Manchester Guitar Tech
Replacing the Saddles in a Schaller Nashville Bridge
NOTE This applies only to the original Schaller bridge and exact copies.
I often read that people find it difficult to change the saddles in a Gibson “Nashville” bridge.
This bridge was introduced in the mid 70s, replacing the original ABR-1 Tune-o-matic bridge which had been designed at Gibson in the early 1950s by Ted McCarty. This newer design had more travel for intonation and was more robust than the ABR-1. It was designed and made in Germany by Schaller and its introduction coincided with the Gibson factory’s move from Kalamazoo Michigan to Nashville Tennessee, hence the colloquial name. The Gibson designation for this bridge is BR-030.
Rather than the saddles being secured by a single wire as in the second generation ABR-1, each saddle is held in place using its own small circlip. There is no obvious way to easily remove the saddle but it’s really quite easy if you know how.
You don’t need to use an electric screwdriver but it does speed up the process.
Click on the pictures for a bigger version or watch the video at the end of this post.
Removing a saddle
To remove, turn the intonation screw anticlockwise as if to remove it.
Once the saddle touches the wall of the bridge, keep unscrewing. The screw will withdraw and allow the saddle to drop out.
Leave the screw in the bridge unless you are replacing it or the circlip (I’ll cover this next time).
Fitting a saddle
To replace, drop the saddle into the bridge and push the screw forward into its hole in the saddle.
Apply a bit of pressure on the screw
and turn clockwise to engage with the saddle.
Keep turning until the saddle is hard against the near wall of the bridge as this locates the circlip in its groove.
Rough out the intonation before refitting the bridge to the guitar.
All the steps are shown in this video.
Thanks for this well presented explanation. A really helpful walk through on a, not often covered and tricky topic. Managed to carry out the job perfectly, after a minor hiccup – my fault – and all works well.
I got the replacement saddles for my 1989 Heritage H535 Schaller Nashville bridge and Les Paul Classic from Stewmac.com. Part No. 4505-N Nashville Tune-O-Matic Saddles (Nickel)
https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Parts/All_Hardware_and_Parts_by_Instrument/Electric_Guitar_Parts/Electric_Guitar_Saddles/Nashville_Tune-o-matic_Saddles.html?pref_currency=P
and the clips – https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Parts/All_Hardware_and_Parts_by_Instrument/Electric_Guitar_Parts/Electric_Guitar_Bridges_and_Tailpieces/Tune-o-matic_Bridge_Parts/Nashville_Tune-o-matic_Saddle_Retainer_Clips.html
Many thanks – much appreciated.
Hi, Where can one get these particular saddles. Allparts only sell Graphtech!
Cheers Pete
They used to have them, part number BP-0305-010 but they are no longer on the site. I’ve no idea where else might stock them.
Hi, finally – information about the old schaller nashville bridge! Thank you. However, one of the saddles on my old bridge lost its retainer circlip. Would you know where I can get one, or how one can fabricate such a piece? Thanks!
I’ve got lots here, email me with your address and I’ll send you one.
Hi stephen,
Would you happen to have the proper length adjustment screw and circlip for this bridge? I’m missing one for my “82 Les Paul Custom
Thanks
Randy
I have a few in chrome finish but none in gold
Any chance you have one of these saddle screws left you could post to NE25? Sheared the head of one and cant find any for the Nashville bridge online.
Yes no problem at all. Email me your address and I’ll stick one in the post.
Really helpful article, thanks!
One question, I need to change the saddles on my nashville bridge, but I’m not sure of I have a pre or post 2000 nashville bridge as my guitar was made in 2000. It seems like they take different saddles. So the question is, do you know how to tell which one it is?
Thanks!
This article refers to those bridges where the saddle retaining clip is shaped like these.
so your article is pretty dangerous, because now there are different clips, and it can be damage
and you said no word about it