Andy Eagle ( Guitar repair tech for 30 years )

Eagle said:
A close up picture of the guitar bridge would help. It could have poor contact on the saddles which would certainly not help.
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Update: The 10s, in combination with the Blackouts AHB-1 bridge and the Blackouts Strat AS-1 neck, did it. The bridge pick attack that had been harsh before has just turned into a good part of the character of the guitar. With the lower mids and bass from the pickup now supporting the sharp upper mids of the guitar itself, it now sounds balanced, with a cool bite that gives it its own vibe, in a good way. So the Blackouts HS set were the first piece of the puzzle, but by themselves they did not entirely balance the harshness with 9 guage balanced tension straings; I needed the balanced tension 10s to finish the balance. And of course, with the higher tension I was able to lower the action, which is a bonus. Going back to 10s was the smallest deal ever. It took no time to set up the guitar, and, because I played 10s for so so long, it feel actually more right to go back.

The difference between the tone of 9s and 10s of the same type string in the same brand might be subtle for some, but it is fucking huge for me. I mean, just night and day. I could almost feel my guitar breathing a sigh of relief, like he could finally deal with his own tone better. Everything all of sudden had the right attack, the right roundness, the right balance.

I've had this guitar for a few years now, but this is the first time I feel completely at home with any bridge pickup in there. The neck Strat pickup is nice and thick, and this really helps mitigate the fact that this is a 24 fret guitar; I'm getting neck tones that have the warmth I've been looking for, what I think of as "22 fret tone," at every output level. I just got in a capacitor assortment for me finally to install a tone cap for the neck, and I have no doubt at all, with it's massive output, that if I just roll back the tone knob, I'll be able to cop neck humbucker tones if the mood arises. And with the volume rolled way back, the neck puts out beautiful Fender clean tones. And the bridge has all the versatility I was looking for, every kind of Plexi tone rolled back, to any kind of metal tone I'm inclined to dial in at the moment. The beef and chunk is there now, with the cool attack, so it's ideal for tilting the tone in whatever direction I want.

I always play for my ears. If my tone is not right, I'm not right, and my playing isn't right. It's like my playing is entirely in service of my tone. So I feel like, for the first time since I got this guitar three years ago, I can finally embrace the instrument as a whole.

By the way, I found an M4 0.7 pitch dome cap hex screw at the local hardware store that fit my Floyd locking nut in the meantime, while I have new nut locking screws on order. I actually like the look better than the standard Floyd screws haha.

So I think, after this tone cap goes in on the neck, the guitar can just rest and start being played properly. This is a huge thing for me, and I can't wait to get into it now and reestablish my relationship with this guitar.
 
Eagle said:
That is a very soft bolt . Replace all of them, particularly the string lock ones. It you shear one of those it is very hard to get them out.
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With a very steady hand, slot it with a Dremel with a small radius disc so you will only cut the bolt, then back it out with a screwdriver. (just sayin', if it ever happens...)
 
I have six on order now, but I actually prefer the look of the hardware store domed cap hex screw; I'm thinking about using those instead.
 
Eagle said:
This is seriously in need of some maintenance. Total rebuild and clean for a start, then when you string up get the strings in the middle of the clamp so they sit right on the witness point. On a side note can others get a pinch harmonic out of this guitar?. Do other harmonics ring well also?
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When you say rebuild what do mean by it?? Getting a new bridge?

This bridge is relatively new, that rust is from my acid sweat…. Ive cleaned that as much as i could….

Ill put stings in middle for sure…. ( good point)

All harmonics ring same ( after digging in few times into string)
 
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megametal7 said:
When you say rebuild what do mean by it?? Getting a new bridge?

This bridge is relatively new, that rust is from my acid sweat…. Ive cleaned that as much as i could….

Ill out stings in middle for sure…. ( good point)

All harmonics ring same ( after digging in few times into string)
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Rebuild it means take it apart and clean it, get the rust off.
 
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dk_ace said:
I have a Gretsch Jet that I love the sound of, and it is super lightweight and looks awesome on stage. It’s a bit of a bear to play though.

It’s short scale, has a longish headstock, and with the bigsby B3 that I put on it there’s a lot of string behind the bridge too. It has a pretty shallow break angle over the bridge, but enough to hold decent pressure on the saddles. Currently set up with 10-46 strings and action that is about as low as I can take it without execessive fret buzzing. It is not super low though, I can comfortably play slide on it.

When I take it to a gig, I find that I’m hurting after a while if it’s a set where I’m doing a lot of string bending. This is mostly lack of conditioning on my part, but it is what it is life is not gonna slow down any time soon for me so I’ve just got to work with the time I have. I’ve decided that it’s got a lot of tension due to the total string length.

I’ve thought about going to 8s or 9s, but then the action will go up and I may not have enough tension over the saddles. I’ve also thought that going up in string gauge might be a good idea because I could take the action a smidge lower and you don’t have to bend as far to get the same pitch.

Maybe it’s all just a wash and I should leave it right where it is? For a guitar like this, what have you found to work best?

D
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Eagle said:
No harm in trying a set of 9s or even 9.5s.
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I tried the 9s, took it to a couple gigs now, and that’s all it needed. Seems like the most obvious solution, I was overthinking it….

Seems weird to need lighter strings on the shortest scale guitar I have, but it is what it is. Sounds good and plays good now so what’s not to like.

D
 
megametal7 said:
I tried today, its still the same even with new strings.

Might be doggy pick up?
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Test it against speck with a multi meter. I am surprised that it doesn't have false harmonics, does it ring well with normal harmonics?
 
Eagle said:
Test it against speck with a multi meter. I am surprised that it doesn't have false harmonics, does it ring well with normal harmonics?
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Higher strings its fine rings fine but anything on A string its bloody hard work…


Took all my guitars and lined it up, played same thing on same amp same settings and this one was most hardest to get squeals…
( pinch harmonics). Its so annoying… as guitar sounds good it self.
 
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megametal7 said:
Higher strings its fine rings fine but anything on A string its bloody hard work…


Took all my guitars and liner up, played same thing on same amp same settings and this one was most hardest to get squeals…
( pinch harmonics). Its so annoying… as guitar sounds good it self.
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What pickups?
 
megametal7 said:
Higher strings its fine rings fine but anything on A string its bloody hard work…


Took all my guitars and lined it up, played same thing on same amp same settings and this one was most hardest to get squeals…
( pinch harmonics). Its so annoying… as guitar sounds good it self.
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It's starting to sound like the guitar has a frequency related dead area. If you play up and down on the high E (for start) are there any notes that die very fast?
 
Eagle said:
It's starting to sound like the guitar has a frequency related dead area. If you play up and down on the high E (for start) are there any notes that die very fast?
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It did but after set up with tech its lot better.

Dose this mean my guitar is doomed? :sofa
 
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