TOM bridge question

[jdm]

Hi -

 

Just got my first les paul -- a 2006 classic. My question is about the bridge. One of the bridge screws is out further than the other (see pic below), so the bridge is sitting at an angle. As a result , the action is a bit higher than i would like it . Should the bridge be set like this or does it look like something is wrong? Like I said, this is my first Les Paul and my firs TOM bridge. This guitar has never been professionally setup -- this is how it came from the factory except for a few string changes. .

 

SHould i leave this alone or can the adjust the bridge to lower the action? Can i adjust the bridge myself? I tried turning the bride screw clockwise to lower it a little, but it would not budge! Is there something special that needs to be done before it can be adjusted?

 

Thanks!

 

[DoubleSixx]

No that's not the way it should be, you can adjust it yourself.

 

Here's the secret, loosen the strings first, just don't go to low you may get some

string buzz once you tune it back up after lowering.

 

You may have to adjust the pickups too, no big deal.

 

Good luck, should be a painless fix.

[jdm]

Thanks for the quick reply. WIll lowering the bridge change the intonation at all? Once the strings are loose, will the bridge screw turn easily? Thanks.

[DoubleSixx]

You may only have to loosen E A D strings. The intonation may be affected.

 

Adjusting the intonation is easy.

 

Fret the string at the 12th fret, then play the harmoic on the 12th fret. Both the fretted note and the harmonic should be the same, if not turn the screw on the saddle.

 

If the harmonic is too low turn the screw to the right to sharpen the note and re-check by fretting the

note and then playing the harmonic. If it's too sharp turn to the left.

 

Remember righty-tighty, lefty-loosey.

 

Repeat for each string. Shouldn't take long.

 

Good luck.

[jdm]

I loosened all of the strings, but the upper bridge screw still won't budge. I can get the lower one to turn, but it ispretty far in and is probably good where is it. The upper definatelty won't turn by hand - i stripped some skin off my finger trying to get it to turn.. Should i use pliers or something to turn it or could i screw something up by forcing it?

Thanks again.

[DoubleSixx]

No don't force or use pliers. They are thumbscrews. You may have to loosen the

strings alot, and possibly pull the strings out of the saddles.

 

Did you just loosen three strings or all of the strings ?

 

If worse comes to worse, remove all the strings, be carefull, the tailpiece will slide out,

don't let it mess up you top.

 

Then you call pull the tune-o-matic bridge out and tighten with your fingers.

[jdm]

Didn't have a chance to keep working on it last night. I will hopefully get to work on it this weekend. I think the issue is that the bridge is sitting at an angle, which is making it hard to turn the upper screw. I think i need to back the lower screw out to where the bridge will be level, then screw them both in equally... I really don't want to take all the strings off in fear of messing up the upper end.... (I'm novice at best when it comes to guitar setup) so i'm hoping this will work

 

Thanks again for your help - I appreciate it!

[DoubleSixx]

I remember it can be tough to turn if it has never been adjusted.

 

Try this, loosen all the strings again, but this time raise the other side first, the un-even

height may be preventing the really high side from turning, because the strings are still

on the guitar.

 

Just don't use pliers or anything, you don't want to flake off the finish. You can do this,

just have some patience.

 

Good luck.

[JimeJ]

Didn't have a chance to keep working on it last night. I will hopefully get to work on it this weekend. I think the issue is that the bridge is sitting at an angle' date=' which is making it hard to turn the upper screw. I think i need to back the lower screw out to where the bridge will be level, then screw them both in equally... I really don't want to take all the strings off in fear of messing up the upper end.... (I'm novice at best when it comes to guitar setup) so i'm hoping this will work

 

Thanks again for your help - I appreciate it!

[/quote']

 

jdm.........PLEASE do not use too much pressure and allow the screwdriver to SLIP out of the slot and GOUGE/SCRATCH the body.....This generally is an easy fix for some that know how to do it. I suggest you have it professionally setup..........J

[jdm]

 

jdm.........PLEASE do not use too much pressure and allow the screwdriver to SLIP out of the slot and GOUGE/SCRATCH the body.....This generally is an easy fix for some that know how to do it. I suggest you have it professionally setup..........J

 

I'm not going to use a screwdriver -- just going to try to loosen everything by hand and hand tighten slowly small bits at a time... If it gets too hairy I will be taking it to a pro... Unfortunately the only pro setup I have been able to find in my area is at guitar cent.

[Gibson CS]

If you need to use a screwdriver, put a cotton cloth into the slot first.

That way you wont scratch the finish of the screw. I chipped the chrome off of

my 91 LP years ago by doing what you are doing.

[jdm]

I got it adjusted tonight. I loosened the strings and was able to get the screws to turn.. They were stiff though! I ended up using a pair of needlenose pliers to turn them -- couldn't get a good enough grip with my fingers.

 

The guitrar was setup really weird -- and the previous owner swears it was setup that way when he bought it new. The bass side of the bridge was out about 6 or 7 turns further than the treble side, and the bridge pickup was way out as well. I adjusted the bridge pickup pretty far down to keep it out of the way of the strings.. Is there any science to figuring out how high the pickups should be set?

 

Thanks

[DoubleSixx]

Fret the highest note on the bass side see if the string hits the pickup, repeat for the

treble side.

[jdm]

Fret the highest note on the bass side see if the string hits the pickup' date=' repeat for the

treble side.

 

[/quote']

 

So you want it as high as possible without it hitting the strings anywhere on the fretboard? Any benefit to lowering it any further?

[AXE®]

Keep the strings approx 3/16th " of an inch above the pickup neck and bridge for starters. keep them as level as possible ...

 

Too close = bad , leave room for playing. hitting the string to the pup's while playing , not a pretty sound .

[DoubleSixx]

Yes, as long as you don't have string buzz or the string touching the pickup.

 

One more thing, I almost forgot.

 

The final test, mute the strings after you think you got it as close as you can get to the

pickups.

 

Some times too low even above the pickups will have a bad affect on palm muting.

[Raptor]

There is no hard and fast rule for pickup height or levelness. It is all personal preference. Raise the pickup too high and apart from strings hitting it, the magnetic pull can cut your sustain down. You can raise one side of the other if you want a little more emphasis on the bass or treble side. Same goes for the adjustable pickup poles (the screws in the top of the covers). You can raise or lower them according to taste. As for the bridge height again it is playing style and taste. To have the bass side a little higher is not unusual to give more clearance for the bass strings and to keep the string height uniform across the fretboard. If it plays the way you want it and you are not getting any string buzz then that should be fine.

[GuitarJunkie]

If you need to use a screwdriver...

 

Ummm, if you need to use a screwdriver to adjust the TOM height, then you own a counterfeit Gibson. Gibson TOMs only use the thumbwheel.

[DoubleSixx]

The non Nashvile tune-o-matic bridges could be adjust with a screwdriver, but you run

the serious risk of damaging the finish. Best to use the thumbscrews.

 

The bridge in the picture seems to be a Nashville.

[lifsebcbien]

I agree about what was said, you could check a lot of lutherie schematics on the web to find how to set it the best possible. Yes DoubleSixx it's a Nashville on this Classic butthe ABR-1 has to be setted up the same way.

Jdm your bridge pick up seems really high so u need to low a bit all. Action has to be around 2 mm at the 12nd fret when u press the first one and the last one. The 496r and 500t are powerfull PUs so u don't need them very close to the strings. 4 mm should be a good compromise.

Don't forget that the E, A and D strings are bigger so to get an uniform sound u need to have your tom and stop bar a little bit inclined, higher for them and lower the other side