BFR set up question.

[richb]

Hi,
I brought a new Petrucci BFR and it came with 9's on it.anyway i was using it like that but I always play with 10's so when i broke the high E string i wanted to change to 10's...
I changed each string one by one and after tuning it(standard tuning) The action became very high and the bridge is now tilted with the back on the bridge higher than the front of the bridge and the action is way too high..

HELPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please,how can i get the action lower and make the bridge level???
sorry for the noob question but i don't know a thing about setups.

Thanks,
Richb

 

[Sigmunds Couch]

The thicker strings have put more tension on the trem. You'll have to adjust the trem claw to compensate. A truss rod tweek might also be necessary after the trem is in is correct place.

 

[ivanmihaljevic]

On the back of your guitar in the trem cavity there are 2 screws that hold the tremolo springs. You need to tighten them. Remember to readjust the tuning of your guitar every few turns to ensure that you're adjusting the trem springs tension to equal the in-tune strings tension to keep the bridge parallel to the body.

Here's the JP setup guide from EB FAQ:

Q: How do I set up my John Petrucci guitar?

A: When restringing, turn the tuner's holes toward the corresponding nut slots. This will keep the strings as short as possible for more stable tuning.

The next step is to check the relief in the neck by holding the lowest string down on the second fret with your fretting hand; then hold it down on the 12th fret with your right thumb and tap on the string on the middle of these two points to show how straight the neck is. It should be no more than the thickness of a thick business card, no more than that, though it can be less. If there is no relief a little pressure in the middle of the neck should take care of it. If it does not, feel free to contact us.

With the guitar tuned to pitch in the playing position and looking down the body, the top of the body, the top of the bridge should be parallel (both front to back, bass to treble side) to or slightly higher than the body with the bottom still recessed. The saddles should not come in contact with the cover and the intonation screws. If this occurs, lower the saddles and raise the bridge. After every adjustment, it is necessary to re-tune the guitar.

Factory string setting for standard tuning starts at the bass side 2/32" (0.0254m) to 5/64" (0.127m) and the treble side is 3/64" (0.0762m) to 2/32" (.254m) measured from the 12th fret to the bottom of the strings. The top of the strings should have the radius of the fretboard when you are looking at the strings in the playing position and by rotating the instrument while at the same time bringing strings into view one at a time. Remember, string height is ultimately determined by your preference and playing style, as well as the string gauge and tuning (if you you use an alternate tuning). Again, after every adjustment it is necessary to re-tune the guitar, to give you a starting reference.

Now, you are ready to play your guitar. If a string buzzes on an open string to the 5th fret and no higher, more relief is needed. If there is more buzz from the 5th to the 12th fret, the neck needs to be straighter. You should check the string height after every adjustment. If the buzzing happens throughout the neck, the string height needs to be increased.

When setting up, always consider all of the other changes that will occur with every adjustment, starting with step one, tuning up after each step you take.

For intonation, check the harmonics to the fretted note on the twelfth fret If the fretted note is sharp, you need to make the string longer by turning the intonation screw for that string (located on the tail end of the bridge) clockwise, counter-clockwise if the fretted note is flat.If you turn the screw counter-clockwise, always turn the screw clockwise afterwards. (If you don't play much above that fret, you can skip the next step). Also check the harmonics at the 19th fret after the twelfth fret is set, repeating the procedure above. Make sure that the string is coming off of the saddle straight and not at an arch.

 

[ivanmihaljevic]

Here's the link to the FAQ on EB website in case you need anything else - http://www.ernieball.com/faq_content.php?subjectcode=mm_guitars

 

[richb]

wow,thanks for your support.
i tighten the claw a little and the bridge looks level but the action is lower from the 1st to say 7th fret then it gets higher from there to the 24th.(not sure what to do here)...

 

[RichW]

The .010s put more tension on the neck than the .009s, and so the neck is being pulled 'away from your body' (when you have the guitar strapped on). Though I have a fairly limited understanding of setting up guitars as well, I believe that, in this case, you need to tighten the truss rod a little bit to counteract this.

 

[richb]

The .010s put more tension on the neck than the .009s, and so the neck is being pulled 'away from your body' (when you have the guitar strapped on). Though I have a fairly limited understanding of setting up guitars as well, I believe that, in this case, you need to tighten the truss rod a little bit to counteract this.

hey man thx_
I hate messing with stuff like this.I'm gonna bring it to Sal,Rob Balducci's techhere on Long Island,N.Y..he's the man!
I don't wanna mess anything up.but thanks for the insight at least I know a little more.
Believe it or not,i'm playing guitar for 30 years and I just won't do anything like this, all my friends bug out on me about this...hahahahaha,lol

Thanks again_
Richb

 

[RichW]

hey man thx_
I hate messing with stuff like this.I'm gonna bring it to Sal,Rob Balducci's techhere on Long Island,N.Y..he's the man!
I don't wanna mess anything up.but thanks for the insight at least I know a little more.
Believe it or not,i'm playing guitar for 30 years and I just won't do anything like this, all my friends bug out on me about this...hahahahaha,lol

Thanks again_
Richb

Yeah, in any case, a good tech will be able to provide you with better tips and a better setup, than some advice you got off the internet from some people who haven't even seen the guitar in question with its current setup.

30 years huh? I guess that's why you're such a killer player.