I recently picked up a Fender 61 Strat Thin Skin Reissue. Having been historically an SG player, I'm still figuring out the ins and outs of the set up. One problem I can't seem to figure out is the bridge is rattling when I move the guitar around, and even occasionally when I bend notes. It's not a string buzz sound, but a hollow rattle like it's not sitting properly in the body. Is this something I can fix myself or should it be turned over to a pro?

Any tips would be much appreciated.

Something is loose!

With the strings off make sure the six screws holding the bridge plate to the body are tight (but not too tight or the tremolo won't move). Next stop is the tremolo springs and claw on the back of the guitar.

If this sounds too technical return it to the vendor for advice/repair.

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Sounds pretty simple. Would I be right in assuming there's not a ton of risk if the tension changes are done carefully? My only fear is turning a screw a quarter turn too much and ending up with a crack in the body.

Anytime you take a screw driver to an instrument there is a danger. The level of tightness required on the bridge plate mount screws is almost nil. You don't want them tight unless you are locking the bridge in place. You want the bridge to be able to move freely.

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I would figure one (or more) of the screws setting the saddles' heights is set either too high or too low.

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Selling BOSS FW-3. I live in Brazil, mind you, so prepare yourself for $30-ish for shipping and waiting. Local pickup available, along with beautiful beaches and cheap bitches.

Doesn't sound like a bridge plate to me. I would take back cover off and look at everything really good with a bright flashlight. There is too much tension for most things to rattle unless you have a disconnected spring or something. You could also have a piece of broken string floating around in the mix.

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Stage Guitars: '80s Thin line LP Custom, '70 LP Standard, '83 Squier Black Headstock Strat w/ Dan Torres pickups, '59 Black Danelectro DC, sometimes others.

Pedal Board: Nady UHF 10 -> TU2 -> Rocktron Big Crush -> 70s MXR Phase 100 -> Cry Baby -> Bad Monkey -> Early '80s Rat -> Early '80s Ibanez CS 9 -> Ibanez DE 7 -> Behringer Dr 100 Stereo Reverb

Stage amps: '63 Blonde Tremolux w/ two original 2X10 cabinets with a '60 Ampeg Rocket/18 watt VTB Marshall clone/ Epi VJ into a Mashall 1965A

I only mentioned it first!

It could also be the screws holding the bridge block to the bridge plate. May as well check them too. They do need to be as tight as you can reasonably get them with a normal screwdriver.

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My Gear , please wack with the side of your hand for normal service.
Bringing you EVIL VOODOO WAX MAGIC since 2009