Adjusting bridge saddles can affect the action and intonation of your guitar. The action is the distance between the strings and the frets, and the intonation is the accuracy of the tuning of the guitar along the entire length of the fretboard.
Raising the bridge saddles will increase the action of the guitar, making the strings more difficult to fret. Lowering the bridge saddles will decrease the action of the guitar, making the strings easier to fret.
Adjusting the bridge saddles can also affect the intonation of the guitar. If the intonation is off, your guitar will not sound in tune when you play certain chords or notes. To adjust the intonation, you will need to move the bridge saddles forward or backward.
Here are some tips for adjusting bridge saddles:
- Use a hex wrench to adjust the saddle height screws. Turning the screws clockwise will raise the saddle and turning the screws counter-clockwise will lower the saddle.
- Make small adjustments and check the action and intonation of your guitar after each adjustment.
- It is important to adjust the saddle height screws evenly so that the saddle remains level.
- If you are not comfortable adjusting the bridge saddles yourself, take your guitar to a qualified guitar technician.
Here are some reasons why you might want to adjust your bridge saddles:
- To improve the playability of your guitar. If your guitar is difficult to play, adjusting the bridge saddles may help.
- To adjust the intonation of your guitar. If the intonation is off, your guitar will not sound in tune when you play certain chords or notes.
- To change the tone of your guitar. The bridge saddles can have a subtle effect on the tone of your guitar. For example, raising the bridge saddles will generally produce a brighter sound, while lowering the bridge saddles will generally produce a mellower sound.
If you are not sure whether or not you need to adjust your bridge saddles, it is always best to consult with a qualified guitar technician. They can assess the action and intonation of your guitar and recommend the best course of action.
