Electric Guitar Bridge Setup

The fender style bridge allows you to adjust each saddle height individually.

Electric guitar bridge setup. For more information about how to set up a floating or floyd rose bridge please go to the floating or floyd rose bridge page. 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 other three are the american series bridge which is a modern day two pivot bridge. The bridge elongates or shortens the length of your strings.

Strum the top string next to the tuner and adjust the tuning knobs until it s an e. Sight a guitar neck. Tune the guitar to desired pitch. Turn the guitar on its side close one eye and look down the neck from the headstock towards the bridge left.

Remove the truss rod cover. First sight the neck just to see what condition it s in. Please visit the individual guitar bridge pages for more detailed information about the anatomy of the bridges themselves. Below you will find all the information you need to setup your guitar the right way.

Stratocaster guitars can have four distinctive types of bridges. This guide serves only if you want a quick action adjustment and presumes your truss rod and nut are set up correctly. A guitar s action can also be adjust at the bridge. Tune the guitar to pitch.

The most well known bridge is the vintage style synchronized tremolo. I ve been blown away by the improvements in playability and sound clarity that come from minor adjustments to the guitar s setup. Tools a machinist rule a screwdriver or hex key electric guitar calipers a shim stock or stationary belt sander acoustic guitar. And a locking tremolo such as the american deluxe or floyd rose locking tremolos.

Most guitars have either a fender or gibson style bridge. On an acoustic guitar you may have to shim or sand the bridge saddle. 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. Tune your guitar with an electric tuner.

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. On an electric guitar this is a matter of twisting the appropriate screws. These are the basic steps to setting the action on various styled electric guitar bridges. A playable guitar that sounds amazing requires a setting up process only then will your guitar play well.

If it s not adjusted correctly notes down the neck of the guitar will be flat or sharp. The non tremolo hardtail bridge. 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. Setting up a guitar involves working with the bridge nut and neck adjustments to dial in the playing action to suit the player.

Put the rest of the guitar in standard e a d g b e tuning. When adjusting these it s up to you to maintain or adjust them to the proper radius. Use a straightedge for added assurance pictured.