Setting Up Your Stratocaster Guitar: Bridge Action Height Adjustment (Step 2 of 4) | ELIXIR Strings

John Carruthers shows us the proper way to adjust the Bridge. This video is step 2 of a 4 part guitar maintenance series. Videos include adjusting the Truss Rod, Bridge, Nut and Intonation.
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[@oneminutefixed5003]

the videos are scattered all over, you should make a playlist with these

[@DaveWalker_OakGames]

This very straightforward series of four videos has enabled me to transform my cheap Encore strat into a much more playable instrument. Thank you.

[@jaymantisgaming]

thankyou so much for this. i've suffered and struggled with guitar set-up for years. and thanks to you i've just set up my guitar perfectly. plays like a dream now. thankyou :)

[@GR_BackingTracks]

Hey this instruction on adjusting the saddle height was perfect, and just what I needed to keep from sending my formerly inexpensive Squier Strat into the luthier again. I've been an Elixir user for 10 years and will keep on for life!

[@zombee38]

My strat strings action are a bit high for my likings so tonight i would be trying this. Thanks !

[@RONNYGUITAR1]

Short and sweet! These 4 videos explain it ALL.

[@pauloliver5372]

5/64th was the anwser i was seeking. Informitive and short!!!!

[@GeneralElectricCNC]

Thank's much! Set my Strat up in about an hour. Never thought it could have such a tight action.

[@KendrickLacannabis]

Simple. Fast.. Effective... Informative.... I like it!

[@quailstudios]

Thanks for the vid! The string height is explained well.

[@scottdyar5739]

Hello John, Thank you for sharing your guitar and bass setup expertise and your expertise has prompted me to go on Amazon and by your book, thank you very much. Having just bought your book and not having it in my hands, yet, I have a question concerning hollow body electric guitars (Univox Pro) and neck feeler gauge measurements and solid wood bridge adjustments. I recently retired and been playing, tinkering and repairing instruments since 6th grade with no formal training and I will say I watched the 4/4 bass setup KZbins and my Squire Jazz Bass from Mexico now plays better than my 63' Fender Precision or my '73 4001 Rickenbacker, time to start on the '63 and '73. Well Done, John Carruthers, Well Done!!

[@GregoryTubb]

Why would you not mention the radius of the bridge needing to match the radius of the neck?? Thanks

[@DeltaStar480]

That's interesting advice, I'll check it out. The guitar with the problem has emg's in it, as do a few of my guitars and emg recommends you place them as high as possible without touching the strings while fretted. But I'll take a look thanks.

[@sean_meldrum]

He seems like a kind-hearted man.

[@roathripper]

that damn allen key!!! where the fuck do i find one at this hour???

[@noclu4u384]

Yeah its smaller than any i have. Do you know the Allen wrench size ?

[@Craigman65]

@365Avalon THANK YOU! I notice most people who say height wrong also say acrosst instead of across

[@B0rnles13]

Good video! I need to learn how to do all these things, I bought a really cheap Fender Sratocaster for £30, it has no name on it anywhere, at 1st I couldn't plug it into the amp, took the cover of the hole and the soldered plug was there in a space in the wood, put on, it worked, Tuned it, then due to high action I took off the steel cover that the neck and guitar (IDK?) and I still had the strings on it, put it back together, but when I screwed it in the top 2 screws won't go all the way down

[@TheBoomtown4]

Thanks John and Elixer. Big help for me!

[@Neilrrc37]

I bought his book, but he only refers to adjusting the Floyd Rose System. The standard Stratocaster saddles are not shown for this adjustment. The video is helpful at least. Other guitar luthiers use the capo at the first fret while doing this.

[@Dougandsomenumbers2368]

Very good, thank you!

[@EmptyBottlecap]

I love you man. My guitar sounded like shit until I saw this video

[@robertw658]

plain and simple thank you mister finally someone who knows what the hell they are doing.

[@bclmax]

wheres the pdf on the website?

[@thespiritualwayofallthings]

Is that 5/64's on every string ? Thank you for this.

[@joegomez4807]

So 4/64th seems like a common answer. Although it depends on the player.

[@guitarhiker4449]

I love your setup videos but i was wondering why you didnt talk about the bridge pitch itself. What if the bridge is floating? Should the bridge be flat to the body even on a trem style strat? Do these same measurement still apply.? My strat came with a floating bridge and im not a fan of that setup. Any suggestions would be very helpful so then i cam proceed with the 4 step system. Thanks!

