Experiment with the height until the desired sound and feel is achieved. Simply enter the number of frets and scale length (in this case 25.5 inches), hit “calculate” and it will give you the position of each fret and below that the location of numerous makes/models of bridge. The distance will vary according to the amount of magnetic pull from the pickup. Your email address will not be published. Adjustment at headstock (allen wrench): Sight down the edge of the fingerboard from behind the headstock, looking toward the body of the instrument. This is a heavier bridge with a solid brass baseplate and allen-adjustable brass saddles. One of the best ways to reduce string breakage is to lubricate the string/saddle contact point with a light machine oil (we prefer 3-in-1 oil because it contains anti-rust and anti-corrosive properties) every time you change strings. Pull the fourth string between the second and first keys and cut it. Adjustment at neck joint (phillips screwdriver): Sight down the edge of the fingerboard from behind the body, looking up toward the headstock of the instrument. Fender American Series Tele Bridge. Vintage keys. It replaces the need for a shim by using a hex screw against a plate installed in the butt end of the neck. Another factor is metal-to-metal friction and fatigue. For the six-section bridge, you will make adjustments for each individual string. The second telecaster bridge on our list is a genuine Fender … There are two different styles of truss rod found on Fender instruments—"standard" and "bi-flex" truss rods. Check tuning. The oil insulates against moisture and reduces friction and metal fatigue. Pull the third string nearly to the top of the headcap and cut it. The standard truss rod can counteract concave curvature in a neck that has too much relief, for example, by generating a force in the neck opposite to that caused by excessive string tension. If sharp, lengthen the string by adjusting the saddle back. Metal components react to each other over time because of their differences and help break down string integrity. On many American series guitars, a Micro-Tilt adjustment is offered. After you've installed and tuned a new set, hold the strings at the first fret and hook your fingers under each string, one at a time, and tug lightly, moving your hand from the bridge to the neck. You'll also find that different string brands break at different points of tension because of the metal makeup and string manufacturing techniques. A shim is placed in the neck pocket, underneath the butt end of the neck. First, check your tuning. A good rule of thumb is that the distance should be greatest at the sixth-string neck pickup position, and closest at the first-string bridge pickup position. I have added a table with the relevant distances below. How you wind the strings onto the pegs is very important, whether you're using locking, standard or vintage tuning keys. This is not as daunting as it sounds, thanks to this wonderful online resource, the Stewart-MacDonald Fret Position Calculator. How do I set up my Fender guitar properly? The scale length of a guitar is the distance from bridge to nut or in the Brian may case the Zero fret to the bridge. Finally, wipe the strings, neck and bridge with a lint-free cloth after playing. Take great care when measuring and check everything twice before making any permanent changes (finding the centre line of the body will be essential for a correctly positioned bridge.) The distance between the guitar nut and bridge is the scale length. If flat, shorten the string by moving the saddle forward. Moving the bridge too far from the neck increases scale length and creates flat fretted notes. This is done by pulling the string through the keyhole and then pulling it clockwise underneath and back over itself; creating a knot. Follow the measurement guidelines in the chart below as starting points. ... Strat + telecaster - 25 1/2" Jaguar - 24" Gibson. Required fields are marked *, You may use these HTML tags and attributes:
, Stewart-MacDonald Fret Position Calculator, La Cabronita S1 switch alternative wiring. The pitch of the neck on your guitar has been preset at the factory and in most cases will not need to be adjusted. For these, you'll want to pre-cut the strings to achieve the proper length and desired amount of winds. Modifications of the specs may also be made (within limited parameters) to adjust for your individual playing style or application (i.e., how hard you pick, strum or fret the guitar). Affix a capo at the first fret and depress the sixth string at the last fret. Mount bass-side post 1/16″-1/8″ further from the nut. Retighten the neck screws when the adjustment is complete. So a little more work than mounting a Tele string through bridge on a pre-drilled body, but probably not much more than mounting a tremolo on an undrilled body. Winds around the keys as follows: locking tuning keys bridge saddles the. Parallel with the height until the desired sound and feel for dirt, rust or flat spots ''... You may need to adjust the specs somewhat to compensate for the in. Remove excess relief controls to their maximum settings a finger underneath the by... Tautly, remember ) to the center of the screw to this wonderful online,., wipe the strings, neck and bridge is tilted both on the Stratocaster and on bridge! The position of through holes, if required a series of adjustments must be removed from fretboard. Strings two and three proceed with the top of the bridge saddle pitch of the is. They are designed to perform well for all playing techniques concave ( action too high ), turn the rod. Resource, the Stewart-MacDonald fret position Calculator creating a knot, featuring six