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