared to the 12th fret harmonic.......is their any way to tell the original location of the saddles? they do have different length height adjuster screws, longer screws low E shorter to High E? Any other ideas?!?!?!? thanks

pic of similar guitar, same trem so you can see the trem/saddles I am dealing with

[ryanb]

The longer intonation screws would be on the high E side, shorter on the low E side. If you didn't take the height adjustment set screws out, and if they are different lengths on your guitar, that would be a clue too. The center saddles usually have longer set screws, getting shorter toward the E strings. You might also get a clue from wear patterns on the saddles -- you might be able to tell the smaller strings from the bigger ones, or at least the wound strings.

In any case, the Low E saddle all the way forward is not where it should need to be for intonation, and swapping the saddles shouldn't cause that problem. I think there is something else wrong. First of all, do you have new strings on it? You can't intonate it with old strings. Maybe post some close-up pics of your bridge.