Tiny yet MASSIVE problem...

[Ibanezer_hi]

I've just bought a secondhand Musicman AXIS and its in lovely condition ,the strings however were manky so i'm in the process of setting up...only problem is the little block that holds the low E in the Floyd is stuck ! It just wont budge its slightly angled too which means i cant get the Estring in either

I've tried everything..trouble is you just cant get any purchase on the damn thing...the only thing i can think of is to bore it out but i dont have a decent drill for that

Anyone got any suggestions !

[IbanezFreak777]

Ohh I love problems like these, cause they always take a weird solution to resolve the situation. Im just gona reel of some ideas, whether they are good or not and they might spark and idea in you and fix the problem, ok
here goes

1)tweezers ? you tried that yet
2) 2 sharp pointy knives on either side and force it out. ?
3) what if you screw back in the thing that pushes it to clamp the string, does that push it forward a bit then you could force it out with a knife

4)hammer and a flat head screw driver, and lightly tap the side of the block against the angle maybe that will free it a bit.

5) can't think of anything else, but please post if you fix it, id like to know how you got the problem solved.


Good luck

[toshiro]

These can crack on the bottom from over-tightening, and that in turn makes the bottom part wider, causing your issue.

You have to remove them from the bottom of the saddle with Gotoh's trems, I think. You'll need a new one, pretty cheap at your local well stocked music store. A quick fix would be a jewelers flathead screwdriver, slid in and used like a wedge to push the block back far enough to get your string in. Either way, you should replace it asap.

[Ibanezer_hi]

Originally Posted by IbanezFreak777

Ohh I love problems like these, cause they always take a weird solution to resolve the situation. Im just gona reel of some ideas, whether they are good or not and they might spark and idea in you and fix the problem, ok
here goes

1)tweezers ? you tried that yet
2) 2 sharp pointy knives on either side and force it out. ?
3) what if you screw back in the thing that pushes it to clamp the string, does that push it forward a bit then you could force it out with a knife

4)hammer and a flat head screw driver, and lightly tap the side of the block against the angle maybe that will free it a bit.

5) can't think of anything else, but please post if you fix it, id like to know how you got the problem solved.


Good luck

A sharp tack and a hammer knocked it back far enough so i could get the E string in ! Couldnt get the sucker out to replace but at least i can tune up and play now !

Thanks for your help m8 !

[IbanezFreak777]

Hey as long as you can play, but as toshiro said you probably should replace it.

[Wild_Child]

Have you tried taking the saddle off and getting at it that way?

[Ibanezer_hi]

Originally Posted by Wild_Child

Have you tried taking the saddle off and getting at it that way?

Excellent idea !

I'll get it yet..i'm sure.

[teddyamarillo]

Perhaps try a good spray of electricians freeze spray before applying any force, and only then very gentle force. This may give some micro shrinkage to the assembly. But check first it will not damage the finnish on the trem, e.g try a but on the tip of the term arm first.

[tech_dude]

the block corrodes in the whole after time from sweat. A few drops of penetrating oil and 24 hours later it will come out very easily. Use the precision screw driver to move it back and forth to help the oil penetrate. Be sure to put a light oil on all the blocks when installing them. This will never happen again.

[-Rhaab]

Tiny yet massive, isn't that an oxymoron? like minor catastrophe? heh

But to the problem, it happened to me on my Zr Trem, I just used a small screw driver and tried wedging all the little cracks without force and it eventually came loose. I'd say taking the saddle out would be best, as to not risk ruining it furthur. Make sure you don't drop and lose the string block.

[steve]

Had this problem with a used but AWESOME condition old-school genuine Floyd Rose I purchased recently.
2 of the saddles had been so severely overtightened that the same problem as above occurred.
To get the blocks out: I pulled the saddles off of the bridge plate, which meant that the back lock screw was out of the way. That way I was able to slide in a slender but strong screwdriver shaft, connecting with the hole in the block that mates with the lock screw's reduced, smooth interface pin. With that I pried gradually upward, occasionally going with another fine-blade screwdriver from the top (string insertion) of the block hole and counter-prying from there.
Once I worked them carefully out, I could see that they had been 'mushroomed' by the excessive tightening. I simply used a good Swedish fine-cut file and re-shaped to nice and rectangular.
Good to go.