How should bridge pins look?

[LeDave]

I'm scared of having it too tight and deep in because I'm afraid it could damage the bridge. How should it look? I saw a few of my pins so tight in, I untightened the strings and fixed it so it looks like this.

[HodgdonExtreme]

I could be wrong, but I think it's less about how they look, and more about how they feel. They should be snug, and in tight enough that you can't pull them out without a tool. But some relatively gentle prying with a tool (I use a small set of wire cutters), they should come right out.

When installing them, I probably push down with about 5lb of force - certainly no more than 10lb.

[FrankHudson]

You do know that bridge pins don't hold your strings by how tight they fit, don't you?

The job of the bridge pin is to help insure the ball-end of the string gets caught by the bridge plate inside your guitar.

Here's a nice article about the hows and whys:

How Bridge Pins work

If you already know this--never-mind--but someone else reading this thread may learn something.

[D-utim]

I like the pins to sit with the collar higher than shown in your photo.

[fregly]

Is that a crack in the bridge from the d to b though the pin line?

[LeDave]

Originally Posted by fregly

Is that a crack in the bridge from the d to b though the pin line?

You scared me!!! I just checked and nope. Just a natural mark. No crack.

[mirwa]

That saddle is IMO way to tall, so much unsupported area.

Steve

[LeDave]

Originally Posted by mirwa

That saddle is IMO way to tall, so much unsupported area.

Steve

It came like that stock. It's a Fender California Series Redondo Player.

[mirwa]

Maybe so, but it is still too tall in relation to the bridge, I can see with ease that saddle breaking the front of your bridge out

Steve

[LeDave]

Originally Posted by mirwa

Maybe so, but it is still too tall in relation to the bridge, I can see with ease that saddle breaking the front of your bridge out

Steve

What saddle should I replace it with?

[mirwa]

You need to see a luthier and have them look it over, not a case of go and buy another saddle

Steve

[JayBee1404]

IMHO, they should look like this...

006824EF-A02D-4E24-AB0F-EF25AA49EF53.jpg

[fregly]

Originally Posted by LeDave

You scared me!!! I just checked and nope. Just a natural mark. No crack.

Ok good. I once had one straight across that pin line. I mean it is common along there.

[LeDave]

Just ordered this with sanding paper. It should fit on the spot. Sanding paper is just for in case.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07H5SZXDP

Also bought this for the pins. Throwing the saddle and nut away.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07VMR6TVT

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by LeDave

Just ordered this with sanding paper. It should fit on the spot. Sanding paper is just for in case.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07H5SZXDP

Also bought this for the pins. Throwing the saddle and nut away.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07VMR6TVT

That bone saddle that comes with the pins might be an easy, straight swap with the plastic saddle already in your guitar - the intonation compensation looks identical whereas that unbleached saddle has an entirely different compensation 'wave' that might throw out the intonation on your guitar.
Maybe try it 1st before throwing it away.