Help setting up my JPXI-7

[Metalus]

Is there a video or a thread I can read with some good step by step instructions on how to setup my JP? Ive seen the faq on the music man website but I dont really fully comprehend it. Im a noob when it comes to setting up trem systems. Ive been a fixed bridge guy for a few years now and it wasnt until I discovered JP's that I converted fully (BEST TREM EVER). Anyone care to help a JP lover/noob out?

 

[Norstorm]

Hey Metalus..

I'd love to help you.
The John Petrucci bridge is a special case, but here are the usual "how to do":


- If the bridge is to lose or something in the first place, I'd remove all the strings and do a little shining on the fretboard.

- When you've put on the strings, you have to find something that can hold the bridge in the exact correct position while you tune the strings. The gap between the bridge and the body wood is minimal, right..? I'm talking TINY! So use something that doesn't chip the paint.. like a filtcloth or something.. It really doesn't matter, as long as you don't harp the paint, and as long as it can hold the bridge tight for you in the correct position while you tune your strings.

- When the strings are tunes, carefully remove the "cloth" or whatever you hold the bridge up with.. Now comes the painful part.. IF the bridge are to tight, or to lose.. you have to correct that, and there are several aspects to notice.

* The springs should be adjusted
* When the springs are adjustet, and the problem corrected, you have to turn your attention to the thrus rod.
* The final step for me would always be intonation.

Anyhows:

When it comes to the bridge, just place a soft cloth beneath the lower end of the bridge, and the wood.. If the bridge colapse, just fold the cloth to make it thicker, and try again. At the end, the cloth will be enough to keep the bridge steady while you tune the strings.

I wish I could show you, but..
Trust in one thing though: When you've done this 3 times, you should be able to do it with your eyes closed, while cooking dinner with your left hand, and hunting a wasp with a smacker in your right hand, and dialing on the phone with your foot..

Good luck

 

[Metalus]

Thanks a bunch man. 3 quick questions, how do you know if the bridge is too tight or loose? Sry if this is a noob question lol. 2nd, how low can I setup the action (using the truss rod i suppose) to achieve no buzz but really low action? 3rd, is it ok to leave the guitar stringless for a few hours while the wonder wipes get into the fretboard?

 

[Norstorm]

Well.. The bridge should be leveled with the body, if it's not.. it's too tight or to lose.
The action of your strings can be adjustet by the truss rod, by turning the rod back and forth. But be carefull not to overdo it. Best is to turn one mark, and lift the guitar up and have a looksie.. See if it works.. Small steps, yeah?
Yes, it should be ok to leave the strings off for a few hours..
When all strings are removed, the tention of the neck also disappears, so you need a brand new "setup" again when new strings are put on.

But yes, while using an allen W. or whatever to adjust the truss rod, please be careful not to tighten to much. Turn a truss rod in small increments, lift the guitar up and see if it got any closer. I've seen sad examples where people turn their truss rod like crazy, until you can hear the wood in the neck starts to yell for help That's a bad idea

 

[DrKev]

Thanks a bunch man. 3 quick questions, how do you know if the bridge is too tight or loose? Sry if this is a noob question lol. 2nd, how low can I setup the action (using the truss rod i suppose) to achieve no buzz but really low action? 3rd, is it ok to leave the guitar stringless for a few hours while the wonder wipes get into the fretboard?

If you're having difficulty getting your guitar setup right, get in touch with customer service. They'll help you out. You'll find the link below in my signature.

1) With the strings tuned to whatever pitch you normally play at, look at the front and back of the bridge plate. If the back is lower than the front, loosen the two big screws attached to the trem claw in the back cavity (counter-clockwise, half a turn), then re-tune to pitch and check again. If the back of the bridge is higher than the front, de-tune the strings slightly, then tighten the big screws a little, then re-tune the guitar to pitch and check again. Repeat as needed until the bridge plate is about parallel with the top of the guitar. (Doesn't have to be perfectly parallel).

2) No buzz at really low action is all but impossible for most people without a very light and precise picking action. In fact when players with super low action play live with a clean guitar sound, you can often hear some fret buzz. It's a basic fact of life - the harder you play, the more likely strings are to buzz. The lower the strings are, the worse the fret buzz will be. Ideal string height is always a question of compromise to suit each individual player's picking style and technique (and even how much buzz they can tolerate).

3) Yes, it's usually not a problem.

 

[T- Bone]

Bridge should be parallel to the body. Depending on what tuning youre using this will cause the trem to either dive forward (not enough spring tension - must tighten spring claw) or too tight of tension causing the trem be be tilted back with no room for 'pulling up' (loosen spring claw putting bridge back to parallel)

Its a back and forth game until you get the tension just right so that the bridge is level with the body. After your tension is all good and the trem is in proper postion that's when I would check the neck relief and make any trussrod adjustments. After that I would check intonation

Being that you arent experienced with this stuff youre probably better of taking it to somebody though

I

 

[guitarp77]

I got my JP yesterday, was tuned in Eb...

Was so excited I started playing and broke a string (epic fail)...I restringed the guitar, tuned it to E and the bridge was way out of "parallel"...

Since I´m a bit stupid with springs and tools in general, I decided to re-tune it to Eb and the bridge returned to be perfect.

Even though, since it flied a long way home, I´ll take it to a pro set up so they leave it flawless...I´d rather pay a bit to have it perfect instead of messing my "jewel" up...