Which strat saddle screws to get?

[monkeybrains]

I have a partscaster, I suspect the hardware is made in mexico. I want to get some new saddle screws. How do I know if I need american or mexican sizes? Or are they the same?
Thanks

 

[Timtam]

Imperial saddle height grub screws (#4-40) take a 0.05" allen key (1.27mm). Metric ones (M3) take a 1.5mm allen key. So that's one simple way to tell which screws you have - a 1.5mm allen key won't fit a #4-40 screw. The screw diameters are a little harder to tell apart, but #4-40 is around 2.8mm and M3 is 3mm.

 

[monkeybrains]

Thanks. My friend has some calipers I'll try using those to check.

 

[Obsessive Tinkerer]

Thanks. My friend has some calipers I'll try using those to check.

After you sort out the size, go Highwood, they’re the best.

 

[walterw]

Thanks. My friend has some calipers I'll try using those to check.

that's too hard; just try the allen wrenches, either the US or the metric will fit and then you'll know

 

[testing1two]

The calipers are still useful for measuring the screw lengths (although a ruler works as well) so you don't buy screws that stand too far above the tops of the saddles. Also remember the E string saddles will have shorter screws than the A-D-G-B saddles.

 

[walterw]

The calipers are still useful for measuring the screw lengths

true, and i suppose also if you're not sure if that little allen wrench is in fact .050" or 1.5mm

 

[monkeybrains]

The calipers are still useful for measuring the screw lengths (although a ruler works as well) so you don't buy screws that stand too far above the tops of the saddles. Also remember the E string saddles will have shorter screws than the A-D-G-B saddles.

I was planning to cut the screw to length with a dremmel

 

[Timtam]

I was planning to cut the screw to length with a dremmel

If your screws turn out to be metric (quite likely), you can get 6mm/8mm/10mm M3 grub screws on ebay, at a buck or two for 10. Little if any hardware is actually made in Mexico.

 

[StringBender99]

I went through this last year. I had a few Strat's with Palm Killers Screws - I ordered a bunch of small M sized grub screws. Worked Great. I kept those grub screws, and whenever a friend has a Guitar with this Issue, I tell them I can fix it.
I do suggest that you get your Strat Set-Up properly - before messing with the saddle screws.