Electric Guitar Bridge Setup

First sight the neck just to see what condition it s in.

Electric guitar bridge setup.

On an acoustic guitar you may have to shim or sand the bridge saddle. Please visit the individual guitar bridge pages for more detailed information about the anatomy of the bridges themselves. Tune the guitar to desired pitch. I ve been blown away by the improvements in playability and sound clarity that come from minor adjustments to the guitar s setup.

A guitar s action can also be adjust at the bridge. A gibson style bridge has two bridge posts that allow you to adjust only the bass and treble side of the bridge. Tune your guitar with an electric tuner. Use a straightedge for added assurance pictured.

For more information about how to set up a floating or floyd rose bridge please go to the floating or floyd rose bridge page. Setting up a guitar involves working with the bridge nut and neck adjustments to dial in the playing action to suit the player. Most guitars have either a fender or gibson style bridge. Remove the truss rod cover.

When adjusting these it s up to you to maintain or adjust them to the proper radius. On an electric guitar this is a matter of twisting the appropriate screws. Put the rest of the guitar in standard e a d g b e tuning. With the guitar on its side look down the fingerboard edge for overall straightness back bow relief forward bow and humps as well as high or uneven frets.

Sight the neck please read the beginning of this article for thorough instruction on sighting your guitar s neck. The fender style bridge allows you to adjust each saddle height individually. And a locking tremolo such as the american deluxe or floyd rose locking tremolos. The most well known bridge is the vintage style synchronized tremolo.

Strum the top string next to the tuner and adjust the tuning knobs until it s an e. If it s not adjusted correctly notes down the neck of the guitar will be flat or sharp. These are the basic steps to setting the action on various styled electric guitar bridges. Turn the guitar on its side close one eye and look down the neck from the headstock towards the bridge left.

Because the truss rod will affect the middle of the neck most be sure to pay. Tools a machinist rule a screwdriver or hex key electric guitar calipers a shim stock or stationary belt sander acoustic guitar. Below you will find all the information you need to setup your guitar the right way. Tune the guitar to pitch.

A playable guitar that sounds amazing requires a setting up process only then will your guitar play well. Set the relief capo the first fret and press the 15th fret with your finger then use your feeler gauge on the 8th fret to measure the height. The non tremolo hardtail bridge. This guide serves only if you want a quick action adjustment and presumes your truss rod and nut are set up correctly.

Stratocaster guitars can have four distinctive types of bridges. Sight a guitar neck. Look down the profile of the fretboard on both the bass and treble sides of the neck is the neck straight or is there a curve.