Question Y2D Hard Tail Question / Action and Intonation

[Mattocaster]

Hi All -

I'm new here and did some searching on prior postings. I've had a Steve Morse Y2D for about 6 months.

Anyway, I recently put 10s on it and lowered the action a bit on the bridge.

1. I loosened the hex bolts on the bridge, then used a small screwdriver to lower the bridge about 3/4 of a turn. I noticed that I did bring it to the bottom of its travel distance. So far, it plays much better now, but any concern of hitting a 'maximum' setting? FWIW, the tone seems more lively with it down further now. Relief seems in line.

2. The intonation screws make no sense. They are on the pickup side of the bridge and I have no idea (other then going an getting a super small offset screwdriver) to get in there between the bridge and the pickup. Any ideas here? E 1st string could use a small tweak.

3. When I first got the guitar I had it set up for 9s. I also had the nut slots deepened as the nut seemed crazy high compared to my other guitars. It still seems a bit high, but is much better. Anyone else have this issue?

Any help/advice is appreciated.

 

[jwp333]

Here's my guide to guitar setup:

1. Get the neck pretty much straight. Fret the low e string at the first fret and the 20th fret. Do the same on the d string or g string and the high e string. How much gap do you have midway on each? You want just a little bit, maybe the width of your high e string. Use the truss rod wheel to adjust it tighter if you have more gap than that. Loosen it if you see no gap.

2. Measure your string height by fretting at the first fret and taking the height measurement for every string at the 12th or 13th fret. You want at least 2/32 on every string. (Some may say I'm suggesting too high an action, but I think it's a good compromise). Adjust at the bridge. Fretting at the first takes the nut height out of the equation. You may have cut one or more of your nut slots too low. The factory usually gets that right. For consistency, measure with the string fretted at the first fret.

You can check your nut slot height by fretting at the third and looking at the string clearance over the first fret. Ideally you'd have an almost imperceptible gap between the string and first fret when you fret at the third fret.

3. I like to set the intonation by playing the open string, then playing the fretted 12th with a tuner. Hopefully your tuner will read the 12th fret note. The iPhone has a Peterson strobe tuner app that will read it. If your fretted string at the 12th is flat, you need to shorten the string. If it is sharp, you need to lengthen the string. I'm not sure why you can't get to the screw. You could lower the bridge pickup to get some more room.

4. Pickup height on the Morse - I use 6/32 at the neck wih the string open, 4/32 at the bridge with the string open. The single coil would be about the same height as the bridge.

Hope that helps.

 

[Mattocaster]

Thank you Jwp! Will follow,your advice and report back. Guitar is pretty stable right now so I'll see where the measurements ended up. Will report back soon!