Tech: Electric Guitar Hardware Question

Subject: Electric Guitar Hardware Question
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Feb 02 - 08:08 AM

So I get industrious Saturday morning and decide to restring and clean all of my guitars. I want to do a little more than wipe off the gunk that's accumulated so I take all the strings off at once.

On my electric there's a stop bar behind the adjustable bridge. It holds the strings, to keep them from pulling through. It's adjustable, too. When all the tension is off it, the stop bar just falls off. Durning the course of cleaning the adjustable brass screws (these scres determine the height of the stop bar), a few extra turns are added or subtracted. Now to my question:

How does one know what height the stop bar is supposed to be in relation to the bridge (??) or the body (??)?

It seems like it wouldn't have anything to do with the height of the strings in relation to the neck (doesn't the bridge -in part- determine that?), so as long as the stop bar is low enough to keep the strings from unseating themselves from their individually adjusted saddles, does it make a difference how high or low it is?

Thanking all knowledgeable setup people in advance.

Subject: RE: Help: Electric Guitar Hardware Question
From: michaelr
Date: 18 Feb 02 - 04:22 PM

The height of the stop bar determines the string angle behind the bridge, which in turn has impact on sustain and intonation. You want the strings to come off the bridge at about a 45 degree angle.

This is a layman's answer; sorry I don't have the underlying science at my fingertips. There are some good books on electric guitar setup available, check your local music store.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Help: Electric Guitar Hardware Question
From: 53
Date: 18 Feb 02 - 05:50 PM

This is one for Mr. Fielding.

Subject: RE: Help: Electric Guitar Hardware Question
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 05:20 AM

The angle of the strings across the bridge is known as the break angle. Varying this alters the pressure of strings on bridge and in theory tone and volume. on the bridge you describe you can increase the angle across bass or treble and make some adjustment to the balance.