Electric Guitar Bridge Setup

Put the rest of the guitar in standard e a d g b e tuning.

Electric guitar bridge setup. The most well known bridge is the vintage style synchronized tremolo. Because the truss rod will affect the middle of the neck most be sure to pay. Turn the guitar on its side close one eye and look down the neck from the headstock towards the bridge left. The fender style bridge allows you to adjust each saddle height individually.

The other three are the american series bridge which is a modern day two pivot bridge. For more information about how to set up a floating or floyd rose bridge please go to the floating or floyd rose bridge page. A guitar s action can also be adjust at the bridge. Please visit the individual guitar bridge pages for more detailed information about the anatomy of the bridges themselves.

Tune your guitar with an electric tuner. Stratocaster guitars can have four distinctive types of bridges. A playable guitar that sounds amazing requires a setting up process only then will your guitar play well. When adjusting these it s up to you to maintain or adjust them to the proper radius.

Tools a machinist rule a screwdriver or hex key electric guitar calipers a shim stock or stationary belt sander acoustic guitar. If it s not adjusted correctly notes down the neck of the guitar will be flat or sharp. First sight the neck just to see what condition it s in. 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.

Tune the guitar to pitch. 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. This guide serves only if you want a quick action adjustment and presumes your truss rod and nut are set up correctly.

The non tremolo hardtail bridge. The bridge elongates or shortens the length of your strings. Most guitars have either a fender or gibson style bridge. Below you will find all the information you need to setup your guitar the right way.

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. I ve been blown away by the improvements in playability and sound clarity that come from minor adjustments to the guitar s setup. On an acoustic guitar you may have to shim or sand the bridge saddle. Tune the guitar to desired pitch.

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. 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. Strum the top string next to the tuner and adjust the tuning knobs until it s an e.

Sight the neck please read the beginning of this article for thorough instruction on sighting your guitar s neck. And a locking tremolo such as the american deluxe or floyd rose locking tremolos. Remove the truss rod cover.