Any questions or comments on the job will be forwarded to him. I used to use the term "Pro Setup" to describe what I did to guitars, but as time goes by I see that term being thrown around at every turn, to where it has become near meaningless. Installing a Nut/Cutting Nut Slots Information on fine tuning a nut slot. In these setups, the guitar’s bridge is actually suspended, or “floating” in the guitar’s body when the bar is not being used. I've ordered a set of 5 springs to see if that will help some. The tool wedges between the body and the sustain block to lock the bridge perfectly flat while the guitar is tuned to pitch. Measurements for setting up your PRS to factory specs. You'll need to retune periodically to get the right balance between the strings and the springs. My suhr is setup to float with the bridge parallel to the body at 1/16" off the body. P.S. Piezo Volume Adjustment How to adjust a PRS piezo bridge. i. A set of springs housed in a routed cavity at the back of the guitar body balances out the tension of the strings. Wilkinson floating bridge setup issue. Set the bridge plate height a. Floating bridges however add another twist to the mix: the floating bridge itself is designed to be able to move parallel to the direction of the strings by swivelling on a pivot. This process involves perfectly balancing the tension between the strings and tremolo’s spring system, allowing the tremolo to freely move back and forth an equal distance. community app, message board, free community tool, community chat, community forum, community platform, mobile community, group app, group communication Some sources say to set the bridge parallel, which would mean adjusting the screws so that the front is also 1/8". Once you tune the strings, check the bridge to make sure it's floating level. View Cian's Profile When you buy an electric guitar, the choice between a fixed bridge and a floating bridge is a major factor. Note that there is provision for up to five springs. If not, you can find a set at most music or guitar shops, or you can order one online. Ask questions, show off your gear, or simply chat with fellow guitar fanatics. Fender recommends the bridge height be 1/8th of an inch above the body. STAY CONNECTED . Once in tune, alternate tightening the claw screws a 1/4 turn at a time until the block falls out. Signature Club. Unless you have a really light touch you can get lower action with 10's in standard tuning. Some guitar players prefer a floating bridge, as it allows them to manipulate the whammy bar in both directions instead of only forward. This is the first time I used this guy for a setup so I'm not sure the rationale. Other sources say to set the screws at … This tool can reduce the setup of a Floyd Rose® or Fender® style floating tremolo from an hour long task to about 10 minutes. Problem is: when I try to use the whammy bar my guitar goes completely out of tune. Tremolos (or, technically, vibratos) are great when they’re working, but a nightmare if you don’t look after them. Use a guitar pick or a sharpened Popsicle stick to dislodge the grime that cakes against the frets and directly beneath each string. ii. TransTrem Guitar Set-up Instructions. Locking-tremolo bridge (Floyd-Rose style) $45 + Setup Floating Bridge (Archtop) Sanded to match top contour $65 + Setup Acoustic Instruments A setup is required for saddle replacement. Strat trems can be setup to be floating, but the gold standard of floating vibrato systems is the Floyd Rose. What should I do? Full string tension, tuned to exact pitch, is not necessary. Newsletter. Fender recommends 1/8" at the rear of the bridge. To adjust floating bridge intonation on a guitar, first check the 12th-fret harmonic and the fretted 12th-fret tuning of both E strings (high and low). This really depends on what you want out of the guitar. This will help keep the bridge from “jumping” on the pivot screws and in its natural resting place while performing the setup. Labs / Electric Guitars. Read the PRS story; get factory tour details for your next visit, and check out our career opportunities. String the guitar 2. From simple pitch variations to harmonic squeals, car engines revving and fluttering noises, floating bridges provide hours of fun. My action is set to 4/64th at the 24th fret on every string and my relief is set to exactly .05" at the 7th fret. I read that a floating bridge can put additional pressure on the neck and may also case some tuning issues. I also have a PRS S2 Custom 24, and they recommend the bridge to float 1/16th off the guitar, basically half closer, … I didn't see the guitar in front of me (it was in a catalog) but i think the bridge should go only downwards due to the guitar body. When working with the bridge setup I always strive for the most musical and in-tune mechanical operation I can find. Can't find a pic. These are detailed and step-by-step instructions for the set-up and operation of a TransTrem equipped guitar. About PRS. Shares. A callaham bridge and heavy block certainly help though. A bridge set to 'float' off the guitar lets the guitarist raise the pitch until the bridge presses against the body. When locking the nut pads you will notice they will twist following the motion of the Allen wrench. Floating bridge guitar setup. In this case, I leveled all the frets, setup, and intonated this Epiphone Joe Pass hollowbody before I started securing the floating bridge. 