1 December 2017
18
P+JAssem Version 1.1
•
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j3QryKIXrc
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There are many other videos and guides on the web.
5.2.
Set the Bridge/String Height
The string action or string height is the distance that the strings are above the frets while at rest. In the end,
this is a matter of player preference. Light players tend to prefer a low action, while those that love to
thrash or play hard, tend to prefer a higher action.
•
Tune all strings to proper pitch.
•
The standard string height is 3/32” on the bass side and 5/64” on the high string. Start there for your
guitar setup and adjust later as you become more experienced with your guitar and your playing style.
•
Place a capo between the nut and 1
st
fret.
•
With the guitar laying flat, place the end of a metal ruler on the 17
th
fret (Where the neck meets the
body), against the 4
th
(Low E) string and measure the distance from the top of the fret to the bottom of
the string.
•
The height should be 3/32” or a little less on the higer strings.
•
To adjust the height of the bridge, you may need to loosen the strings first. Then gently turn the screw
posts to raise or lower the bridge. Note that the two sides of the bridge can be at different heights -
meaning that the E string can be higher or lower than the G string.
•
Raise or lower the E side of the bridge as appropriate.
•
Repeat the procedure on the high side of the E string.
•
Remove the capo
•
Retune all strings.
•
Play a little, see how it feels. If OK, move to next step, if not readjust the string height.
5.3.
Adjust the Intonation
The guitar is a funny instrument. There is an assumption that the frets being perpendicular to all strings will
produce the correct changes in pitch even though the strings are different gauges and the tension on the
strings varies depending on which fret is being depressed. The physical properties cause tuning difficulties
across the fretboard and along its length. For example a string can be perfectly in tune when played open
(e.g., an open D) but play slightly flat or sharp when the D one octave higher is played at the 12
th
fret. We
call the ability to play in tune across all possible notes that the instrument can produce “intonation”.
In this section, we are going to adjust the intonation of your new guitar.
There have been some high-tech attempts to work around this limitation, including special nuts and
different fanned fret layouts. Your guitar doesn’t have any of these fancy elements to adjust intonation.
However, like all standard electric guitars, your instrument allows adjustment of individual string lengths by
changing the positioning of the six bridge saddles independently. Using this technique, we can correct
many of the issues with out of tune notes across the length of the fretboard.
•
If you don’t have an electronic tuner, you should go out and buy one. Be sure that it is fully chromatic,
both for this intonation work and for more general usage.
•
Tuning is critical here. Check the tuning of each string.
•
Starting with the 4
th
string, pick the string and check the tuning for “E” note.
•
Hold the 12
th
fret and pick the 4
th
string again. The tuning should be an “E” note one octave higher
