JEM BSB SET UP

[ANT5150]

I have recently tried setting the action on my BSB due to the strings being quite high off the neck and unfortunately I have hit a problem.The tremolo adjustment is at the lowest adjustment , the action is set up correctly and the trem springs are as far back as they will go.I have set up all my other guitars and never had a problem like this. Can anyone help??????

[kspeed]

Sounds like you either have too much up-bow in the neck or the nut's sitting too high. If there are shims under the nut try removing those and raising your bridge a bit. If that doesn't do it try adjusting your truss rod, though if you've never done that before you may want to take it to a tech.

You certainly don't want the bridge sitting as low as possible - setting your action's all about finding the right balance of neck angle, neck bow, nut height and bridge height.

[ANT5150]

I forgot to say that the string tension has always been very tight since bought this guitar making string bending more difficult. I am using 9-42's as usual on all my Jems. Does this change things.

[kspeed]

With floating bridges, when you bend a string it will naturally pull the bridge up a bit. You said your trem springs are screwed in all the way - I assume you mean the trem block. It sounds like your trem angle might be off because the bridge has been lowered and there's probably too much spring tension. This would prevent the bridge from pulling up when you bend a string, thus making it feel like the string tension is actually higher than it is.

I'm not sure what year or model your guitar is, and pics would help, but can you tell me where the action is the worst? Based on what you've said I'd recommend raising your bridge back to a reasonable height and loosening the trem block as needed. Most likely your action problems are to do with the nut or truss rod.

If you have an Edge Pro it should sit about this high and be angled like this when tuned:




Here's a good guide for learning how to set your trem up:

http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/angle.htm

[eviltwin]

Originally Posted by kspeed

With floating bridges, when you bend a string it will naturally pull the bridge up a bit. You said your trem springs are screwed in all the way - I assume you mean the trem block. It sounds like your trem angle might be off because the bridge has been lowered and there's probably too much spring tension. This would prevent the bridge from pulling up when you bend a string, thus making it feel like the string tension is actually higher than it is.

No it won't, string tension is solely dependent on pitch and thickness. Screwing the springs in further won't change the tension. After retuning to pitch it will be always be the same regardless of trem angle.

Bending a string will always cause the bridge to rise, regardless again of the starting angle.

If you have an Edge Pro it should sit about this high

he has a BSB, therefore a LoPro.


Ant, have you unblocked the trem posts' set screws? If the bridge is at the correct height and angle (knife edges equal and parallel to the top of the body) then the neck is affecting the action (angle or bow). Either one of those you should be able to adjust while barely affecting tuning.

Note, if you don't want to go back and forth adjusting the springs and strings while setting the trem angle:
-block the trem in a position you like, IE the correct angle ,
-tune to pitch (use a tuner), do not lock the nut,
-remove the block, and adjust the springs until back at pitch,
-lock the nut and fine tune to pitch if necessary.

[Vim Fuego]

I think kspeed was saying that if you haven't lowered the posts enough, either because they're as far as they'll go - or you haven't loosened the set screws. Then you may have adjusted the action by lowering the bridge angle (tightening the claw screws) if you do this *and* the trem is pretty much bottoming out *then* that'll make the sting bending feel stiff as the springs are over tensioned and the bridge can't relax.
My 2p ... get the trem angle right as mentioned, check the neck relief against a string fretted at fret 1 and 24, adjust truss if necessary, and add a shim to the neck if the trem posts cannot be lowered (providing the set screws have been loosened).
Jim

[kspeed]

Originally Posted by Vim Fuego

I think kspeed was saying that if you haven't lowered the posts enough, either because they're as far as they'll go - or you haven't loosened the set screws. Then you may have adjusted the action by lowering the bridge angle (tightening the claw screws) if you do this *and* the trem is pretty much bottoming out *then* that'll make the sting bending feel stiff as the springs are over tensioned and the bridge can't relax.
My 2p ... get the trem angle right as mentioned, check the neck relief against a string fretted at fret 1 and 24, adjust truss if necessary, and add a shim to the neck if the trem posts cannot be lowered (providing the set screws have been loosened).
Jim

That's exactly what I was getting at - I'm assuming he has his trem bottomed out with a lot of unnecessary spring tension, thus preventing some pull-up when he bends a string. But this is just a guess since we don't have any pictures or more details at the moment.

[waylay00]

Sounds like you need a neck shim...

http://www.jemsite.com/tech/2mods.htm#neckangle