If you are unfamiliar with making these adjustments,
we recommend that the guitar be taken to a qualified repair center.
PRS Tremolo
Back in 1984, Paul Reed Smith was granted a patent on his tremolo system. The design elements are
simple and resemble the traditional fulcrum tremolo but with some important differences.
1. In the front of a PRS bridge, the six leading
edge screw holes are counter-sunk from underneath, providing six
brass knife-edge fulcrums. These rest against the six notched brass
body mounting screws. This knife-edge set-up ensures that the bridge
will return to pitch after use.
2. The pocket in the tremolo bridge keeps the six individually adjustable saddles
from moving sideways, thereby eliminating another traditional cause of tuning instability.
3. The tremolo block is drilled out so the ball ends rest right up under the
bridge base plate. This leaves less string behind the bridge saddle so there
is less chance of detuning, via proper string stretching.
4. There are no rough edges.
5. All adjustment screws are inset and made of brass.
6. The unthreaded tremolo arm fits into a hard plastic sleeve staying where
you put it, via a small set screw on the side of the bridge that faces the
tail end of the guitar (where the intonation adjustment screws are located)
therefore it will not wobble or break off in the block.
Tuning and Setup Hints
If the guitar is returning sharp after using the
tremolo arm, put a little lightweight machine oil under the head
of each screw (do not loosen the screws). This will effectively oil
the knife-edge of the tremolo.
The correct adjustment of the six brass screws, which act as a pivot and anchor
the tremolo system, is level with each other so the bridge floats 1/16" off
the body. These 6 screws are factory adjusted and you really should not have
to adjust them at all. If it becomes necessary to adjust the 6 notched screws,
make sure the guitar is detuned or you will ruin the knife-edge. Adjust the
screws incrementally so the notches under the screw heads are fitted with the
corresponding hole in the bridge. These holes serve as the knife-edge on which
the tremolo unit rocks. Again, this is a very tricky adjustment and could ruin
the knife-edge if done improperly.
The Bridge saddles should be low in the range of adjustment to keep the action
low and leverage of the bridge in good working order. They should be adjusted
so that the height of the string at the top of the 12th fret to the bottom
of the string is 2/32".
If the tremolo bridge is not floating 1/16" off the body, remove the tremolo
back plate. Adjust the claw screws about 1/4 turn at a time until the bridge
floats perpendicular to and about 1/16th off the body. Tune to pitch and check,
re-adjust until the bridge sits properly. When the tremolo is adjusted properly
and the guitar is in tune, the tremolo arm will raise the low E string pitch
to F#: no more, no less.
The intonation may be adjusted by moving the 6 phillips head screws facing
the tail end of the guitar in and out with a phillips head screwdriver. Match
the octave (fretted) note of all six strings with their corresponding 12th
fret open harmonics by shortening or lengthening the strings with the adjusting screws.
Remember to tune and retune until the process is complete.
If you are unfamiliar with making these adjustments, we recommend that the
guitar
be taken to a qualified repair center.
PRS Stoptail
Designed to take full advantage of the resonant properties
of our guitars, the PRS Stoptail Bridge provides direct transmission
of string vibration to the guitar body and makes set-up a breeze.
First used in 1991 on the PRS Dragon I guitar it now appears on almost
half of all PRS guitars sold. This bridge features slots that recess
the strings comfortably as they pass over the top, in a gentle curve.
Although it is pre-compensated for modern string gauges, fine-tuning
is possible by adjusting the set screws at each end of the bridge.
Tuning and Set-up Hints
Action height is adjustable by raising or lowering
the studs the bridge sits on. To adjust the mounting bolts, first
detune the instrument to relieve the tension on the bridge. Then
using a Quarter, make the necessary adjustments and retune.
Intonation can be adjusted using the two allen set screws facing the tail end
of the guitar. A strobe tuner or other electronic tuning device should be used.
Match the octave (fretted) note of the first and sixth strings with their corresponding
12th fret open harmonics by shortening or lengthening the strings with the
adjusting screws using the allen wrench provided. Start with the treble side
and then go to the bass side, return to the treble side for one last check.
The other four strings are present and will intonate correctly provided a conventionally
gauged string set with a plain third (G) string is used. Use of a wound third
string is not recommended with this bridge.
When setting the action at the 12th fret the string height should be
2/32" on
the treble side to 5/64" on the bass side.
Remember to tune and retune until the process is complete.
If you are unfamiliar with making these adjustments, we recommend that the
guitar
be taken to a qualified repair center.
Adjustable Stoptail
For ease of intonation of non-standard or extra heavy string gauges, a special
order version of the PRS Stoptail with individually
adjustable saddles is available. The adjustable PRS Stoptail is available
in nickel or gold plate. All PRS parts and accessories are available
for special order; please contact our accessories department for ordering information.
The Hollowbody and Archtop with the piezo option feature a special version
of the adjustable PRS Stoptail fitted with piezo inserts. This bridge can be
adjusted in the same fashion as our adjustable Stoptail.
Tuning and Setup Hints
Action height is adjustable by raising or lowering
the studs the bridge sits on. To adjust the mounting bolts, first
detune the instrument to relieve the tension on the bridge. Then
using a Quarter, make the necessary adjustments and retune.
The intonation may be adjusted by moving the phillips head screws on the inside
edge of the bridge (facing the treble pickup) in and out with a phillips head
screwdriver. Match the octave (fretted) note of all six strings with their
corresponding 12th fret open harmonics by shortening or lengthening the strings
with the adjusting screws. Additional minor adjustments to the intonation may
also be made by moving the set screws facing the tail end of the guitar in
and out with the allen wrench provided.
When setting the action at the 12th fret the string height should be
2/32" on
the treble side to 5/64" on the bass side.
Remember to tune and retune until the process is complete.
If you are unfamiliar with making these adjustments, we recommend that the
guitar
be taken to a qualified repair center.
PRS Electric Bass Bridge
The Electric Bass features a massive machined PRS
designed bridge with heavy-duty saddles. The saddles are adjustable for string height and intonation and are prevented from sideways
movement by the base plate sidewalls.
The intonation can be adjusted by moving the four phillips head screws facing
the tail end of the bass guitar. Match the octave (fretted) note of all four
strings with their corresponding 12th fret open harmonics by shortening or
lengthening the strings with the adjusting screws.
When setting the action at the 12th fret the string height should be
2/32" on
the treble side to 5/64" on the bass side.
If you are unfamiliar with making these adjustments, we recommend that the
guitar
be taken to a qualified repair center.
