Can you damage the guitar if the vibrato bridge is that high?
https://cdn-mos-cms-futurecdn-net.c...urecdn.net/i48YTeidAAmEAowxSJbtS4-1200-80.jpg
https://cdn-mos-cms-futurecdn-net.c...urecdn.net/i48YTeidAAmEAowxSJbtS4-1200-80.jpg
Height of vibrato bridge
- Thread starter Wayne27
- Start date
Chris Pile
Well-known member
Re: Height of vibrato bridge
Your link is fubar.
Your link is fubar.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Height of vibrato bridge
I’ve had my strats like that before. It’s not a problem, won’t damage anything.
I’ve had my strats like that before. It’s not a problem, won’t damage anything.
Re: Height of vibrato bridge
Sorry about that. Here's another photo I found that resembles the height I'm talking about.
https://i.imgur.com/7LFgMUo.jpg
Sorry about that. Here's another photo I found that resembles the height I'm talking about.
https://i.imgur.com/7LFgMUo.jpg
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Height of vibrato bridge
Old style - no
New style (two post): it should, for most purposes, be aligned with the fretboard, as a starting point. Fenders often have shims, so the fretboards aren't always perfectly parallel to the body. The only thing moving it changes is how dramatically the vibrato reacts when you use it. Lean the bridge back, and the vibrato reacts more slowly. Lean it forward, and it reacts more quickly. Parallel to the fretboard is the starting point medium.
Old style - no
New style (two post): it should, for most purposes, be aligned with the fretboard, as a starting point. Fenders often have shims, so the fretboards aren't always perfectly parallel to the body. The only thing moving it changes is how dramatically the vibrato reacts when you use it. Lean the bridge back, and the vibrato reacts more slowly. Lean it forward, and it reacts more quickly. Parallel to the fretboard is the starting point medium.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Height of vibrato bridge
You can pull sharp and it’s easier to work in either direction if it’s raised a bit. When it’s level, usually it’s stiffer.
You can pull sharp and it’s easier to work in either direction if it’s raised a bit. When it’s level, usually it’s stiffer.
Mr. 80's
Well-known member
Re: Height of vibrato bridge
I would pull it down considerably just for the fact of not having barely any range of dipping and I'm sure your action is ridiculously high and intonation is out since the saddles are further forward at that extreme angle. IMHO any vintage 2-6 point bridge or Floyd works best level. IMHO The guitar is going to play and sound much better with it setup properly.
I would pull it down considerably just for the fact of not having barely any range of dipping and I'm sure your action is ridiculously high and intonation is out since the saddles are further forward at that extreme angle. IMHO any vintage 2-6 point bridge or Floyd works best level. IMHO The guitar is going to play and sound much better with it setup properly.
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beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Height of vibrato bridge
The limit is where the strings are no longer contacting the bridge saddles. But that is extreme.
The limit is where the strings are no longer contacting the bridge saddles. But that is extreme.
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: Height of vibrato bridge
I totally remember playing my Strat with the bridge like that for awhile before I managed to get it level. That was like 18 years ago!
You might not damage anything now but if that is really your ideal playing position (as in, if that is most comfortable for you) I'm not sure how sustainable that is. Something tells me it puts undue pressure on the trem posts
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I totally remember playing my Strat with the bridge like that for awhile before I managed to get it level. That was like 18 years ago!
You might not damage anything now but if that is really your ideal playing position (as in, if that is most comfortable for you) I'm not sure how sustainable that is. Something tells me it puts undue pressure on the trem posts
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PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: Height of vibrato bridge
I too remember having a beginner guitar with a bridge like that, action a mile high, etc...
For me the upper limit is when you can pull an open G sharp a minor third. That puts the B at a major second and the e at a minor second. Cool for faux pedal steel bends.
I too remember having a beginner guitar with a bridge like that, action a mile high, etc...
For me the upper limit is when you can pull an open G sharp a minor third. That puts the B at a major second and the e at a minor second. Cool for faux pedal steel bends.
Re: Height of vibrato bridge
This was possible for me on a TransTrem, but I could never do this on a Strat bridge and have the chord remain in tune.
This was possible for me on a TransTrem, but I could never do this on a Strat bridge and have the chord remain in tune.
Re: Height of vibrato bridge
Most of the comments are incorrect. Beau, Ehd, and Itsa are correct. It won't hurt anything. It doesn't cause more stress to the posts (the anchor spot is still the same, and the tension is still the same). The saddles can still adjust intonation. You can still slack the strings til they are totally limp.
