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About paul wilczynski
Expertise
Anything concerning building, tuning, theory of construction. Specialist in finishing (40 years' experience); extensive knowledge of Rickenbacker instruments of all vintages. Rckenbacker factory connection on personal level; ONLY licensed Rickenbacker luthier in the world.
Experience
Extensive. I build and restore electric and acoustic guitars (steel string and nylon classicals). I build all of Rickenbacker's acoustic instruments in my own shops in San Francisco and Healdsburg, CA.
I write two online columns with a total of over 15,000 posts since January, 2005.
Google my name or my screen name, "jingle_jangle".
Organizations
American Guild of Luthiers.
Publications
Mostly automotive and hobby (in the past).
Education/Credentials
Manage the University Department workshops(Industrial Design) in SF, also have taught and written design and fabrication classes for almost a decade. Have produced online classes, written curricula, syllabi, etc. Run an online forum for my students (500 in number).
Awards and Honors
Awards won for product, vehicle, and preschool toy design in the past.
Past/Present Clients
Rickenbacker International Corporation, Waterstone Guitars LLC, many Fortune 500 companies before I worked in guitars (I ran a design studio for 22 years). I have hundreds of individual--private party--customers.
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You are here: Experts > Music/Performing Arts > Guitar > Guitar Making and Repair > fixing a Epiphone Les Paul bridge
Expert: paul wilczynski - 10/6/2008
Question
Hi,
I'm new at guitar and decided to try and change the strings on my epiphone les paul special II by myself. So I ended up accidently unscrewing the bridge and the other thing behind the bridge (that the strings go through). I know that the bridge is suppose to be inclined and stuff like that at a special height, so I think I messed that up because now strings 1 and 2 buzz.
I was wondering if theres some specific height the bridge is suppose to be at, to fix the buzzing? Or, what can I do to fix the bridge height?
Thanks!
Answer
Helen: The thing behind the bridge is the "stop tailpiece".
First things first: the two tailpiece screws need to be roughly the same height in order for the tailpiece to slip onto the screws and fit properly. Screw them both down until the bottom of the tailpiece is about 1/16" above the guitar's surface.
You can do this with the strings installed--simply loosen them a good bit, until they are loose but still hold the tailpiece in place.
You have to alternate sides screwing down the tailpiece screw once the tailpiece is installed, too.
Now, raise the bridge adjustment screws so the bridge is roughly level and its bottom is about 1/8" from the top of the guitar, too.
Tune the guitar (doesn't have to be exactly in tune yet--just up to playing tension) and check for the buzzing; if any strings buzz you'll have to raise the adjusting screw on that side--raise a full turn at a time until the buzzing stops.
If there is no buzzing, lower both sides of the bridge until it buzzes on one or both sides, then raise each side 1/2 turn at a time until the buzzing stops.
You can then fine-tune the string height by raising/lowering each side of the bridge 1/4 turn at a time, to find the spot at which the buzzing stops and starts, then going 1/4 turn higher than that spot.
Generally, the bass strings require a bit more height than the treble do.
Good Luck!
--Paul
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