New String Woes - Guitars101

Drak_nyen · 02-19-2006, 05:42 AM

Hiya Everyone,

I broke a string last night and replaced it with a new set of my usual Ernie Ball Slinkys. Not changed string gauge or anything.

I put the strings on and tuned up to standard tuning as usual and did a little string stretching.
When I strum the open strings the D string sounded dischordant to the rest of the strings. The strum just sounded wrong to my ears.

As it seemed to be the D string that was at fault I changed it with a string from a half pack of new strings (pack only half, after screwing up string change recently).

I then retuned up and strummed again and it sounded better.
Now when I try strumming an Open A chord or an Open G or Open E chord is just sounds dischordant.

It seems as if the issue is between the D string and the G string but I cant seem to find out what it is. Checked the tuning is ok but still things sound wrong.

Any ideas as I am lost.

Many Thanks
Pete

biggus dikkus · 02-19-2006, 06:46 AM

usually what you are describing is intonation related, perhaps you moved a string saddle without noticing it , personally I would not use any less than 10 gauge, I presume you are not using 9s ?

check that open string, fretted 12th and open harmonics at 12th fret are all the same on each string.

El_jalepeno · 02-19-2006, 06:56 AM

Good point BD. Also check to make sure you didn;t move the bridge if it is movable. If it's a fixed bridge, then it should be fine, but if there is any type of tremolo, then it might need to be readjusted. Can you post a couple of pics? of the side view of the neck and the side view of the bridge so we can see the action and bridge position?

Drak_nyen · 02-19-2006, 07:15 AM

Its an Epiphone Les Paul Custom.
I dont remember moving the bridge saddles and I just checked them and they are out by a very small amount. Less that 1/4 of a tone.

Using Ernie Ball Slinkys size 10-46 as usual

El_jalepeno · 02-19-2006, 10:06 AM

Well, you have the bridge and the nut that could impact the sound as you are hearing. Look near the nut. Do the strings fit snug, is there any play in the strings slots, is the nut moving at all? Do the strings clear the frets, especially the 1st-3rd frets? Is the action really low anywhere else? Sure it's the strings and not the tone knob being turned down on the pups or something else affecting tone?

biggus dikkus · 02-19-2006, 10:54 AM

following on from what el jalapeno is saying.......are your pickups high output and more importantly , is your action very low ?

strings too close to high output pickups can cause headaches as the magnets exert a downward pull on the strings, bear this in mind.

i use voodoo 59 pafs 7.9k / 8.1 k nk / brg on my 2001 Gibson R9 , add to that a lil bit of height in the string action and you get no nasties caused by pickup magnets and bends sound SO much better when your strings arent literally sitting on the fretboard.

Drak_nyen · 02-21-2006, 03:05 AM

Does anyone know what relation there should be between the 2 screws on the tune-o-matic bridge?

What I mean is that the 2 screws can be at different heights to each other and I can find no information anywhere to explain exactly how to set the heights of these.

I would dearly like to be able to set the guitar back to a kind of "factory default" setting and then look at adjusting it to suit my personal playing style etc.

Any help would be appreciated as I would prefer to learn how to do this myself rather than have the expense of getting a pro to set it up for me.

**T.A.Z** · 02-21-2006, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drak_nyen

Does anyone know what relation there should be between the 2 screws on the tune-o-matic bridge?

What I mean is that the 2 screws can be at different heights to each other and I can find no information anywhere to explain exactly how to set the heights of these.

I would dearly like to be able to set the guitar back to a kind of "factory default" setting and then look at adjusting it to suit my personal playing style etc.

Any help would be appreciated as I would prefer to learn how to do this myself rather than have the expense of getting a pro to set it up for me.

If i'm thinking of the right bridge then they should be adjustments for the action. If i'm right then you should raise these till there is no string buzz anywhere on the neck.

Drak_nyen · 02-21-2006, 04:46 AM

Yeah they are used for action adjustment.

The thing is cos there are 2 screws I need to know a way to ensure these are level or have been raised in the correct way so that, the bass strings arent higher than treble strings etc.

**T.A.Z** · 02-21-2006, 04:51 AM

Spirit leveller??!?!?

lol

No, seriously best way is to just try playing it with different adjustments. use your eyes and look at it i'd say. But then i only had a tune-o-matic bridge for a short time. You'll find that the strings will make a slight arc over the neck anyway, so don't be put of by that.

Oh and i'm using my dads les paul for reference here. If you want i could take a couple of measurements of that??

Drak_nyen · 02-21-2006, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satchsquatch

Spirit leveller??!?!?

lol

No, seriously best way is to just try playing it with different adjustments. use your eyes and look at it i'd say. But then i only had a tune-o-matic bridge for a short time. You'll find that the strings will make a slight arc over the neck anyway, so don't be put of by that.

Oh and i'm using my dads les paul for reference here. If you want i could take a couple of measurements of that??

Hehehehehehehe I have actually thought about that, but then I remember that my Les Paul is the curve top version and I didnt know how that would affect the level.

Yeah if you could do some measurements that would be good.
All the information I can find just says "adjust the bridge height to sort the action but nothing mentions that one should be higher than the other or not. Does it matter? Does the different string thickness mean the lower strings need to be higher than the treble? etc.

I'm finding this is not an easy question to answer

**T.A.Z** · 02-21-2006, 05:14 AM

Well my dads Gibson works perfectly and this is the height he has for the bridge...

Bass string side - 2 cm
Treble String side - 1.5cm

I also checked my dads epiphone, and thats set up the same.

If you set your bridge at this height and you still have the problem, i'd suggest trying to lower your pups.

Drak_nyen · 02-21-2006, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satchsquatch

Well my dads Gibson works perfectly and this is the height he has for the bridge...

Bass string side - 2 cm
Treble String side - 1.5cm

I also checked my dads epiphone, and thats set up the same.

If you set your bridge at this height and you still have the problem, i'd suggest trying to lower your pups.

Cheers for that mate, Your a star.

So the Bass side does need to be slightly higher than the treble side.

I will have a go on my Les Paul tonight/tomorrow and let you know how I am getting along.

Ever since I have had this guitar I have had a problme with fret buzz on the low E string which I am in the process of trying to troubleshoot & figured I would try and teach myself how to professionally set up my guitar.
'Prefer to teach myself to fish rather than just go buy the fish'

**T.A.Z** · 02-21-2006, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drak_nyen

Cheers for that mate, Your a star.

So the Bass side does need to be slightly higher than the treble side.

I will have a go on my Les Paul tonight/tomorrow and let you know how I am getting along.

Ever since I have had this guitar I have had a problme with fret buzz on the low E string which I am in the process of trying to troubleshoot & figured I would try and teach myself how to professionally set up my guitar.
'Prefer to teach myself to fish rather than just go buy the fish'

No problem at all, and i agree completely i'm just the same.