| Today we are down at the other end of the guitar, | | | | excess off with a dry cloth and cover the whole |
| the Bridge, and we have the same problem with | | | | board in this way. Tune back up and don't forget to |
| "string-slack" as it's called, as mentioned in the | | | | s-t-r-e-t-c-h the strings again. It will not take long if |
| previous article on whammybars and Strats. It is a bit | | | | they have been done before. This makes the neck |
| more difficult to get the graphite under the string | | | | feel nice and smooth to the touch, and also brings |
| here, so loosen the strings a bit one by one, pull | | | | out the wood design. Improves general sliding notes |
| aside, and pencil the saddle itself, just under where | | | | around, and feels so professional to play.Do not mess |
| the string lies. After you finish one, tune it back up | | | | around with the guitar-neck regarding "Bowing or |
| and move on to the next one. Do not release the | | | | Concave" problems unless you are experienced and |
| tension of all the strings at once with a floating | | | | fully confident of doing the job. Doing this wrong can |
| bridge, as you can imagine this plays havoc with the | | | | not only destroy your guitar tuning, but the your |
| tuning.Giddyup there... If you notice a lot of strings | | | | precious guitar itself! Any problems in this area I |
| breaking across the bridge, it's time to replace your | | | | would strongly advise you to see a guitar |
| bridge saddles. If your handy at doing your own | | | | tech.Another huge factor to be considered in |
| servicing, this is relatively easy. If not, get them done | | | | Staying-in-Guitar-Tune Land, is your musical lug'oles or |
| in a good, reputable repair shop. It's not expensive, | | | | as they are more commonly called, ears! Lose these |
| and after you have gone through breaking string | | | | and you can forget about playing anything. (unless |
| after string every night, you will be so relieved, not | | | | your as good as Beethoven... fair play to ya' if |
| to have to worry about that anymore, that it is | | | | so).You know what they say "Ear Today, Gone |
| worth every cent! Now you can concentrate on your | | | | Tomorrow". Use special ear-plugs at rehearsals. Make |
| playing instead. Yeh!Do not do the job yourself if | | | | sure they are audio ear-protectors. There is more |
| your not sure how to reset the saddles, distance, | | | | than one type. Oh while I think of it, get yourself a |
| action and string heights. If you set these wrong, this | | | | good guitar tuner that will last you.BEGINNERS |
| will play HAVOC with your Guitar Tuning! You have | | | | GUITAR TUNING TIPS: For a professional vibe on |
| been politely warned.If you use special replacement | | | | stage you need an Inline-tuner (a private tuner with |
| graphite saddles and a graphite nut this will improve | | | | headphones that only you can hear). There is nothing |
| things considerably. These are not much more | | | | worse than hearing someone on stage giving it the |
| expensive than the normal ones and they really do | | | | old "doi, doi, doi, doirrng" before your first number |
| make a huge difference. As constantly stated | | | | and during the gig. When two or three in the band |
| before, when you do not have to worry about gear | | | | are doing it at the same time including possibly the |
| and equipment performance and breakdown, it's half | | | | drummer, you have complete "amateur hour". It |
| the battle.Under the Bridge (that sounds familiar), you | | | | doesn't exactly induce a gig-owner to book you again |
| will see 6 screws lying flush along a metal plate. If | | | | and it is not only amateurish but extremely annoying |
| you dip the bar you will notice a little gap appearing | | | | to the punters.So look after your guitar bridge, |
| underneath these, and you can lubricate under each | | | | saddles, strings and nut on a regular basis and it will |
| one, with 3 in 1 sewing-machine oil. It is ideal for | | | | help keep tuning problems down to a minimum. |
| guitars and not to heavy.Next, we are onto the | | | | Learning the art of tuning can make a very important |
| Guitar-Neck itself. While this does not affect the | | | | difference to your playing, and is one of the |
| tuning as such, it is the final piece in our Strat tip-top | | | | hallmarks of a professional. So it is well worth |
| jigsaw. Once a month or so, depending on how often | | | | knowing how to get your guitar perfectly in tune and |
| you gig, loosen off 2 strings at a time and pull them | | | | keeping it there.***David O'Toole is a guitar player, |
| aside. Rub a small amount of almond oil into the neck | | | | music fan, and musician from Ireland. |
| and leave soaking for a few minutes. Wipe any | | | | |