It can raise the action, but you can put shims under the neck to correct that. Your guitar can still be set up to play perfectly with a high trem.
Having the trem high just allows you to work the trem in both directions, both raising and lowering the pitch.
Most of the comments are incorrect. Beau, Ehd, and Itsa are correct. It won't hurt anything. It doesn't cause more stress to the posts (the anchor spot is still the same, and the tension is still the same). The saddles can still adjust intonation. You can still slack the strings til they are totally limp.
It can raise the action, but you can put shims under the neck to correct that. Your guitar can still be set up to play perfectly with a high trem.
Having the trem high just allows you to work the trem in both directions, both raising and lowering the pitch.
Mr. 80's
Well-known member
Re: Height of vibrato bridge
Never did say it couldn't be re intonated just that it's more than likely out now and never said it would hurt anything either, just the guitar will play and sound better setup properly. He could still lower it considerably and have travel both ways and more than likely will not have to re intonate or shim the neck. Or he can leave as is and re do everything. There's a right way and wrong way to do things and with this case it's the wrong way. If we were talking a 2 point trem or Floyd where you can raise the entire bridge i would agree more with you, but not a 6 point. I stand by my statement 100%, been setting up trems for way too many years.
Never did say it couldn't be re intonated just that it's more than likely out now and never said it would hurt anything either, just the guitar will play and sound better setup properly. He could still lower it considerably and have travel both ways and more than likely will not have to re intonate or shim the neck. Or he can leave as is and re do everything. There's a right way and wrong way to do things and with this case it's the wrong way. If we were talking a 2 point trem or Floyd where you can raise the entire bridge i would agree more with you, but not a 6 point. I stand by my statement 100%, been setting up trems for way too many years.
Re: Height of vibrato bridge
Well, in your first post you said there is "barely any range of dipping". That simply is not true. The bridge isn't extremely high, but it is possible even at that angle to make the strings go completely slack.
You said that the "intonation is out". You don't know that. It could be perfectly intonated. There is certainly nothing about that bridge angle preventing it from intonating as good as is possible at the bridge.
Yes, indeed, you said "The guitar is going to play and sound much better with it setup properly". That is an obvious statement applicable to ANY guitar. It really has no specific relation to this particular situation.
There is not only a "right way and wrong way to do things". Sometimes there is a better or worse way. Sometimes there is just a "different" way. This is just a perfectly acceptable "different way".
You may not have noticed, but that IS a 2 point trem!
"I stand by my statement 100%". Are you sure you want to do that? Because you will be wrong...not 100% wrong, but certainly NOT 100% correct.
Finally, I've probably been setting up trems (and everything else on guitars) since before you were even born, so don't throw out that card believing that it actually means anything...especially if you've been setting up trems incorrectly all those "many years".
Never did say it couldn't be re intonated just that it's more than likely out now and never said it would hurt anything either, just the guitar will play and sound better setup properly. He could still lower it considerably and have travel both ways and more than likely will not have to re intonate or shim the neck. Or he can leave as is and re do everything. There's a right way and wrong way to do things and with this case it's the wrong way. If we were talking a 2 point trem or Floyd where you can raise the entire bridge i would agree more with you, but not a 6 point. I stand by my statement 100%, been setting up trems for way too many years.
Well, in your first post you said there is "barely any range of dipping". That simply is not true. The bridge isn't extremely high, but it is possible even at that angle to make the strings go completely slack.
You said that the "intonation is out". You don't know that. It could be perfectly intonated. There is certainly nothing about that bridge angle preventing it from intonating as good as is possible at the bridge.
Yes, indeed, you said "The guitar is going to play and sound much better with it setup properly". That is an obvious statement applicable to ANY guitar. It really has no specific relation to this particular situation.
There is not only a "right way and wrong way to do things". Sometimes there is a better or worse way. Sometimes there is just a "different" way. This is just a perfectly acceptable "different way".
You may not have noticed, but that IS a 2 point trem!
"I stand by my statement 100%". Are you sure you want to do that? Because you will be wrong...not 100% wrong, but certainly NOT 100% correct.
Finally, I've probably been setting up trems (and everything else on guitars) since before you were even born, so don't throw out that card believing that it actually means anything...especially if you've been setting up trems incorrectly all those "many years".