[@riffdigger2133]

I know John is fantastic and I have his Ebook as well which covers this. I adjusted the truss, like I have many times before, string height to John’s specs which I am used to doing, and I have choked notes on all the strings. And it’s a 6 month old, purchased new, EC USA Strat with maple neck. I doubt if it’s the trem since it is blocked off, per Eric’s deal with Fender. Frustrating. All I can do is ignore the 5/64th’s (and yes, I have the same ultra precise Imperial ruler that John has) and start raising the strings up and up. Sometimes oversimplification can get you in deep water. More frustrating is that all the comments here are all super-positive.

[@CJ-sr4ng]

Is this applicable to any brand of stratocaster?

[@nathanhillman5258]

0:42 HE MENTIONED A DAVE MATTHEWS SONG

[@Fiendocaster]

Just under 2mm for anyone using the metric system (welcome to the 21st century lol)

[@rxw5520]

cry more nub. American guitar, American musician.

[@Fiendocaster]

Lol triggered yank

[@rxw5520]

lololololol u soooo mad

[@michaelgriffin5304]

I actually do all of my guitar measurements in mm because most Universal guitar tools come with a ruler in that standard.

[@Crabcore1]

I really can't stand this system. 8/64th, 5/32 and whatnot, seriously, how does it make more sense than millimeters and centimeters ?

[@FreestyleGGD]

I had this problem and it turned out to be my pickups set too high. Pickups are magnets and if they are too high they can pull the strings closer to the fret board. There's a guide on Fenders website to help with setting them correctly.

[@abonsaibritspain8200]

Great work

[@hitzaz8]

Hi, great video!!! I have 2 questions... 1st. what exactly alen key is on 0.56? 2nd.how is the name of this bridge? Your answer is very important to me, Thanks anyway!!!

[@robertwatkins8220]

Thank you! I set uo my Strat yesterday following your videos and it is perfect! Will the same adjustments work on my Tele style guitar?

[@jgianola]

he said where the neck meets the body, so 17th

[@luigginacho]

That was great John thanks for that!

[@50MOLE]

hanks john come uk welcome friend

[@donstanley9943]

Strat, fender action has to be higher than any spec or video using spec that I have ever seen. Go to guitar center, compare their strats action and be done with it. Also notice while at gc how much lower the action is on a shorter scale guitar, and that's pretty much that. Shorter scale, lower action, because less string vibration. Longer scale, higher action, and especially higher with more radius.

[@TrippyTheShroom]

thank you so much for this...it helps ALOT

[@moyrml]

hold on... so when setting up a guitar you FIRST should adjust the action at the bridge and THEN at the nut? the way i always thought of it is that you should first set the nut and the action at the 1st fret and then adjust the bridge, truss rod and pickups. the reason being the fact that the nut is the only thing that is not "over-and-over-again" adjustable. once you file the nut down, thats it. i would love to get some perspective on it.

[@brazenskateboarding9163]

I didn't know the Dos Equis guy played guitar :O

[@buckwilliams2234]

Nice clip. Thanks!

[@haimlute]

which fret? the 12th?,15th?,17?

[@flounderize]

Do you set all the strings at the same height, or do you follow the radius setting the D and G strings higher and then lower toward the A, B and both E's ? Thanks

[@giorgio932]

Dear John I bought your book "Alfred's Teach Yourself Guitar Repair" AUD19.79 I have bought it using VitalSource. First I like to congratulate you for the incredible easy to read and yet very detailed book. There is a problem. I used my mobile phone to buy the book and I didn't realize that I only have access to the book for 333 days. Is this a joke. I understand that an author want to protect his work from illegal copies and all that sort of problems.... but isn't the same to ask money to people for a book and they can have it only for a limited time. At least on Kindle you can access a book for life. I think that a Pirate is a pirate do not matter which side is on, it is not fair and illegal to pirate a Movie, a book, a software and so on...... isn't the same to get people money and leave them with nothing. I think you should remove your book from Vitalsource Bookshelf, because it is not fair that in a year time I will not have access to it anymore. Kind Regards. Giorgio

[@noclu4u384]

Screen shot every page

[@viniciusmatzembacher4730]

What is the unit he uses to measure the height? I didn't get it. I would like to know the "correct" height in millimetres.

[@asr1143]

The screws of my bridge won't move at all I don't know what going On 😔

[@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

[@captainblitz9961]

Can anyone in the comment section tell me what 5/64 is exactly? It is based on the imperial system or it an entirely different type of measurement.

[@Alexandahls]

what do you call that small ruler and where can I buy that?

[@Maxvids77]

stew mac .com

[@patjohnny57]

You can buy that ruler at a hardware store. Don't waste your money at stewmac.

[@MimicDaravon]

@365Avalon Heighth is a legitimate nonstandard spelling (and pronunciation) of height.

[@masterofmuppets86]

Where this pdf of the string heights??

