Section 5
– Initial Setup
Quilt Top Section 5
- 3 -
7.
Retune the guitar and check again
–
repeating steps 5-7;
8.
Replace claw pocket cover.
5.4
Adjusting the Action
(
string height) (Figure 5.4)
This will adjust the height of the strings over the 12
th
fret. Minor adjustments are made by raising or
lowering the bridge which was previously set to 1/16” above the Body. As this is a matter of personal
preference, this initial adjustment will give a place to start. There should be a gradual increase in height
from the first string to the sixth string.
Adjusting saddle height is very easy on the Quilt
Top guitar. Since the bridge can only be
adjusted at each end, there is no need to adjust
each saddle individually.
1.
Check and, if necessary, adjust the low
(thick) E string height at the 12
th
fret to
2/64”. Do this by adjusting the height of
the bridge at the thick E string end (Fig.
5.4). This is done by rotating the Bridge
insert adjustment counter-clockwise to
raise the bridge or clockwise to lower it.
Adjust the height until string doesn’t buzz on any fret from being too low, but low enough that
you can play up and down the neck easily. There’s usually a sweet spot where you can just start
to detect some buzzing and you can leave it just a tiny bit higher than that. Be careful if you use
a tool as it is easy to slip and damage the finish on your guitar.
2.
Now do the exact same procedure for the high (thin) E string using the other adjustment screw
to 3/64
th
over the 12
th
fret.
3.
Play the guitar a little bit to see if any of the other strings are buzzing. If, say, the A string is still
buzzing, then raise up the end of the bridge nearest to that string a little bit.
5.5
Pickup Height (Figure 5.5)
Each pickup is adjustable on the bass and treble sides. Finding the
best combination of tone and volume will require some
experimentation.
1
Bridge pickup:
1.1
Press the 1
st
string onto the last fret and hold;
1.2
Using a machinist ruler, measure the distance from
the top of the pole to the bottom of the 1
st
string
–
note bass measurement;
1.3
Repeat #1.1 & #1.2 on the 6
th
string
–
note the treble
measurement;
Fig 5.5Pickup Height Measurement
Fig 5.4 Action Adjustment
