String Thru Problem

[Jonny]

My Jackson is being annoying. I recently cleaned the fretboard with lemon oil. And now with my fretboard smelling like an in-car air freshener, it's time to put the strings back on it.

Problem.

When I tune the low-E it's either too high, or if it's low and perfect the way I want, the string is so taut it would (not going to try) probably snap whilst playing a mild rhythm. Problem #1.

Then I thought OK, it's in tune so let's see what happens. Next string. This time I can't even tune it to A. So maybe if I lower this end of the bridge *grabs screwdriver - lowers bridge* then I re-tune the E, I still can't get the A. So I can hardly get it if the bridge is raised.

So. How am I going to solve this? I rather do this myself. Since I'm not going to own FRs all my life.

[WezV]

what type of bridge is it on the guitar?

when you say high and low i presume you are talking about string height (action) rather than pitch... your post is slightly confusing to me

[Jonny]

what type of bridge is it on the guitar?

when you say high and low i presume you are talking about string height (action) rather than pitch... your post is slightly confusing to me

This bridge


And I mean the bridge, the way you can adjust it.

[WezV]

ok then, you should be able to set the bridge height where you want it and tune up as normal... dont mess with the bridge height to try and tune the guitar

 some people like it quite high and some like it quite low - it should still tune to pitch just fine - but will need more intonation adjustment if its on the high side... dont worry about that just yet

get all the strings on and roughly tuned so the tension is a bit mroe even on the bridge before doing a final tune - concentrate on pitch rather than percieved tension.    Some guitars naturally feel tighter and it comes down to the scale length, string guage and the strings going through the body as well...

failing that - take it to a tech, they will spot any problem that might be causing your tuning woes a lot quicker than i can online

[FELINEGUITARS]

I think the problem that is being discussed here really is that with the strings going through the body the actual tautness of the strings as they pass over the bridge is too much
If Jonny had a regular tailpiece like on a Gibson then the angle that the string passes over the bridge wold be less as the strings would begin higher off the body. Also you would be able to raise the tailpiece to alter his tension

Dont know what the answer is - although:

Jonny - if you lower the bridge till the action is too low (and buzzy) does the tension improve to a level that you are ok with?

[Antag]

And now with my fretboard smelling like an in-car air freshener, it's time to put the strings back on it.

umm, you're supposed to wipe the oil off after you've cleaned it ;)

OK, joking aside, you said "put the strings back on it".  Are you using the same strings? (i.e. did you just loosen them & detach them from the machineheads, then re-attach them?)

If so, are you SURE that the ball end is still fully inserted into the ferrule?  On all my string-thru guitars, there's a little "shelf" about halfway in that the twisted part of the string sometimes snags on before the ball end has gone all the way in.  If you are reattaching the same strings that might explain why the tension is so much greater - you've got anout ½" less string to play with.

[WezV]

I think the problem that is being discussed here really is that with the strings going through the body the actual tautness of the strings as they pass over the bridge is too much
If Jonny had a regular tailpiece like on a Gibson then the angle that the string passes over the bridge wold be less as the strings would begin higher off the body. Also you would be able to raise the tailpiece to alter his tension

yeah, i was trying to get at that a bit.... but is this a new guitar to you... if not it shouldnt be that much greater than it was before unless you have gone for heavier strings