[@harveylopezt]

did you find it?

[@kevinwest657]

4/64 according to the spec: www2.fender.com/support/articles/stratocaster-setup-guide/

[@DeltaStar480]

I know that a little bit of string buzz is ok on the bass side of the strings, but what if I set the bridge up this way and there is still too much buzz in the middle area of the neck? And yes I have already done the neck adjusment

[@nocaster5120]

Do you have a link to the spec sheet for each of the individual strings? This would help a lot please

[@TheBoomtown4]

How do I set up my Stratocaster® guitar properly? Cut and paste that sentence and it’ll pop up. There’s a tele one too on fender website with basic specs.

[@roygumpel8415]

On my Squier Strat, I am looking at two Allen screws per string which you don’t mention anything about. So I’m kind of wondering.

[@ElixirStringsMedia]

Hi Roy, we recommend contacting a local luthier for assistance. Mr. Carruthers is unable to respond to questions here.

[@noclu4u384]

What size is the Allen wrench to adjust the saddle adjustment screw ??

[@vahidseo4452]

Oh, please tell me the size of your Allen wrench. I've lost mine, and I can't adjust the height of strings on my Fender.

[@johnberry5339]

Hello did you ever find out what size allen key is needed? 😊

[@noclu4u384]

Did you find out the size ? I need to know .

[@onzkicg]

My vintage strat guitar is weird.. the rest of strings is ok but the low E string is still too high even though my saddle height is at the lowest possible already. What’s the remedy for that?

[@metallicaHTL]

so you want 5/64 in. for every string? or should I go by the PDF?

[@JohnJ866]

Hey is this the same procedure for a mini strat ? Thanks

[@dmag3408]

hi i have an amercian stratocaster ive adjusted my action via the the two screws and now i have strange fuzzy type sounds comming from different areas , can i add its not your average fret buzz attle type sound from having the strings to low. Ive raised the the two screws as high as they will go and as low as they go and it still makes this sound almost like something is loose Please any help or ideas would be most helpful Thanks

[@noclu4u384]

Did you adjust the truss rod first ?

[@JamesArmstrong-mz4xr]

When I go to lower my low e string it really doesn't move much at all (the positioning is very close to 4/64th, just a bit high) ... any ideas?

[@guitarman6742]

It will sound better...a little higher.

[@bluwng]

Why 5/64th I thought Fender spec was 4/64?

[@HeadrushStudio21228]

On the web

[@ciaranduffy7259]

What size is that Allen key...?

[@JustinLawrence73]

I had the same question.

[@Cam_B]

That’s half the instructions. Sure you got the height of one string, now you need to get the right height of both outside strings and make sure all strings follow the curvature of the fretboard.

[@ZIGGY31770]

What size would they be for MM?

[@thenextlikagod9768]

What that it called the thing that he using

[@AbdulAzim95]

what is the type of ruler that you use it ?

[@portcaddo23]

Dose it matter what size strings you use would the height be different

[@TheBoomtown4]

Nope, it’s the clearance of the string to the fret/the gap you’re measuring. Size of the string is not a factor.

[@KeatonTait]

nice nice

[@sawboss17]

Thank you Mumbles!

[@thespiritualwayofallthings]

I have a new american strat II is this okay for the new ones?

[@ElixirStringsMedia]

Hi, we're sorry but Mr. Carruthers is unable to respond to questions. We recommend that you contact a local, trusted luthier for assistance.

[@jurisdpuris]

Naj-jači si

[@matthiasscheffler548]

That doesn't answer the question of what to do with the tremolo screws

[@devo229]

any suggestion where to get that screw i lost one and have no idea what size they are that i need.i new to this have no clue how it came out

[@keepmyselffree]

stewmac.com

[@paddyomusic6798]

Thank you (btw, there’s no such word as ‘heighth’).

[@365Avalon]

@MimicDaravon No standard spelling ? That means it's spelled incorrectly.. The word has a pronunciation, it does not require a new one. Education!!!

[@shadowcast1975]

0.078 '

[@drewhurst1972able]

Thanks so much! Fyi...its Height...not heigth ( HITE) no thhhh sound...like in width.... Also...you cannot lower something up...only lower...and raise. Hate to be a grammer Nazi...cant help it. Sorry. Very helpful video...thank you again

[@TynSyun]

Never actually adjusts the strings

[@adamski101]

Gosh that action looks like a cheese grater even when he's supposedly adjusted it within spec. I need a much lower action than that.

[@MicheleJones-eu6kk]

I use the 5/64 like he said on my strat because if just sounds better. Not on a shorter scale like les paul

[@365Avalon]

Height height height, not heith