6 replies to this topic

[RHCPkingFrusciante]

Well, when i first changed the strings on my fender a long time ago i put on D'addario EXL110 (orange packet) and this pulled the bridge up because of the tension and my guitar teacher said all fenders come suited for 9 guage. I want to change to the 10's and i would like to know what needs to be done to allow this, because i've heard i need to tighten the springs and stuff.

So please if you know what to do help me

[Bobster]

I think it is normal for the bridge to pull up, so that you can pull it both up and down (both loosing and tightening up the strings...)

[Janis]

young John Frusciante, on Aug 16 2008, 06:26 PM, said:

I think it is normal for the bridge to pull up, so that you can pull it both up and down (both loosing and tightening up the strings...)

nNONO! It's normal that you can move the bridge with a whammy bar (or with the hands), but in normal position the bridge has to be completely parallel to the body of the guitar.
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to do so, you have to open up the back of your guitar and tighten the clips (is that what its called? you know, those helical metal things)

cause you've bought stronger strings that pull them up more, thats why the bridge is not parallel anymore
i'm not sure if thats all, maybe you have to readjust other things as well, if i only knew... because of that I'd recommend you go to a professional employee in a guitar store and ask him, to be on the safe side

[RHCPkingFrusciante]

Thanks janis

I think i will take it in though just to be on the safe side.

[Bobster]

I use .10 - .46 gauge strings and I intentionally turned the clips loose so that I can pull up the bridge... I have no idea if it is good or not, but I like it...

I also noticed that when I bend 1st or the 2nd string with my left hand, 4th 5th and 6th go loose... It looks weird, though, loosing lower strings without touching the whammy bar

[surfsunadam]

Ya its not too hard, once you take the plastic cover off the back of the guitar, there are two screws that go back into the body which control the length of the springs.
So just tune your guitar to pitch and then turn the screws until the spring pulls the bridge flat to the body. Then give them a little extra turn to keep a bit of tension on the springs.

young JF, do you have tuning problems from doing it your way? You know if you break a string the whole bridge will have less tension on it and your guitar will go out of tune,.

[Bobster]

I know that is the theory, but I really didn't have much problems... Now I have some problems, but with the 5-way switch, though