stingray bridge/saddle trouble

[mando]

I recently purchased a used four string stingray and have found a problem. When the strings leave the bridge and go towards the saddle, they must turn hard to the right to get to the groove in the saddle. (It is not a string through the body bass.) Essentially, if you draw a straight line between where the string exits the bridge piece and the nut, the saddle is about 1/2inch over from that line.
This is a problem for the G string because when I play hard over the pick-up (where the best tone is) that g string keeps popping out of the groove in the saddle. When this happens, the string is no longer over a pole piece so you can't hear it at all. All of the strings are out of line as described above, but the G is the only string popping out of the saddle. Does this make sense? Any suggestions?

 

[Mike Pierce]

Saddles

Mando,

Are you sure that the saddles are the originals? There should be a slight angle, but not to the extent you've described. Perhaps they are the originals but are on backwards. How long have you had your bass? Do you know how old it is? You may need to take it to a local tech to figure out the problem. It's hard to diagnose without seeing it. Hopefully this will help. Thanks.

Mike

 

[mando]

but of coarse

In fact the saddles were on backwards. But that's not all. Someone had put the strings in the holes that the saddle adjustment screws should have been in, and the screws in the holes that the strings should have been in. I changed around the D and G strings and it seems to be great.
I don't know why anyone would have to mess with it like that. I just got this bass a week or so ago. When I changed the strings it seemed to be playing fine and of coarse the string first came out on stage while I was rocking out.
Thanks for your help. The bass kicks much tail.

 

[Mike Pierce]

Glad I could help. It is unfortunate that the previous owner didn't know how to maintain the instrument properly.

Mike