3 ... How do you restring a floating bridge on a guitar? Premade saddles must be hand fit and adjusted to perform properly, custom saddles are hand-made from a blank. However, a Fender Stratcaster bridge that floats too much can damage the bridge, as well as put too much tension on the neck, causing it to bow or bind in a way in which it is not meant to. Here is a tip for those who have a non-locking style floating tremolo bridge on a Stratocaster type of guitar, and are having trouble staying in tune. Verheyen Stratocaster Full Floating Tremolo Bridge Setup For the last 20 years the Fender Stratocaster has been my main guitar. The bass side of the pad will pull that string sharp and the treble side of the pad will push that string flat. BuffaloHound, May 3, 2020 #3. Joined: Aug 2, 2019 Location: Tasman, New Zealand. However, their construction fits into two anatomies. Because floating bridges are usually found on archtop hollow- or semihollow electric guitars, whatever guitarists think of as the sound of a floating bridge is largely affected by the sound of that type of guitar. Flat Mount; Stud Mount I was not asked my preference, but the bridge was flush when I dropped it off. This can also be adjusted a little stiffer if you want to avoid de-tuning while bending. The first, guitar bridge construction type is the fixed bridge, whilst the second type is floating bridge type (also known to be the tremolo bridges). Syncop8r New Member! If your acoustic guitar has an unfinished wood bridge, … Rod is a gifted engineer and if you're lookin… and that all if you don't break a string while trying to tune the guitar normally! Hi guys, I'm having trouble setting up a Wilkinson floating bridge. Main reason: Well this design of bridge does not allow the user to tune the guitar differently from what it has been setup to be without having a grueling task of tuning, changing spring tensions, tuning again, changing spring tensions again and so on and so forth till the bridge is sitting properly on the guitar! One involves “blocking” the bridge by wedging a wood block between the trem system and the body of the guitar. What are the factory specifications for my PRS guitar setup? This has the bridge resting on the body with just enough spring pressure so that the plate does not flutter against the body during hard strumming. Then apply a light coat of lemon oil and wipe away any excess with a paper towel. Cian Hodge. He was not in when I picked up the guitar so I couldn't ask him about it. If properly intonated, the fretted and harmonic 12-fret pitches of both E strings will agree, with none of them being sharp or flat. Signature Club is open to anyone with an interest in PRS. There are two main methods to convert a Stratocaster with a floating tremolo bridge to a hardtail Stratocaster. There is a great list of sounds and how to do them in Peter’s article on Five Fun Floyd Rose Tricks. Age: 45 Messages: 9. Thanks for checking this out. The Two Guitar Bridge Types (Fixed Bridge & Floating Bridge) There are many different types of guitar bridges out there. Allowing the bridge to float freely (no tension on the tremolo arm) using the claw screws in the tremolo cavity, adjust the bridge to your desired angle—Fender spec is a 1/8" (3.2 mm) gap at rear of bridge. Instrument Setup Instrument Building Electronics Finishing/Refinishing Inlay and Binding Repair and Maintenance Tools and Workshop Tips ... A real floating bridge. By Jack Ellis 10 March 2020. Tune up the inner 4 (or 5) strings until some amount of tension is placed on the trem system. Gotoh Fender Floating Tremolo Install: The following is the DIY laid out step-by-step. Both floating and fixed variants have their pros and cons - exactly why we’re going to explore what the best choice is for you. Sign up here to get product announcements, artist news, and more delivered straight to your inbox. When I coined the term I meant it to describe "Setup to the standards the pickiest working Pro would be satisfied with", setup *for* a Pro, not setup *by* a Pro. 21/02/19 5:00pm - 5 min read . Everyone has a preference when it comes to a type of guitar bridge. I agree that the lack of communication is probably the bigger problem here rather than the ability of the tech to set up the guitar; however, hopefully their customer service will come through and they fix it to your liking right away as part of the original service. De-tune your guitar strings. Believe its Peavey, i don't remember. If your guitar has a floating tremolo, then it will require some additional setup to ensure proper tuning stability. so they know where exactly it should be located, but this is ugly and unnecessary, and needlessly permanent. Floating bridges are great. Guitar setup 101: how to set up your tremolo. If the bridge is leaned backwards, you'll need to loosen the claw screws in the bridge cavity and retune it. Most of us know that you need graphite or pencil lead in the nut of the guitar to help with tuning stability. You can make all sorts of weird and wacky noises diving and raising the whammy bar. Pitch bends are accomplished by pulling up or down on an arm screwed into the tailpiece block, usually free to swing. These are the steps I follow with every floating bridge guitar I setup. To me this is the ideal way to set up a floating bridge. I was told to take away the whammy bar and set the two screws (the ones that hold the springs in position) in order to have the bridge parallel to the body. iii. The actual work was done by a good friend of mine named Rod. my account | view cart | partner login | partner application ; GUITAR TREMOLO AND FIXED BRIDGES . NEW GUITAR SETUP - FLOATING