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Post subject: bridge adjustment question
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:35 pm
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Hello again,

I have replaced my factory 9's with Elixir 10's on my American Strat. Obviously, this caused my bridge to lift quite noticably. Can I fix this problem myself or should I return to my music store to have it set up for the string guage change?

Thanks

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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:37 pm
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take the body back plate cover off and just adjust the two big claw screws they should go deeper into the body to conpensate for string tension..., adjust them so your bridge comes back to the original position it was on when perfectly tuned :)


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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:58 pm
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Thanks, the guitar is in tune. Do I start adjusting with tension already on?

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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:34 pm
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grayct wrote:
Thanks, the guitar is in tune. Do I start adjusting with tension already on?
+

I'd suggest to adjust a whole turn on each screw and tune the strings , adjust another whole turn and tune, and so on untill you get to the exact position and angle the bridge was on before and exactly in tune :)


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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:24 am
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Synkronized wrote:
grayct wrote:
Thanks, the guitar is in tune. Do I start adjusting with tension already on?
+

I'd suggest to adjust a whole turn on each screw and tune the strings , adjust another whole turn and tune, and so on untill you get to the exact position and angle the bridge was on before and exactly in tune :)


That's exactly what I would suggest - do it little by little and retune (roughly) at each stage. It takes a little trial and error, but is not difficult, just needs patience. Always turn each screw by the same amount!

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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:10 am
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I'd look to get the bridge halfway to its desired point, if your starting with the guitar in tune. When the springs are tightened the plate will decrease its angle making the pitch of the open strings rise. Your guitar will be sharp when you tune down the bridge angle will decrease further.

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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:55 am
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How about possibly adding springs since we dont know how many he has?


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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:39 am
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atolleter wrote:
How about possibly adding springs since we dont know how many he has?

That's what I was thinking. Wouldn't one more spring bring the bridge back to level, without screwing in the claw screws any?


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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:40 am
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Thanks all, I'm going to give it a try. I have 3 springs.

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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:44 am
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senderkik wrote:
atolleter wrote:
How about possibly adding springs since we dont know how many he has?

That's what I was thinking. Wouldn't one more spring bring the bridge back to level, without screwing in the claw screws any?


It would, but it would also alter the feel of the trem, making it harder. Might be what the OP wants or it might not.

The claw screws are a finer, more sensitive adustment. Changing up a gauge in strings is only a smallish difference, after all...

Cheers - C


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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:46 am
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Yea, one or two springs should do it. Try that first before you go and drive more metal into wood :)


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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:51 am
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Ceri wrote:
senderkik wrote:
atolleter wrote:
How about possibly adding springs since we dont know how many he has?

That's what I was thinking. Wouldn't one more spring bring the bridge back to level, without screwing in the claw screws any?


It would, but it would also alter the feel of the trem, making it harder. Might be what the OP wants or it might not.

The claw screws are a finer, more sensitive adustment. Changing up a gauge in strings is only a smallish difference, after all...

Cheers - C


That's also true, it will definitely make the trem harder to operate. Now, do you think with a stiffer trem the guitar would stay in tune better?


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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:09 am
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atolleter wrote:
Ceri wrote:
senderkik wrote:
atolleter wrote:
How about possibly adding springs since we dont know how many he has?

That's what I was thinking. Wouldn't one more spring bring the bridge back to level, without screwing in the claw screws any?


It would, but it would also alter the feel of the trem, making it harder. Might be what the OP wants or it might not.

The claw screws are a finer, more sensitive adustment. Changing up a gauge in strings is only a smallish difference, after all...

Cheers - C


That's also true, it will definitely make the trem harder to operate. Now, do you think with a stiffer trem the guitar would stay in tune better?


A properly setup guitar with only 2 springs should not have any tuning issues.

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