Adjusting a Fender Bridge - Guitar Setup and Maintenance

The second step of setting up the neck of a guitar is adjusting the bridge to get the proper string action, or height between the strings and the frets. In this case, Dave Johnson works on a Fender-style floating bridge.
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[@Frank-in-NY]

Very interesting! I've never seen this method of using a Capo during string height adjustments. I've got Jazzmasters a 66 and a reissue 65. Love them, but they are a bear to dial-in when changing string gauges. I'm going to give this a try. Thanks for this Setup and Maintenance Series. Clearly explained and demoed.

[@Rogijimbex]

Would have been good to explain what stair-stepping means in terms of saddle slant. I've heard of it used in placing the saddles in a stair-stepped fashion when intonating but not as this was used.

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

He means so each pair of screws on each saddle are set to the same height, as opposed to each pair being set ti different heights to create a continuous line of saddles proceeding up to the strings 3 and 4 and curving smoothly downward toward the two outer strings.

[@Allie-w1l]

The first time I've looked up how to set string action. May I ask why the capo is needed? Also, I'm discovering that the big name music stores here Toronto Ontario area don't even sell a radius gauge, under-saddle gauge, any name I try, which is a bit surprising. Very helpful video, though. I have learned a lot.

[@namreg944]

i can only assume putting the capo on takes the nut height out of the equation and brings the string closer to the curve of the fretboard, it is weird when instructionals say to do something but dont explain the why behind it.

[@TBoneProductionsVB]

​@@namreg944my guess is the fret will more accurately represent the proper height and curvature to the neck as a posed to hoping all of the string spots in the nut are cut to the correct depths. I wouldn't be surprised if manufacturers would err on the side of caution and not go low on nut string slot depth. New customers can more easily notice fret buzz of action too low as opposed to high nut action which at least sounds more clean and the extra difficulty and detune of having to press down farther is more subtle and harder for inexperienced players to identify. Just a theory though.

[@selahchunem8447]

Would not having the right amount of stair stepping on the bridge cause some strings not to vibrate when the guitar is strummed no matter what setting you have on the switch. I messed up the stair stepping status when I playing around with the guitar bridge after trying to put new strings on. The tune wasn't holding. It seems a little bit better now, but I don't have all the strings vibrating the same especially the D string. They also may not properly suited because I used to different sets of string types trying to match by eye balling and gauge size on package. Only 4 on the guitar now. What I'm saying in essences is that I don't have them properly matched because they broke while I was trying to reset the guitar to tune. So allowing for the lack of stair stepping accuracy as you're showing on your demonstration, why would some strings once again vibrate more than the other no matter what setting you have it on while amplified. To be honest I only have 4 strings on right now due to breakage from experimentation. I hope this doesn't sound too complex to understand. Thank you for any insight you might offer.

[@BadBoy-mv8lz]

Hello, my new American standard Stratocaster 2015 with two pivot screws bridge seems to have the bridge no parallel to the body..the shop put 10 high E gauge string and before it was 9. Now the treble side seems to be lower and in fact the sound of e b g is not beautiful( I had also a little G buzz solved with loosing truss-rod and getting higher saddle). IM scared; till now my classic vibe 50 squier Stratocaster sounds and plays better with more sparkle in 2 e 4 positions , and here in Italy costs 400 euro instead of American standard is 1600 euro. The American strat has the fat hot 50 pickup and they are very hot and powerful and the fender specs of pick up height should be change for them( not 2.4 mm bass and 2mm treble..but it needs to definitely lower the height ).this being said , according to you , should I work on the 2 lateral pivot screws to put the bridge parallel and should I raise a bit the bridge screw or should I work with springs opening the back of the guitar? Thanks.

[@chaosandorderstudio]

Tbh it's much easier to check the radius on the bridge if you lay the radius tool over the strings, not under the strings. Of course for the fretboard it's easier as done in the video

[@demonrouge3338]

You check the action with a capo on the first fret?

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

He hadn’t cut the nut slot yet so he used the capo at first fret to create a zero nut.

[@cavaturnagesh]

very good content thanks

[@FloridaBikeVlogger]

dumb question, I just restrung and all is well expect the A string, it sounds dead?

[@erichfrederick9229]

Are you using standard understring guage. Or is it wide?

