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