Petrucci Guitar Questions

[SteveB]

Zoph,

I like to use the trem lightly very often. I really almost never go out of tune with my Pet under these circumstances (unless the strings are new-ish and haven't been fully stretched out).

However, sometimes I'll go ape sh%t on the trem and make ungodly noises with it, and even then I seldom go out of tune noticably. Maybe a few cents of drift on the plain (not wound) strings.

I pull up on my trem more often than I dive it, too.

(Actually, I rotate the bar so it's behind the bridge and then I shake it up and down.)

Hey, I never said I was normal.

 

[Zophixan]

hmmm. I never noticed the guy stretching the strings, so I will give the strings a stretch and see if that helps! What about the string holders? level?

 

[Raz]

hmmm. I never noticed the guy stretching the strings, so I will give the strings a stretch and see if that helps! What about the string holders? level?

Make sure the tuners are locked and either get some nut sauce or graphite (a pencil will do) to lubricate the nut slots.

 

[fogman]

...... and either get some nut sauce to lubricate the nut slots.

Where's that parental warning when you need it!!!
I mean this place talks about G.A.S, A.S.S.', Balls.......
and then there's Luscious!!!!

 

[Raz]

Where's that parental warning when you need it!!!
I mean this place talks about G.A.S, A.S.S.', Balls.......
and then there's Luscious!!!!

Actually I had to edit it cause initially I had NUT SLUTS in there

 

[SteveB]

hmmm. I never noticed the guy stretching the strings, so I will give the strings a stretch and see if that helps! What about the string holders? level?

I'm guessing that you're talking about the saddles down at the bridge of the guitar?

If so, they sould *not* be level, but they should follow the radius of the neck. The petrucci has a 15" radius. Jon could tell you how to go about doing this..
I personally have a little laminated paper radius gauge that came with a Dan Erlewine book, but I've never needed to use it 'cause my Pet is perfect.

 

[jongitarz]

If you use a 6" steel rule, and set the string height evenly, there will be a radius anyway.

 

[jongitarz]

ah yes, double bending is fine, but sustaining is not..... just curious, but how out of tune should the strings get whilst using the trem? Mine, goes VERY out of tune. I believe alot of the problems came from me asking the store to change the lower strings....... and me not trying out the guitar afterwards due to the time! Also, should the string holders on the trem be straight? because mine go up and down...... *cries at his luck*

Do the strings go flat or sharp? Did you go to a different string gauge?

 

[SteveB]

If you use a 6" steel rule, and set the string height evenly, there will be a radius anyway.

See? Now I've learned something new from this thread.

 

[Zophixan]

The b string goes flat... hmmm any ideas about the piezo? or am going to have to bring it in.... I rung them, and they said the trem might take time to settle in.

 

[SteveB]

Ideas for the B string:

1) maybe it is not fully stretched?

2) do you have it wrapped around the tuner post? When you string the Petrucci, you should feed the string straight through the locking tuner, tug it 90 degrees to the side, tighten the locking tuner, then cut the string as close to the tuner as possible. You want to avoid wrapping the string around the post as much as possible.

Ideas for the piezo:

call EBMM customer service, sounds like you'll need to have it checked out. One last idea is to try a different brand of battery than what you've been trying. Some of them are made slightly larger or smaller than other brands and may not make good contact in the battery compartment.

 

[Zophixan]

Tried stretching the B string.. but nothing...... I tried something, I tried pushing the battery in and out, and it definately connects at some point, it sounds like when you plug in a jack to a guitar...

 

[SteveB]

Zoph,

Well, in that case, the sooner you get an R/A number and ship it to Jongitarz, the sooner you'll have your baby back.

Plus, it'll be pimped out with a killer setup job. Worth the wait for that alone.

 

[Zophixan]

arghh want to scream, been waiting so long! and now this ...... how long does it normally take to get there and back?

 

[SteveB]

Probably depends where you are (can't tell from your profile).

EBMM customer service could tell ya, though. Give 'em a ring and they'll get you going.

 

[Zophixan]

I'm in the UK... the guitar store tells me to let them see it first... but I doubt they can do much about it....

 

[SteveB]

Maybe let them see it. It could be as simple as a wire for the piezo that needs to be re-soldered. I've heard of that before.

Otherwise, you'll probably have to call the UK distributor, Strings'n'Things... or wait until Beth from EBMM gets back from Germany. She's the international woman of mystery.

 

[Zophixan]

ok! Sigh.. pity the guitar store is so far away... do you think I could ask the guitar store for any compensation? Normally I wouldn't, but I am in a livid mood atm!........... though in a few hours, that'll probabily go! After playing this guitar though, I know it is the one for me! Definately worth the extended wait! oh and quick question, why is it that the B string machine head have to be so narrow? I remember the guy fitting my guitar saying that the thickest B string he could put on was a 50!

 

[Bowks]

Zoph, can you PM me with details of where in the UK you are and what shop you got it from.

Rich

 

[Zophixan]

Done, sent you details.. not sure why you'd want it though..