Guitar Setup Challenge...Bridge Too High
- Thread starter cactus jack
- Start date
cactus jack
New member
Re: Guitar Setup Challenge...Bridge Too High
Popped off the neck. It's hard to tell, but the strips of excess finish on the sides were indeed raised. For reference, dragging a pick across the pocket it would snag when it hit the finish. I removed the sticker and carefully cleaned up the finish. While not completely gone I can drag a razer blade across the pocket without a snag.
I need to clean up the screw holes on the neck, but in general it was in good shape.
Finally, I took a few measurements and confirmed the pocket is properly angled, and is relatively flat
Now that the pocket is cleaned up, time to put the neck back on and check the relief and action.
I'm embarrassed to admit how many HOURS I've spent so far...but I'm making progress!
Thanks to everyone here I've been able to get my guitar close to dialed in. I still need to set pickup height, and I've decided to replace all the electronics. I currently have a decent harness, which includes to push pulls for coil splits. However, I don't like the feel of the pots, Bournes which feel too loose, and have decided I'm not a push pull guy. Instead I'm going to wire up a set of Triple Shots and switch to CTS pots and 50's style wiring.
Here's my progress so far.
Relief: Using the notched straight edge as a guide and feeler gauges for measurements I was able to set the relief to .005". It took several minute truss rod tweaks and a whole lot of patience, but I got there.
Action: After getting the neck adjusted I was able to adjust the string height down to a buzz free 1/64" on the treble side, and 2/64" on the bass.
Nut: After measuring the nut it was apparent it was cut too low. I couldn't balance the relief and action the way I wanted. As such, I've ordered a new Graph Tech nut and will get that installed asap. The old one is plastic so it was time to go anyway. In the meantime, I shimmed the nut with a thin slice of business card. It's a bit high, but pretty darn close and zero buzz which is nice.
Other: Thank god for real tools! No way I could get this dialed by eye. I knew something was wrong with the original setup, but no idea how to fix it. Also, I've decided to replace the tuners. If I put in this much work to get the setup right, I might as well make sure tuning is as good at it can be.
A few quick pics:
Original:
Adjusted:
A bit more relief on the treble side, but darn near .005" across the neck.
1/64th on the treble side...pic turned out blurry...
Original bass string action:
Adjusted:
May not look like much, but I've been able to drop the bridge by about 1.5 turns
Original:
Adjusted: I have not adjusted pickup height yet
Original:
Adjusted:
Original:
Adjusted: Bad pic...
My new best friends:
Popped off the neck. It's hard to tell, but the strips of excess finish on the sides were indeed raised. For reference, dragging a pick across the pocket it would snag when it hit the finish. I removed the sticker and carefully cleaned up the finish. While not completely gone I can drag a razer blade across the pocket without a snag.
I need to clean up the screw holes on the neck, but in general it was in good shape.
Finally, I took a few measurements and confirmed the pocket is properly angled, and is relatively flat
Now that the pocket is cleaned up, time to put the neck back on and check the relief and action.
I'm embarrassed to admit how many HOURS I've spent so far...but I'm making progress!
Thanks to everyone here I've been able to get my guitar close to dialed in. I still need to set pickup height, and I've decided to replace all the electronics. I currently have a decent harness, which includes to push pulls for coil splits. However, I don't like the feel of the pots, Bournes which feel too loose, and have decided I'm not a push pull guy. Instead I'm going to wire up a set of Triple Shots and switch to CTS pots and 50's style wiring.
Here's my progress so far.
Relief: Using the notched straight edge as a guide and feeler gauges for measurements I was able to set the relief to .005". It took several minute truss rod tweaks and a whole lot of patience, but I got there.
Action: After getting the neck adjusted I was able to adjust the string height down to a buzz free 1/64" on the treble side, and 2/64" on the bass.
Nut: After measuring the nut it was apparent it was cut too low. I couldn't balance the relief and action the way I wanted. As such, I've ordered a new Graph Tech nut and will get that installed asap. The old one is plastic so it was time to go anyway. In the meantime, I shimmed the nut with a thin slice of business card. It's a bit high, but pretty darn close and zero buzz which is nice.