[@KlausSgroi]

The title is a little misleading. I was looking for the tremolo/floating bridge adjustment, but this video is about adjusting the saddles for correct string height/action.

[@duroxkilo]

:} i know

[@cavaturnagesh]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYbOfI2vbbqSnaM see this one

[@kosmotto]

Mine have long screws and some short ones, DO the shorter ones go in the middle or the end the 3/8 - 40 hex head

[@TBoneProductionsVB]

I think the tall ones go in the middle to reach the height of the neck radius.

[@jamesdarryl9458]

What size hex wrench are you using on the Strat saddles?

[@LeonardoMarchese]

.050 (1/20")

[@henrycorneillie2292]

Do you use a capo on1st fret to set ?

[@Aristotle_2000]

Thanks man! I am using this as I type this!

[@alexschneider9209]

Hi, why do you use a capo?

[@kirkc8242]

The key for the saddles is that metric or imperial and whats the size of the key?

[@LeonardoMarchese]

imperial 1/20" (.050)

[@james9789]

This is I believe too complicated for the average guitarist

[@latestlatest4760]

Hi, great video..thanks..but I have a question: on a strat with two-point tremolo with bent-steel saddles..Which one should I use to adjust the action? And if I want to float the bridge, should I always keep the bridge plate parallel to the body? Or can I just let the bridge tilt a bit? Thank you

[@duroxkilo]

floating the bridge does change the action a little, but the action is set by the saddles. so with the tremolo/bridge plate closer to the body the action will be lowered a little. hope this helps. you want your action to feel comfortable in the playing position w/ the bridge/tremolo set where you want it, floating or on the body. if your tremolo is floating, make sure that the action you set up (w/ the saddles) when the tremolo is floating will still work once you pull back the tremolo as the strings will get a little closer to the frets, you don't want too much buzzing. *start w/ the 'specification numbers' for your guitar but find whatever works for you and the instrument. for example, he set the low E to 5/64th. for some people that is VERy difficult to play, for others it's perfect.

[@rstevenhanson]

Why capo 1st fret?

[@RPSartre01]

It really makes no sense. That's not how the guitar is played.

[@kensymanski820]

@@RPSartre01- you do that when intonating the strings to take the nut out of the equation. In this case he apparently hadn’t cut the nut slots yet, according to another poster.

[@April-Seventh]

oh man only u can see what u do.. where is the close up?

[@davewalkden7248]

Adjusting to 1/64th of an inch tolerance by eye. It's bollocks.

[@markuslinnanen555]

Which way do I turn the screw when lowering the string height - clockwise or counter-?

[@LeonardoMarchese]

counter

[@jasoncarrasquillo3599]

Hi, what size Allen key do you use for Fender Player Strat saddles adjustment?

[@regioexas]

1.5mm

[@Boogieplex]

Wtf is stair step? And you didn’t address getting the trem bridge straight, as mine is angled. Im assuming due to tension on springs is off. This didn’t help me one bit.

[@davejohnjules5670]

Whats the tool ?

[@wyagmi]

the L is an 1.5mm alley key im pretty sure

[@curtrod]

action height isn't measured with capo on methinks

[@Eddie-ds8ng]

I just pay for a setup at $30 once a year

[@vintagegt]

Would be good if everyone knew terms like ‘stair stepped’ already. I don’t so this wasn’t very helpful.

[@RPSartre01]

Capo on the first fret is utter nonsense. Makes no sense! It's not how the guitar is played!

[@frankiewalnuts]

LOL I love Americans "4 64ths" what does that even mean lol just use mm like the rest of the world.

[@cruzincondo3395]

American made, American specs. 4/64 = 1/16

[@tonyc.7957]

You'd be surprised by how many countries use the American measurement system.

[@frankiewalnuts]

@@tonyc.7957 Really? Google "countries that use imperial" and come back to me... "Only three countries - the U.S., Liberia and Myanmar - still (mostly or officially) stick to the imperial system, which uses distances, weight, height or area measurements that can ultimately be traced back to body parts or everyday items." The British invaded every country on earth, hence why Metric is used is 90% of the countries around the world and they all speak English.

[@bobaldo2339]

It annoys me too. I always use mm when setting up guitars, and I am born & raised in America.