Larsson Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Hey guys, So a few days ago i decided it was time for a string change, so i got out a fresh pack of ernie ball super slinky's. i removed all my strings off my SG and found that the bridge was removable and that i could change the action of my string, with the screws that hold the bridge, But however being inexperienced in changing the action of a guitar i simply screwed them down, alot.... and now i get fret buzz on almost every fret on my low E... so of course i dont seem to be able to get a good sound, And i also seem to be getting a much higher sound from my other strings, even though i had super slinky's on before, i dont know if i should switch these string to regular ernie balls and see if it makes any difference. Or maybe i should just have my guitar professionally set up? adjust the action to just as low where i dont get fret buzz... can anyone help me with this problem????? comments much appreciated, Cheers, Larsson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sethg Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Hey Larsson, Yeah, adjusting the bridge pieces like that will cause your string angle to be too low, so that's why the strings are buzzing. There is sort of a sweet spot where the bridge is low enough to have low action but high enough to avoid the buzz. Getting a setup is always a good idea. For forty bucks or whatever, you can have good intonation all along the neck and minimal buzz. I really recommend it. I waited far too long before getting my SG set up and it was like a new guitar. Seth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsson Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share Posted November 3, 2009 yeh i did change the cauges to .09's but when i purchased it (used) from guitarcenter in tampa it had 09's on it rather than .10's would there be a way round having to pay for it to be done? as in doing it myself, or possibly take it to one of my guitar teachers? Cheers, Larsson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingarmadillo Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 You can do it yourself, there's not much you can really screw up unless you break the truss rod or strip the truss rod adjustment bolt. Also, you mentioned the other strings sounded "higher" By lowering the bridge you may have gotten the pickups too close to the stings. Once you get rid of the buzz, if it still sounds like that try lowering the pickups a little bit. If you mess it up you're still only out the cost of a setup and if you don't you now know how and you saved yourself some money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LPC Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Buy a 2mm pick and a 1.2mm pick. Adjust the bridge so that the 1.2mm pick will just slide underneath the 1st string at the 12th fret. Use the 2mm pick for the 6th string at the 12th fret. Obviously if you have done this carefully, you have a string height (action) of 1.2mm treble, 2mm bass. To be on the safe side, I would slacken the strings before adjusting the bridge. At normal playing tension, the strings exert quite a bit of pressure onto the bridge screws making them difficult to turn. Gibson used to use a jack / lever to raise the bridge when making height adjustments with the strings at normal pitch. This took the pressure off the screws making them easy to turn. It made bridge tweaks a fast process. The lever had padding to prevent damage to the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Gibson used to use a jack / lever to raise the bridge when making height adjustments with the strings at normal pitch. This took the pressure off the screws making them easy to turn. It made bridge tweaks a fast process. The lever had padding to prevent damage to the guitar. I'll be darned..... I never knew that.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uyasgali Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Stewart Mcdonalds sells a bridge jack. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Bridges/Tune-o-Medic_Bridge_and_Tailpiece_Tools.html That will do the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Im getting one of those levers. That is so cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsson Posted November 4, 2009 Author Share Posted November 4, 2009 ok thanks for all the advice guys, i was able to raise the bridge myself, i remembered how much i turned each screw, and now it sounds just as good as before, even the intonation was correct, other views appreciated, Larsson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LPC Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 You can adapt a bicycle tyre lever also. I would prevent marking the bridge with a strip of leather when using the metal tool. With a batwing scratchplate there won't be room for the tool. http://www.lespaulforum.com/dan2/danstuff.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drumrnmuzik Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 You can adapt a bicycle tyre lever also. I would prevent marking the bridge with a strip of leather when using the metal tool. Excellent , good trick with the bicycle tire lever! How about a motorcycle tire lever? You could use it to move raise a bridge with 13's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 Stewart Mcdonalds sells a bridge jack. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Bridges/Tune-o-Medic_Bridge_and_Tailpiece_Tools.html That will do the trick. Be a man and use your hands! Come on, you can't lift the bridge with one hand and turn the thumb screws with the other? Weak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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