A Gibson Flying V came in for a cleaning, a setup and a move from 9s to 10s. The nut and the saddles were both uneven and were filed level; truss rod, bridge, tailpiece height, intonation and pickups reset for the heavier strings. An hour and a half.
- Instrument
- Gibson Flying V
- Tech
- Dave Eastwood
- Customer complaint
- Setup and change from 9s to 10s
- String gauge
- 9s to 10s
- Diagnosis
- Nut uneven; saddles uneven; truss rod, bridge height, intonation, tailpiece height and pickup height all needed adjusting for 10s; guitar needed cleaning
- Work performed
- Cleaned; restrung with 10s; nut and saddles filed even; truss rod and bridge height set; intonation dialed in; tailpiece set for break angle; pickups set
- Parts
- None
- Bench time
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- Outcome
- Cleaned up and played great on 10s
What Came In
A Gibson Flying V. The owner wanted it moved from 9s to 10s and set up to match.
What We Found
The guitar needed a good cleaning. The nut was uneven and so were the saddles. Going to 10s meant the truss rod, bridge height, intonation, tailpiece height and pickup height all needed work.
What We Did
Cleaned the guitar and put on the 10s. Filed the nut and the saddles even. Set the truss rod and bridge height, dialed in the intonation, set the tailpiece height for the right break angle over the bridge, and set the pickups. About an hour and a half on the bench.
Result
A clean Flying V that played great on the 10s.
What does tailpiece height do on a Tune-o-matic guitar?
It sets how steeply the strings break over the bridge. Too high and there is not enough downward pressure on the saddles; too low and the strings can touch the back edge of the bridge. It is one of the adjustments that moves when the gauge changes, which is why a gauge change on a Gibson is a setup and not a string swap.
Related
- The Repair Vault
- Guitar Setups at Paul's Guitar Hideout
- When to Change Your Guitar Strings, and How to Know
- Gibson Les Paul Tribute: Sticking Selector Switch and a Move from 8s to 10s
- PRS S2 Studio: Setup for the Move from 9s to 10s
Bring It In
Going up a gauge on a Gibson? The tailpiece and bridge need to follow the strings. Setups at the Hideout.
Paul's Guitar Hideout is located at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY. Use the Cooper Street entrance and take the stairs up. If stairs are difficult or you're bringing in something you don't want to carry up, call or text us and we'll arrange access.
The Shirt Factory
71 Lawrence St., Suite 201B, 2nd Floor
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Wednesday–Sunday, 12–5 PM
(518) 217-8695 · info@paulsguitarhideout.com