Bridge height

coopdogg

Hello, this might seem like a dumb question, but what is the tool to adjust the Mustang's bridge height? I tried various allen key sizes but none seem to work. Is it a Torx? BTW, I have a reissue Mustang--does anyone know if Fender might have changed the screws?

Mustang-Pete

I believe it is just an allen key. I got a set of 4 with my Mustang, and I think it's one of them.

melvin-man

it is indeed an allen key, not sure on the size though, you should have got one with it.

SmutVendetta

Allen key either 3/32 or 5/64 size. I can't remember, I think it's the 3/32 though.

zontar

I believe that it may be a different size for the Japanese ones vs the American ones.

But I left mine at the height it came at.

It's the perfect height.

SmutVendetta

zontar said: I believe that it may be a different size for the Japanese ones vs the American ones.
But I left mine at the height it came at.
It's the perfect height.

I've got both bridges and they're the same fit. Either that or I got ripped off.

Purplehaze19x

+1 ...i have 1 allen key, and it will ajust the U.S. vintage bridge and the Jap bridge.

zontar

Good to know they would use the same size wrench.

Thus I said "may", not definite.

Sometimes US made vs overseas made guitars encounter this with imperial sizes of wrenches, nuts, bolts, etc vs metric sizes. Or different threads.

I know the little screw that holds in the bar on a Mustang is different on the newer Mustangs as compared to the USA made ones. I've compared those ones. Hopefullt the screws on the CIJ ones stay in better.

JeffLeites

I know! Just two days ago, before I found the original that was in the case I had stored away, I was using one from a big set of keys I got at Pep Boys or Auto Zone. It was the smallest one in this big set of keys (English, not Metric), and it was marked .050. BTW, the trem key is 3/32.

Side story - Many years ago I worked for a company called Weber Aircraft in Burbank Ca. I couldn't adjust my bridge, so I thought I'd sneak out of work, drive to Fender in Fullerton and see if they could sell me a new bridge. One of their guys took a look at it and determined the hex key was bad or worn, and just gave me another.. problem solved. About 15 years later, Weber Aircraft was moved to Fullerton. I hated the commute, but the building looked awfully familiar. You guessed it, Fender had also relocated, and I was now working in the old building that CBS had build for Fender. 😁 I still hated the commute 😠

mcmacguy

I thought this info was way off, but it just needs to be clarified:

For my Mustang (a 1966) it doesn't appear that a hex wrench is what works. The opening in the bridge height adjuster is round, not six-sided, which confused me at first. I had to take apart my bridge to see what was going on. The hex head screw that adjusts the bridge height actually sits in the bottom of the bridge height adjuster post, and can't be seen. You have to insert in the hex wrench and kind of wiggle it around until it fits in and sits tight in the screw. THEN you can turn it to adjust the height. Note that you also may have to putz with the vibrato tailpiece too.
As noted elsewhere, the wrench needed to adjust the height is the same exact hex wrench used to adjust a standard Stratocaster's bridge saddle height (don't know the size…)

Andres

Is 5/64". I just adjusted mine on a CIJ 2006. Is deceiving as there is very little traction, the key doesn’t feel like it fully hooks but trial and error pushing and turning worked out...