setting bridge height

[durguitar]

Hello,

When raising the height of a bridge, is there a ratio to maintain between the height of one side(heavier guage strings) and the other(lighter guage strings) to keep things correctly aligned? ie. bass side 25% higher or whatever.

thanks

dur

[quarry]

Actually, all you need to do is adjust the bridge/saddle until the bottom of the string is approximately 1/16" above the 12th fret...

This will mean, of course, that the lighter gauge string saddles will be higher than the heavier gauge string saddles...

[UnklMickey]

quarry said:

...This will mean, of course, that the lighter gauge string saddles will be higher than the heavier gauge string saddles...

why would that happen?


thanks,

unk

[durguitar]

[td]Re: setting bridge height
« Reply #1 on Yesterday at 6:15pm »

Actually, all you need to do is adjust the bridge/saddle until the bottom of the string is approximately 1/16" above the 12th fret...

This will mean, of course, that the lighter gauge string saddles will be higher than the heavier gauge string saddles...

[/td]

I don't think that answer's what I am looking for. I want to raise the action on my guitar and intend to do that by raising the bridge. I believe there is a certain ratio that needs to be maintained between the two ends of the bridge from low strings to high strings to keep things correctly aligned.

On my guitar the low string side of the bridge has always been adjusted higher than the high string side. I am sure that there is a reason for that, but I just want to know what is the correct ratio between the two.

dur[td][/td]

[ChrisK]

Well,

This will mean, of course, that the lighter gauge string saddles will be higher than the heavier gauge string saddles...

That actually means that the centers of the strings will be higher on the bass side. The bottom edge of the strings will be of equal height. We don't greatly care about this.

Typically, for equal magnetic pickup-sensed vibrational energy, a lower frequency string will have a wider oscillatory path than a high string.

Set the bass side higher.


Process:

DO

Substantially reduce string tension (detune'ski),

Raise bridge height,

Substantially increase string tension (Retune'ski),

UNTIL satisfied on higher (est) fret action.

DO

Substantially reduce string tension (detune'ski),

Adjust truss rod,

Substantially increase string tension (Retune'ski),

UNTIL satisfied on lower fret action.

DO

Substantially reduce string tension (detune'ski),

Adjust saddles or bridge intonation (if possible),

Substantially increase string tension (Retune'ski),

UNTIL satisfied on intonation.


It's yer guitar and yer action, there is no other way.

[pollyshero]

chrisk said:

Typically, for equal magnetic pickup-sensed vibrational energy, a lower frequency string will have a wider oscillatory path than a high string.

Or in other words: The bass side is typically higher than the treble side because the bass strings travel a greater distance in their elliptical vibration pattern at their halfway points than the treble strings do.

durguitar: I'm not aware of any ratio or formula that says "if one side is this high, then the other side must be this high". Follow ChrisK's EXCELLENT little primer - it can't be stated any simpler than that. Caution: "UNTIL satisfied on intonation." actually means "do it a million times, then do it again". Good luck!


ChrisK: Advance apologies for restating what you said. I was incapable of an original thought tonight, so I just rode your coattails on a great answer!

[durguitar]

Cool dat, thanks guys.

dur

[ChrisK]

AND ONCE AGAIN IT'S VERY IMPORTANT!

Don't wonk on the truss rod until yer done wonking on the bridge height.