Schecter fixed bridge adjustment

[nomis101uk]

UPDATE:

I've replace ALL the strings and results are much better for my purposes. I've put a set of top heavy 9s from strings 1-6, a slighly lighter 7th string (cant remember the guage) and slightly thicker .080 guage 8th string. So everything is lighter apart from the last one.

I find the 80 guage has made a big difference and I'm now totally happy with the tightness at the bottom end.

I've also lowered the action at the bridge substantially. One of the reasons I said the shop setup was so poor was because I specifically stated that I like VERY low action. Yet when I got the guitar, the action on the 1st string past the 12th fret was so high that my notes wouldn't always ring out properly, being so used to low action. It now plays very well.

Now for the pickups...Seems people are digging the blackouts, D-Activators and various BPKs. Anyone have experience with these?

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Hi there. Just bought my first Schecter and my first 8 string. A black Damien Elite 8! Anyway, the shop I ordered it from did a truely pathetic job on the setup, so I want to make some adjustments myself. However my skills\knowledge in this area is minimal.

So this is probably a silly question, but...If I tighten the screws at the back end of the bridge, thereby bringing the saddle (or whatever) further away from the neck, does that have the same affect as increasing the scale length? i.e. Give a tighter sound? Surely it would, as you're increasing the distance between the bridge and nut (at least as far as the string is concerned). The current setup is staggered so that the treble end saddles are closer to nut than the bass end saddles - which is how you'd want it of course. But, if my assumptions are correct, I would like to tighten the 7th and 8th strings by moving the saddles in even more.

Sooooo...Am I correct in my assumptions? And is there any particularly pressing reason why I couldn't just go nuts and put the saddles in question right back against the bridge?

Oh and what guage would you guys n gals recommend on the 8th string. I tune down to E and find the stock .074 guage to be too loose.

My guitar: http://www.schecterguitars.com/Products/Guitar/Damien-Elite-8.aspx

[Spider287]

The position of the saddles has to do with intonation too. Moving the saddle back can keep the open string in tune, and it'll make it tighter, but pressing down a fret will make it go out of tune.

For example, the 12th fret should be exactly 1/2 length of the string between the nut and the bridge. Moving the saddles too far back will make the fret-bridge length longer than the fret-nut length, so the 12th fret won't be a perfect octave of the open string.

Guitars with longer scales have longer necks and wider frets, but the ratio is still the same.

If you want tighter low strings, I'd recommend getting a custom set of strings with slightly heavier gauges for those ones.

[jcshayden]

Theoretically you are correct, but like Spider said it would fuck up your intonation. As for strings I don't know, since I don't have an 8. But I use a .70 on my 6 string in drop B, so I can see how .74 would be too light. Just buy a few packs and see what you like.

[nomis101uk]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll probably leave the saddles alone then. I've done a little googling and I think I'll try an .080 on the 8th string. The stock is .074.

And how does action affect the tightness of the sound?

I don't mean to sound down on the Damien Elite 8. I love it. Even though the 8th string could be a lot tighter I'm definately happy with it as a compromise. Meaning I wouldn't want to go any larger in terms of scale length as I definately find it tougher in terms of lead guitar work already. So yeah...I think it'll be a good balance once I get a thicker string.

My only real complaint are the EMG808s. They're completely and utterly lacking in high end, giving them quite a boring and clinical sound. Not at all muddy, just boring and lacking in character or brightness. I hear good things about the Blackouts...They got any more presence in the high end?

[Spider287]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll probably leave the saddles alone then. I've done a little googling and I think I'll try an .080 on the 8th string. The stock is .074.

And how does action affect the tightness of the sound?

I don't mean to sound down on the Damien Elite 8. I love it. Even though the 8th string could be a lot tighter I'm definately happy with it as a compromise. Meaning I wouldn't want to go any larger in terms of scale length as I definately find it tougher in terms of lead guitar work already. So yeah...I think it'll be a good balance once I get a thicker string.

My only real complaint are the EMG808s. They're completely and utterly lacking in high end, giving them quite a boring and clinical sound. Not at all muddy, just boring and lacking in character or brightness. I hear good things about the Blackouts...They got any more presence in the high end?

Blackouts are definitely worth looking at. I agree about EMGs. They were in my Jackson, but they sounded pretty bland. Not bad, but not amazing.

As for action, I don't think that will really affect the sound, just the playability.

[jcshayden]

Action only affects the sound if it is affecting your playing, or if it is too low and you are getting fret buzz. For example, if your notes sound a little weak because your action is too high and you can't press down cleanly when playing fast, then lowering your action will improve your sound by improving your playing. Make sense?

Action will also affect your tapping, but that's about it.

[Spider287]

I'm gonna try lowering the action on my Syn when I stop being lazy.

[nomis101uk]

UPDATE:

I've replace ALL the strings and results are much better for my purposes. I've put a set of top heavy 9s from strings 1-6, a slighly lighter 7th string (cant remember the guage) and slightly thicker .080 guage 8th string. So everything is lighter apart from the last one.

I find the 80 guage has made a big difference and I'm now totally happy with the tightness at the bottom end.

I've also lowered the action at the bridge substantially. One of the reasons I said the shop setup was so poor was because I specifically stated that I like VERY low action. Yet when I got the guitar, the action on the 1st string past the 12th fret was so high that my notes wouldn't always ring out properly, being so used to low action. It now plays very well.

Now for the pickups...Seems people are digging the blackouts, D-Activators and various BPKs. Anyone have experience with these?

[makot0t0]

I'm not too keen on the Blackouts. I have tried BKPs (I think it was a Nail Bomb/Cold Sweat, can't remember anymore) on a 7 and they were awesome. I've heard good things about the D-Activators too. I don't think I'd wanna go active when it comes to 8 strings, because actives in general do sound a bit bland, and cmon really, nothing's better than natural-sounding low F#

[nomis101uk]

Low F#? Ha! Try Low E! Tosin Abasi style.

Yeah I think it is gonna have to be BKP, as I don't much like actives these days, and Dimarzio lost me at "warm highs" on the D-Activator description . I want highs that can cut diamonds, not toast marshmallows! I'm liking the description of the BKP Painkiller. They're so damn expensive though!