Other: Thank god for real tools! No way I could get this dialed by eye. I knew something was wrong with the original setup, but no idea how to fix it. Also, I've decided to replace the tuners. If I put in this much work to get the setup right, I might as well make sure tuning is as good at it can be.
A few quick pics:
Original:
Adjusted:
A bit more relief on the treble side, but darn near .005" across the neck.
1/64th on the treble side...pic turned out blurry...
Original bass string action:
Adjusted:
May not look like much, but I've been able to drop the bridge by about 1.5 turns
Original:
Adjusted: I have not adjusted pickup height yet
Original:
Adjusted:
Original:
Adjusted: Bad pic...
My new best friends:
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Guitar Setup Challenge...Bridge Too High
How does it play now?
How does it play now?
cactus jack
New member
Re: Guitar Setup Challenge...Bridge Too High
It plays so much better. Honestly, I had no idea a few mm could make such a big difference. I can't wait to get the new nut on, and I've also decided to try my hand at filing the bridge saddles to the proper radius. The neck has a compound radius from 10"-16" so the bridge should be close to 18" and it's currently stock at 12".
One thing I did, which I believe really help sustain was seating the neck via an old G&L trick. I'm sure lots of folks do this, but basically you tune the guitar to half pitch then losen the neck screws a quarter turn. Then tune to pitch and the neck sucks into the pocket nice and tight. Doing that little trick vs simply bolting the neck on seems to have increased the sustain and overall vibration. Could be a placebo effect, but it seems to have done something.
It plays so much better. Honestly, I had no idea a few mm could make such a big difference. I can't wait to get the new nut on, and I've also decided to try my hand at filing the bridge saddles to the proper radius. The neck has a compound radius from 10"-16" so the bridge should be close to 18" and it's currently stock at 12".
One thing I did, which I believe really help sustain was seating the neck via an old G&L trick. I'm sure lots of folks do this, but basically you tune the guitar to half pitch then losen the neck screws a quarter turn. Then tune to pitch and the neck sucks into the pocket nice and tight. Doing that little trick vs simply bolting the neck on seems to have increased the sustain and overall vibration. Could be a placebo effect, but it seems to have done something.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Guitar Setup Challenge...Bridge Too High
Won’t that put you back to needing to raise the bridge, possibly where it all was before?
Also FWIW, the original photos all look like what all my SGs looked like when they came stock and after adjusting the truss for my string gauge they looked like the after pictures. YMMV
Won’t that put you back to needing to raise the bridge, possibly where it all was before?
Also FWIW, the original photos all look like what all my SGs looked like when they came stock and after adjusting the truss for my string gauge they looked like the after pictures. YMMV
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Guitar Setup Challenge...Bridge Too High
I'm a fan, and don't think it's placebo. Heard someone on here mention that close to 15 years ago. I decided to try it so I could call BS, and heard a difference. Been doing it to all my bolt-ons ever since.
I'm a fan, and don't think it's placebo. Heard someone on here mention that close to 15 years ago. I decided to try it so I could call BS, and heard a difference. Been doing it to all my bolt-ons ever since.
cactus jack
New member
Re: Guitar Setup Challenge...Bridge Too High
Maybe I need to think through the bridge a bit. I assumed once I set the E strings my actions was essentially set and flattening the radius would simply lower the middle strings.
Maybe I need to think through the bridge a bit. I assumed once I set the E strings my actions was essentially set and flattening the radius would simply lower the middle strings.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Guitar Setup Challenge...Bridge Too High
Hmm yeah maybe, going from 12 to 18. I was just thinking filing means the bridge gets lower and you have to raise it.
Hmm yeah maybe, going from 12 to 18. I was just thinking filing means the bridge gets lower and you have to raise it.
cactus jack
New member
Re: Guitar Setup Challenge...Bridge Too High
No, a bad setup caused the issues with the setup
. I'm sure the finish in the neck pocket didn't help, but I honestly have no idea how much it hurt either. However, seeing that we're working with fractions of mm, getting everything at tight as possible is probably important.
No, a bad setup caused the issues with the setup
. I'm sure the finish in the neck pocket didn't help, but I honestly have no idea how much it hurt either. However, seeing that we're working with fractions of mm, getting everything at tight as possible is probably important.
