Electric Guitar Bridge Setup

Because the truss rod will affect the middle of the neck most be sure to pay.

Electric guitar bridge setup. A guitar s action can also be adjust at the bridge. The other three are the american series bridge which is a modern day two pivot bridge. 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. Below you will find all the information you need to setup your guitar the right way.

The most well known bridge is the vintage style synchronized tremolo. And a locking tremolo such as the american deluxe or floyd rose locking tremolos. For more information about how to set up a floating or floyd rose bridge please go to the floating or floyd rose bridge page. Put the rest of the guitar in standard e a d g b e tuning.

Use a straightedge for added assurance pictured. A gibson style bridge has two bridge posts that allow you to adjust only the bass and treble side of the bridge. On an acoustic guitar you may have to shim or sand the bridge saddle. 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. Tune the guitar to desired pitch. Stratocaster guitars can have four distinctive types of bridges. These are the basic steps to setting the action on various styled electric guitar bridges.

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. Sight a guitar neck. The non tremolo hardtail bridge. Adjusting your guitar action and bridge height is one of the most common guitar setup tips that you will learn with this easy and simple guitar setup guide for gibson fender and floyd rose style guitar bridges.

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. On an electric guitar this is a matter of twisting the appropriate screws. I ve been blown away by the improvements in playability and sound clarity that come from minor adjustments to the guitar s setup. Remove the truss rod cover.

Most guitars have either a fender or gibson style bridge. Setting up a guitar involves working with the bridge nut and neck adjustments to dial in the playing action to suit the player. The bridge elongates or shortens the length of your strings. Please visit the individual guitar bridge pages for more detailed information about the anatomy of the bridges themselves.

Turn the guitar on its side close one eye and look down the neck from the headstock towards the bridge left. Tune your guitar with an electric tuner. Sight the neck please read the beginning of this article for thorough instruction on sighting your guitar s neck. Tools a machinist rule a screwdriver or hex key electric guitar calipers a shim stock or stationary belt sander acoustic guitar.

Tune the guitar to pitch. The fender style bridge allows you to adjust each saddle height individually. This guide serves only if you want a quick action adjustment and presumes your truss rod and nut are set up correctly.