JP6 Balancing The Trem

[Rush]

I usually restring one at a time to avoid the balancing act, but I needed to get the gunk off my fretboard finally so off they went. I had a method that used to work pretty good on my old floyd guitars, but I keep coming up a bit short with the JP. The bridge is either slightly recessed, or it's above the cavity.

If there are any tips from the EB pros on balancing the trem I would appreciate it.

Here is what I used to do, which came from a repair book.

1) Make sure all strings are loose
2) Tune the A string to A440, sharp it by a half-step
3) Tune E string harmonic to the sharped A string harmonic
4) Tune D string harmonic to A string harmonic, sharp it just a bit
5) Tune G-B strings using D string as reference
6) Re-Tune the 5th fret harmonic of the A string, sharp by a full step
7) Repeat entire process again, but do not sharp the D

Usually things are working out on my floyd at this point, but not for the JP.

 

[augustyn]

i restring my JP often to avoid string breakage (my personal problem) and have no complicated procedure. i start restringing from the outer strings (E & e) ... and so on. afterwards i tune it. its easier to tune than a FR guitar.

but if anyone has a special procedure i am very interested also.....
thx a lot
auge

 

[SteveB]

I usually re-string by taking only 2 or 3 strings off at a time. This allows me to clean the fretboard and the body portion between the pickups.

I think you should just go forward at this point with the usual trem-levelling routine that is recommended when you change string gauges, etc.

i.e.

* Tune the strings to pitch.
* Adjust trem claw tension.

repeat until level.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

If you are restringing with the same gauge, you could take a few pennies and stack them on top of one another to block the trem pretty close to level. You might need to tape them together.

Then I put all the strings on, and tune them to pitch & stretch them one at a time. When you have the strings all tuned to pitch, the pennies should fall out.

Typically I just put the bar in and use it and one hand hold the trem level while I tune/stretch each string. Never had any trouble doing it this way (maybe the extra fingers help?). It's like the penny method, only without the pennies.

 

[lenny]

If you are restringing with the same gauge, you could take a few pennies and stack them on top of one another to block the trem pretty close to level. You might need to tape them together.

Then I put all the strings on, and tune them to pitch & stretch them one at a time. When you have the strings all tuned to pitch, the pennies should fall out.

Typically I just put the bar in and use it and one hand hold the trem level while I tune/stretch each string. Never had any trouble doing it this way (maybe the extra fingers help?). It's like the penny method, only without the pennies.

now some might consider this rude but its not meant to be in any way but every time you say something about the "fingers" i wonder if your just messing around or you were really born with an xtra finger ,because i like humor and i never want to say anything when u mention the xtra digit so are u just messin?

 

[Rush]

I finally got it with a regular set of Slinky 10/46. I was originally trying to put Slinky Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom 10/52. I guess this is where I would need to adjust the claw?

Any tips for balancing with different guage strings would be cool.

 

[roburado]

If you are restringing with the same gauge, you could take a few pennies and stack them on top of one another to block the trem pretty close to level. You might need to tape them together.

Then I put all the strings on, and tune them to pitch & stretch them one at a time. When you have the strings all tuned to pitch, the pennies should fall out.

Typically I just put the bar in and use it and one hand hold the trem level while I tune/stretch each string. Never had any trouble doing it this way (maybe the extra fingers help?). It's like the penny method, only without the pennies.

Yeah. I used to use the penny method with my old Ibanez. Works very nicely.

 

[francric]

If Pete would have had that extra digit on the left hand, who knows what he could have done with a six string.............but it's a great way to start a conversation with the ladies.

 

[Bungo]

Another small tip.

I find soft rubber door stops work well. Basically you can push the arm dowm slightly, slide the doorstop down behind the trem block, let the arm back up onto it and it's wedged really firmly then.

Also nice and soft so less danger of any damage to the guitar.

 

[beej]

Great suggestion. In the Dan Erlewine videos, he uses a similar wedge to block the trem when he's working on one.