Adjusting String Action:
If you feel that you have difficulty fretting or hear a buzzing noise, the strings may be set too high or too low. In this
case, the action (the space between the strings and the fretboard) will have to be adjusted. Adjusting the action will
let you achieve the desired string level. This can easily be remedied by lowering or raising the string saddles located
on the bridge. The saddles are the parts in front of the bridge where the strings sit. You can raise or lower the saddle
by turning the hex screws on the saddle with a hex wrench. Turn the screw clockwise to raise the saddle and
counterclockwise to lower it. If the saddle has two hex screws, be sure to turn them the same amount.
Adjusting String intonation:
Adjusting Truss Rod:
If you notice that your strings are fretting sharp or fretting flat, or that your guitar is in tune near the bottom of the
guitar but loses tune the further up the frets you go, you may need to adjust the intonation. First, determine if all
strings are having the issue or a particular string. You can adjust the intonation of a string by moving the saddle away
from the nut if the string is fretting sharp. and toward the nut if the string is fretting flat. Don't forget that adjusting
the saddle for a string only corrects that string. You may need to adjust the intonation for each string. Check the
strings as you adjust the intonation to keep the guitar in tune.
The neck of your guitar can go out of adjustment, or you may want to readjust the neck to get a different sound. The
neck on every guitar will eventually need to be readjusted -this is normal guitar maintenance. Inside the neck of the
guitar is a "backbone" of the guitar: a truss rod. This rod helps keep your neck adjusted. If your strings are creating
too high a sound and are hard to fret or create low, buzzing noise, these can signal the guitar neck needs adjustment.
If the sound is too high and the strings are hard to fret, the truss should be tightened. If the sound is low or "buzzy",
it should be loosened.
Attach strings to the bridge of your guitar. Locate the proper string to replace your old string. Then, from the end of
the string that does NOT have a ball at the end, feed the string through the bridge via the open hole. The string
should be pulled through until the ball is secure at the bottom of the bridge.
Secure the string to the headstock end of your guitar via the tuning machine. To do so, make sure the eye/hole of the
tuning machine is parallel to the neck/headstock of the guitar. Feed the string through the eve of the tuning machine,
and pull the string fairly taut. The string should have a bit of slack (about 1-2 inches).
Secure the string to the tuning machine by winding the part of the string that has come out through the tuning
machine back underneath the part of the string that is running between the bridge and the tuning machine, Then,
pull the string back up and over the string running through the tuning machine (see diagram). The string should now
be secure.the guitar string needs to be restrung again. Remember it is easy to cut more off later, but impossible to
add string back.
You can adjust the truss rod with a nut located on one end. It should be located on the headstock, under a cap just
behind the nut, or where the neck joins the body under the fingerboard. You may need a truss-rod wrench to adjust
Begin to tune the string, winding the tuning peg until the desired sound is produced. After hearing the desired tune,
pull the string lightly. The string will go slightly out of tune. Readjust the tuning peg until receiving the desired tune
again. Repeat the process a few more times. This will ensure that your string will stay in tune while playing.
You may cut off the excess string, but it is important to leave some excess still attached (about ¼-1inch) in case the
guitar string needs to be restrung again. Remember it is easy to cut more off later, but impossible to add string
it, which can be purchased at any local music store. To tighten the truss rod, turn the nut clockwise a quarter-tun at a
time, giving the neck a few minutes to adjust. To loosen the truss rod, turn counterclockwise a quarter turn at a time,
giving the neck a few minutes to adjust. Remember that over-tightening or over-loosening a truss rod can potentially
damage the neck and body, so please do so with care!
