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How to Adjust Bridge on Electric Guitar

Who else wants to learn how to adjust bridge on electric guitar?

It’s no secret that learning how to adjust bridge on electric guitar can be challenging.

Different bridges require different approaches, and it’s hard to know exactly where to start.

Plus, you don’t want to start adjusting your bridge only to do something wrong and make the problem worse.

Fortunately, we’ll look at the three most popular bridges used on electric guitars and look at how to adjust them.

Whether it’s string action or intonation, we’ve got it covered.

Most importantly, if you don’t feel comfortable adjusting your bridge, take your guitar to a guitar shop and let them fix it.

Let’s check it out!

Tune-O-Matic Bridges

Image by Joachim Schnürle from Pixabay

Adjusting a Tune-O-Matic Bridge

Tune-O-Matic bridges are usually found on Gibson-style guitars.

They’re pretty simple to set up and provide great tuning stability.

Adjusting the String Height

Raising or lowering the height of the bridge will change your guitar’s action.

The lower the string height, the less force you’ll need to properly fret a note.

But! If your action is too low, you can create problems like fret buzz.

Raising or lowering the bridge requires the use of a screwdriver to turn the screw that mounts the bridge to the guitar body.

Some models of Tune-O-Matic style bridges have a thumbwheel that’s used instead of a screwdriver to raise or lower the overall height

Take note of the original location of the screw before you begin adjusting the height so you have a baseline.

Then, turn the screw, (or thumbwheel,) to raise or lower the bridge on the bass side of your guitar.

Retune your guitar, and play some chords and notes up and down the fretboard.

Readjust the height until you’re happy with the action and then repeat the process, if necessary, on the treble side of your guitar.

Setting the Intonation

Once you’ve adjusted your string height and are happy with the resulting action, you need to check and adjust your intonation.

To set the intonation, you use a small screwdriver to move the small screw below the string saddle.

Tune the string to pitch, and then check the note at the 12th fret.

If the note is sharp, turn the screw so the saddle moves away from the nut.

If the note is flat, turn the screw so the saddle moves towards the nut.

Only turn the screw in small increments since you’re only looking to make a small change.

Tremolo Bridges

Image by Mister_green from Pixabay

Adjusting a Tremolo Bridge

Tremolo bridges are most commonly associated with Stratocaster-style guitars.

They give you the option of adding some vibrato to your playing as well as changing your notes from in tune to flat or even sharp.

One of the drawbacks to a tremolo bridge can be tuning stability.

Players are often frustrated by the experience of using the tremolo only to find that their guitar is no longer in tune.

Adding graphite to the string slots on the nut of your guitar can help alleviate this problem, but most guitarists agree that tuning stability is a trade-off with using a tremolo.

Adjusting the String Height

Guitars with a tremolo bridge allow you to adjust the string height of each string individually.

Use a small Allen wrench to raise or lower the height of a string.

Most saddles have two screws, so turn the wrench in small increments focusing on one side of the saddle and then the other side so that the saddle height changes evenly.

Once you’ve adjusted the saddle height, tune your guitar and play it for a bit.

Once you’ve got the height you’re looking for, you’re all set.

Setting the Intonation

Once you’ve got the height setup, you’ll probably need to adjust the intonation of the guitar.

At the back of the bridge, there are screws for each string saddle.

If your note is flat at the 12th fret, use a screwdriver to loosen the screw and move the saddle towards the nut.

If you’re sharp, use a screwdriver to tighten the screw and pull the saddle away from the nut.

Either way, do this in small increments.

Then re-tune your guitar, and check the intonation again.

Floyd Rose Bridges

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Floyd Rose style bridges off rock-solid tuning stability, the ability to dive-bomb to your heart’s content while always coming back in tune, and fine-tuning adjustment.

Downsides include having to clip the ball end off of each string before installation, all the other strings going out of tune if one string breaks and the fact that setting a Floyd Rose style tremolo up properly can be complicated.

But, for some styles of music and some guitarists, there is no substitute!

Adjusting the String Height

Much like how you adjust a Tune-O-Matic style bridge, you use an Allen wrench to change the string height on the bass and treble sides of your guitar.

Starting with the bass side, the Allen wrench should be turned in small increments to raise or lower the action.

Then you need to re-tune your guitar and see how the action feels.

Continue until you’re satisfied and then repeat the process on the treble side, if necessary.

Setting the Intonation

First, you have to loosen the locking nut so you can use the tuners at the headstock to adjust your strings.

Tune-up, and test the note at the 12th fret.

Then, loosen the string so there’s no tension on it.

Next, brace the first string saddle you need to adjust with a screwdriver and loosen the bolt in front of the saddle.

You’re doing this so the saddle doesn’t move before you adjust it.

If the note is sharp, move the string saddle away from the nut.

If the note is flat, move the saddle towards the nut.

Do this in very small increments, we’re talking millimeters here.

Once you’ve made your adjustment, tighten the bolt to secure the saddle.

Then, tune-up your string to pitch and re-check the intonation at the 12th fret.

Repeat this process for the rest of your strings.

Don’t forget to tighten the locking nut once you’re finished!

FAQ

  • How do you adjust the bridge on a guitar?
  • How do you adjust the height of a bridge?
    • On most bridges, you can adjust one of the two bolts or screws on the bridge or treble side to raise or lower the overall height. Some tremolo-style bridges can only adjust the height using the individual string saddles.
  • How do you adjust the intonation on a electric guitar bridge?
    • To adjust the intonation you need to move the string saddle either forwards or backward, depending on whether the note is sharp or flat.
  • How high should my electric guitar bridge be?
    • High enough so that it’s comfortable for you to play. Each manufacturer has its own recommendations, but it’s also important to take into account a guitarist’s individual playing style.
  • How high should your electric guitar action be?
    • This depends on your style of playing and your own preferences. Higher action often has a “better” overall sound, but can be more difficult to play. Very low action is great for shredding but can be difficult for other styles of playing.
  • How do you get low action without fret buzz?
    • Ahh, the holy grail of guitar adjustment! The best advice would be to make sure your guitar is properly set up, and then to slowly adjust your action until it’s comfortable but doesn’t buzz. It’s really about experimentation and finding what works for you.