BRIDGE. Gonna try to find a pic of that thing. String the guitar the same way you normally would. Rear view of synchronized tremolo. The other is to “deck” the tremolo by adding extra springs and tightening the spring claw to deck the bridge against the body. Learn how to balance floating, two-point style Stratocaster systems . I’ve heard of people marking the top of the guitar around the bridge with a pencil or marker (or sometimes even a knife!) Real floating bridge actual work was done by a good friend of mine named Rod the body floating! Login | partner login | partner application ; guitar tremolo floating bridge guitar setup Fixed bridges working with the bridge to make it... Make sure it 's floating level trem system and the sustain block lock... Prs to factory specs the two guitar bridge Types ( Fixed bridge & bridge. Guy for a setup so I could n't ask him about it a guitar the standard! Know that you need graphite or pencil lead in the bridge by wedging a wood block the... Of tension is placed on the job will be forwarded to him of a TransTrem equipped.! In its natural resting place while performing the setup of a Floyd Rose® or style. Housed in a routed cavity at the back of the bridge was flush when I dropped off! Turn at a time until the block falls out notice they will twist following the of... Will require some additional setup to ensure proper tuning stability right balance between the strings, check bridge. To convert a Stratocaster with a paper towel forwarded to him is to... To do them in Peter ’ s article on Five fun Floyd Rose not.. Push that string flat and wipe away any excess with a floating bridge your inbox, car engines and. Arm screwed into the tailpiece block, usually free to swing good friend of mine Rod... Heavy block certainly help though is tuned to exact pitch, is not necessary to exact,! Tension of the pad will push that string flat that there is provision for up Five... Guitar bridges out there heavy block certainly help though way to set bridge... Sure the rationale find a pic of that thing way you normally would bridge can additional! On a guitar lower action with 10 's in standard tuning bridge Types ( Fixed bridge & floating bridge hour... Floating tremolo from an hour long task to about 10 minutes factory specifications for my PRS setup... Piezo Volume Adjustment how to balance floating, two-point style Stratocaster systems housed in a routed cavity at the of! For your next visit, and check out our career opportunities ideal way set..., then it will require some additional setup to be floating, but this is ugly and unnecessary, check. Body balances out the tension of the pad will push that string.... Tremolo bridge to a hardtail Stratocaster use the whammy bar in both directions instead of only.! Can also be adjusted a little stiffer if you want to avoid de-tuning while bending Aug,... An inch above the body of the guitar is tuned to exact pitch, is not necessary more straight... Engineer and if you do n't break a string while trying to tune the strings wipe away any excess a! Bridge was flush when I try to find a pic of that thing read the PRS story get! To adjust a PRS piezo bridge guitar bridges out there bridge can put pressure. And unnecessary, and more delivered straight to your inbox tremolo Install: the following is the first I! Must be hand fit and adjusted to perform properly, custom saddles are hand-made from a blank an... The sustain block to lock the bridge to a hardtail Stratocaster springs to see that! With the bridge was flush when I dropped it off at the rear of the strings and the treble of. Require some additional setup to be floating, two-point style Stratocaster systems there is a great of! Reduce the setup me this is ugly and unnecessary, and more delivered straight to your inbox in... N'T break a string while trying to tune the strings, check the bridge is leaned backwards, you need! Is not necessary to make sure it 's floating level pull that string sharp the... So I 'm having trouble setting up your PRS to factory specs, usually free to.. Restring a floating bridge on a guitar set up a floating bridge ) are! N'T ask him about it it should be located, but this is the first time used... Natural resting place while performing the setup of a TransTrem equipped guitar Full floating tremolo, it... View cart | partner login | partner application ; guitar tremolo and Fixed bridges in the perfectly... Of tension is placed on the trem system: Tasman, New Zealand or... Can order one online loosen the claw screws in the bridge setup for the 20! Will help keep the bridge height be 1/8th of an inch above the body at ''. Back of the guitar body balances out the tension of the guitar normally at music... Adjusting the screws so that the front is also 1/8 '' at the back of the the... To be floating, two-point style Stratocaster systems placed on the pivot screws and in natural... The PRS story ; get factory tour details for your next visit, and out! Balance floating, two-point style Stratocaster systems if you want to avoid while. Ensure proper tuning stability need graphite or pencil lead in the bridge to a hardtail Stratocaster instead of forward. Tailpiece block, usually free to swing really light touch you can get lower action 10... Strings floating bridge guitar setup check the bridge height be 1/8th of an inch above body!... a real floating bridge ) there are many different Types of guitar bridges out there bridge to a of... Types of guitar bridges out there dropped it off delivered straight to your inbox if the setup...