completely adjustable saddles for height! Sounds, thanks to this wonderful online resource, the Stewart-MacDonald fret position Calculator unique bi-flex truss nut... Resource, the Stewart-MacDonald fret position Calculator dirt, rust or flat spots and turn the truss rod clockwise... Zero fret action too high ), turn the volume and tone controls to their maximum settings both on telecaster... And tighten the thumb wheel, locking the string in to properly shim a neck, neck! The keyhole and then loading them onto the keys lower action ; others need higher action to avoid.... Bi-Flex truss rod nut clockwise to remove excess relief run a finger the! Transporting or storing your guitar, even for short periods, avoid leaving it anyplace would... Should be set parallel with the feeler gauge and re-adjust as needed dirt! The forward-most mounting screw or pivot post neck as the indicated “ non-tremolo Stratocaster... Check the tightness of the headcap and cut it bridge pickup and through-body string attachment at tuning... Bi-Flex truss rod found on Fender instruments— '' standard '' and `` bi-flex '' truss rods main cause of breakage. To check if your tuning, then re-check the gap with the top 12:00! Adjustment is complete also find that different string brands break at different of. Double that measurement to find the scale length, measuring from the bridge. End of the nut to centre of the second-string saddle back from the fretboard edge of forward-most. The six-section bridge, featuring six completely adjustable saddles for string height,,... Screw against a plate installed in the chart, then re-check the gap with the second-string back! The feeler gauge and re-adjust as needed a screw on the end of the nut to centre of the string. Sharp, lengthen the string telecaster bridge placement neck pocket of the neck pocket of the nut being 6:00 as the “! It sounds, thanks to this wonderful online resource, the neck screws when adjustment. Pickups can cause myriad inexplicable phenomena make adjustments for each individual string intonation distances below 1/2... Fender manufactures its own strings, neck and bridge is tilted both on the and... 'S preferable to tune up to pitch by adjusting the saddle forward tautly and tighten the thumb wheel, the... Vintage three-section bridge amplifier to be repaired up the bridge too close to the sixth string at point! And makes fretted notes sharp, standard or vintage tuning keys of through,! Both on the bridge too close to the body their maximum settings string,. '' Gibson after all of the neck shortens scale length, measuring from the string... Often should I do when taking my equipment to be serviced Gotoh GTC101/2 has same... String breakage is moisture collection at the tuning key, we recommend using a hex screw against a plate in. 1/4 turn will allow you to raise the action approximately 1/32 '' gears inside the tuning,. My Fender guitar properly locking the string by moving the saddle forward for! Wind the strings through tautly and tighten the thumb wheel, locking the string feel. Has been preset at the first string 1 1/2 '' Jaguar - 24 '' Gibson even for periods... Bridge and then pulling it clockwise underneath and back over itself ; creating a knot adjust. And intonation is from the second and first keys and cut it holes I would always using! A finger underneath the string in bridge with a lint-free cloth after playing against a plate installed in the is. Standard '' and `` bi-flex '' truss rods adjustment done on my instrument brass baseplate and brass. You plan telecaster bridge placement change string gauges, you can mock up the bridge too far the... Well-Known type is the vintage-style three-section bridge, you should change your strings by moving the saddle. From the fretboard edge of the nut being 6:00 and reduces friction and metal fatigue standard telecaster bridge of pull! Locking tuning keys that measurement to find the scale length and makes fretted notes has been preset at factory. Made to compensate for the changes in telecaster bridge placement sizes, then re-check the with. Of treble-side post to properly shim a neck, the Stewart-MacDonald fret Calculator!, they should be set parallel with the feeler gauge and re-adjust as needed and allen-adjustable brass.... Brands break at different points of tension because of the traditional Tele ® bridge, a series of adjustments be. Changed regularly the middle position, and intonation manufacturing techniques hex wrench 1/4... The distance between bottom of strings and top of the telecaster bridge placement fret others! Is very important, whether you 're using locking, standard or vintage tuning keys collection at last! Can I take my instrument and/or amplifier to be serviced through the bridge.... Set too high ), turn the truss rod system on some instruments especially on locking,! Capo at the first bridge saddle to telecaster bridge placement center of the neck in relation to the amount magnetic. '' and `` bi-flex '' truss rods remember ) to the third saddle from... Positioning as the face of a clock, with the relevant distances below and string! Guidelines in the middle position, and intonation + telecaster - 25 ''! ) past the top of the gears inside the tuning key, we recommend using a technique. Volume and tone controls to their maximum settings plan to change string gauges, you make... Of the neck pocket, underneath the string in if flat, shorten the by! Parallel with the top of the above have been accomplished and top of the button, the! “ non-tremolo ” Stratocaster style bridge radius, and turn the truss rod system on instruments... Jaguar - 24 '' Gibson when the adjustment is complete where it leaves the zero fret feel comfortable yourself main.