👕 Get New Ernie Ball Merch Now!
  • Ernie Ball
  • Music Man
  • Sterling by Music Man
  • Security notice: Ernie Ball staff will never send you a direct message about a prize or giveaway, and will never ask you to click a link to "claim" anything.
    If you receive a message like that - even from an account whose name looks official - do not click the link. Please report it using the Report link on the message so the moderators can act. A scam campaign impersonating admin accounts was blocked on 29 July 2026; those accounts are banned and their messages have been deleted.
Majesty Premium Select

Bridge of JP6 Question!!!

peedo_deedo

peedo_deedo

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 10, 2006
Messages
238
Location
San Francisco, CA
wassup guys. i detuned one of my JP's to Eb. As we all know, as the tension decreases, the bridge "sinks"deeper into the guitar. my question is... is this setting safe for my guitar? should i be worried about damaging my guitar? any comments is appreciated. im attaching a couple of pics of the guitar detuned to Eb and my other JP tuned to standard

JP detuned to EB
DSC01439.jpg


JP tuned to standard
DSC01441.jpg


Thank you so much for your time :)
 
I don't think you could possibly damage your JP with that setting but for comfort I would adjust the springs to level the trem
 
Well, I don't think it's causing any damage, BUT, if I were going to leave it in that tuning for any lengthy amount of time, I would adjust the bridge so it level. By moving the saddles even the small amount that you have from their original position, it will affect your intonation, even if only slightly. And, you have also changed the string height by doing so, and you may want to adjust for that too.
 
I agree that you ought to level the trem. You need to adjust the trem claw inside the trem cavity.. you'll just need a phillips head screwdriver.

Tune to pitch, adjust the claw a little, re-tune, then see if it's level.
Repeat until it is.
 
SteveB said:
I agree that you ought to level the trem. You need to adjust the trem claw inside the trem cavity.. you'll just need a phillips head screwdriver.

Tune to pitch, adjust the claw a little, re-tune, then see if it's level.
Repeat until it is.
Click to expand...

thanks for the help. when you say "adjust the trem claw inside the trem cavity", you mean the one behind the guitar inside the cover right? (where the springs are located). should i tighten the screw or should i loosen them?

again, thanks a lot
 
Loosen them.

Good luck. Be prepared to be patient...it'll take a little time to get it just right, but will be worth it.
 
You loosen the springs as they are counteracting less tension from the strings than they were at standard tuning.

You'll also find that the strings will be too loose in this new, lower tuning, and you might want to bring them up a gauge. When/if you change string size, you go through the same process, tighten if the bridge is high, or loosen if the bridge is low.
 
Last edited:
Peedo,

Yeah, like everyone said you'll want to loosen the springs because the lower tuning is causing less tension on the other side of the bridge. By relieving some tension at the trem claw (where the other end of the springs connect) you are tweaking the "balancing act that is a floating bridge" back toward equilibrium.

Let us know how it works out. It shouldn't take more than 10 or 15 minutes if you take your time and carefully re-tune after each tweak of the claw tension. You want that sucker dead level when you're perfectly tuned to e flat.
 
hello guys... thanks a lot for all your comments and suggestions. i will certainly loosen the screw to level the bridge. im currently at work right now but i will do it when i get home. i will post some updates as soon as i finish or if i have questions. wish me luck guys, im a little nervous about this... i blame our vocalist for this!!! :D he sounds flat all the time!!! :D

again, thanks a lot guys!!! i appreciate it a lot!!!
 
You can do it, Peedo.. and it'll be a confidence booster for you, too. I was nervous to make that adjustment when I switched my JP6 down to 009's. I followed the same advice and it was no problem. Now I'm not afraid to make that adjustment if need be.

I hope the 1/2 step solves your singer's problem. But 1/2 step ain't much.
 
hello guys. so here is the update i promise.

first i decided to change the strings 1 gauge thicker (11's, ernieball power slinky's). i tuned the guitar to Eb after restringing and guess what? the bridge is just a little bit higher, so i tighten both the screws , approximately a quarter of a turn (like going from 12 o' clock to 2 o' clock). i re-tuned and boom!!!! the bridge looks perfectyl level as if nothing happened. lastly, i adjust the intonation just a tiny bit. i played the guitar on my practice amp and it sounds great.

i want to thank all of you guys for all the help. i have to admit that im so nervous to begin with, not to mention that im a little scared... oh well!!! scared a lot, but i manage to do the job. im attaching a pic of the bridge. i also decided to do all these changes on my sapphire black JP coz my Redburst is newer and i dont wanna mess with it .

thanks a lot

DSC01443.jpg
 
Awesome! Congrats - you're on the road to becoming tech free (and saving yourself lots of dough in the long run!)

Another reason this forum rules. Ain't it nice we all got these easy as pie guitars to work on? EBMM - thanks again for such elegant designs.
 
it feels great to be able to do it. this forum rocks!!! and most of all, it made me realize how "user friendly" Music Man guitars are. i can't see myself owning any other guitar than MusicMan.

thanks a lot for all your help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Classic Rock N Roll Slinky
Back
Top