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Posted by: Tolek May 28 2008, 03:59 PM

Hey folks,
I got a JEM 555 WH on my 17th birthday in February. Since then I am really proud of posseeding such an instrument. However, I have a great problem. I have no idea how I could restring it correctly. Every time I change the strings, the whammy bar has a wrong angle and when I use it, the guitar is immediately out of tune which wasn´t the case when I got it. Sometimes, the angle is nearly ok, but the guitar detunes a bit more difficult. I have already checked http://www.jemsite.com/tech/, but I can´t do it.
So, can anybody help me with this problem? Andrew, JEM77 owner?

Thanks.

Edit:
I´m sorry if I posted this message into the wrong category.

Posted by: kevin-riff-after-riff May 28 2008, 04:12 PM

maybe its the wrong gauge so you gotta adjust the springs in the back etc

Posted by: Tolek May 28 2008, 04:23 PM

I do this every time, but the tremolo is still in the wrong angle. When I restring my guitar, I replace the old strings by new ones and bring the strings to the right pitch. During this I turn the springs in the back to the right. The bridge isn´t at its right place. -.-

Posted by: kevin-riff-after-riff May 28 2008, 05:00 PM

do you mean angle as in the distance the bridge is from the body as a whole, or just the bit at the back in funny angle? if its the first you could try to raise or lower the set with an allen key. if its the latter then shouldnt the springs sort that out?

Posted by: Tolek May 28 2008, 05:49 PM

I made some pics to clarify what I mean.

This is the bridge how it should be. As you can see, the strings aren´t at their right pitches.

This pic was made a few seconds later. You see the springs in the back.

In this picture I raised the pitch of the strings so that the guitar was nearly in tune. (Without fine-tuning)

This is the position of the screws <=> How strongly are pulling the springs?

Additionally, I am really furious because I just broke a new string while pulling the whammy bar. Now, I have no other e-strings left and so I can´t play the things I want to. Damn!

Posted by: Hisham Al-Sanea May 28 2008, 10:47 PM

are you using the same gauge strings or you are not sure ,if its the same gauge
so check your tunning may you are over standard tunning .its normally the bridge will be higher and little up normal
when you restring a new set but i see the bridge is to high .i suggest to rest your bridge for many days and keep the tunning under 440 HZ i am sure the bridge will getting back to the normal place

Posted by: kevin-riff-after-riff May 28 2008, 11:01 PM

or maybe the springs arent so great and they lost their springyness, in that case just get new ones, or put 5 springs in may fix it?
but im pretty sure the gauge you put on is different from the default ones or it should be fine.

so try leaving it alone first like hisham said
if that dont work take it to a guitar shop and ask whats wrong? because its easier if you can actually see it in real life.
or just put 2 more springs on it

Posted by: USAMAN May 29 2008, 03:27 AM

I have a stupid question....
they were strings for an electric ?????
acoustic guitar strings have tons more tension.

Posted by: The Spartan May 29 2008, 04:14 AM

You're using a heavier gauge than what was originaly on it.Heavier guage=more string tension.That's why your bridge is at a wrong angel.If you want an easy solution just get a lighter guage.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic May 29 2008, 06:30 PM

You have put a heavier gauge strings probably. Nothing to worry about. Do next steps:

1. Unwound the string a bit (so they are relaxed on the frets, not playable, but cannot fall of the nut neither)
2. Take a look a picture number two. You will see 5 little hooks for springs on the left side. Place the two left ends of the 2 OUTSIDE springs closer to the middle spring end in order to get hinger tension from them.
3. Start wounding the strings to the pitch and watch closely the bridge. When it starts to pull more than horizontal position stop wounding and tighten the 2 screws to the LEFT SIDE on the picture number 2, until the bridge is in normal position.
4. Repeat the step number 3 until the strings are in pitch.
5. Give the guitar some 3 days to rest until you continue to fine tune it further.

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn May 29 2008, 07:21 PM

Great advice Ivan - and as you say, this is nothing to worry aboutm it is just a complication of having a floating tremelo when you change string guages.

A tip for next time is to wedge the tremelo in blace with a block of wood or an eraser os seomthgin to make it easier to work on, then it is just trial and error to get the tension right in the strings and springs to get the tremelo set right. If you keep the same brand and tension of strings you shouldn't need to change the tremelo adjustment.

If all else fails, take it to a guitar tech!

Posted by: Juan M. Valero May 29 2008, 07:36 PM

WOW, those picture looks bad my friend !!! I'm also a JEM 555 owner and you should adjust the bridge if you change gauge

Thanks for the page as well, looks really interesting !!

Posted by: Mark. May 29 2008, 07:40 PM

Yeah, you should learn adjusting the bridge At first it's really difficult but once you've done it a couple of sometimes you get used to it. You'll also need to be able to adjugde the bridge if you wanna put ur guitar in a different tuning. So it's kinda a must to be able to be able to do it yourself

Posted by: Tolek May 30 2008, 12:22 PM

Thank you very much, guys, especially Ivan! That´s a really helpful guide which I´m going to try as soon as I get a new e-string... For those who have the same problem like me and read Andrew´s post ("[...] wedge the tremelo in blace with a block of wood or an eraser os seomthing to make it easier to work on [...]") I was looking for a bridge adjusting video on youtube and I found some helpful ones:

• http://youtube.com/watch?v=hjQ3p5Nh7-0
• http://youtube.com/watch?v=wwNVjNohOt4
• http://youtube.com/watch?v=Gg9mp_cbszw (don´t be afraid of his voice. )

It becomes certainly easier when you work with the bridge after have watched these videos/tutorials.


As a JEM owner you have to know this site.


xDD If I know what strings I buy. These are Ernie Ball´s Regular Slinky Custom Gauge Nickel Wound Guitar Strings (10, 13, 17, 26, 36, 46). <= This is extremely precise.

So, to sum up, I would like to thank everyone for his/her help. As soon as I make your pieces of advice real, I will let you know how it ended.

Posted by: Tolek May 30 2008, 08:46 PM

Hey guys, I got a new e-string and it´s already on my guitar. I followed the steps Ivan explained. But the bridge angle is worse. The springs at the back are at their top.


This is the back with the springs. At the left, you can see how deep the screws are.


This is the bridge again. It looks really horrible, I know.

What is my fault?

Posted by: Tolek Jul 8 2008, 08:48 PM

The problem´s fixed. Without any help, I succeeded in adjusting the tremolo. It wasn´t diffiicult. I bought a .09 set (which is the standard for a JEM I think) and put it on the guitar. It took me a good hour to take the old strings off, to clean the guitar and then to restring it.
I´m so happy.

Posted by: jacmoe Jul 8 2008, 08:54 PM

Thank goodness!

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jul 8 2008, 10:19 PM

I'm glad you solved the issue mate, and sorry my solution didn't help. Must have been heavy gauge strings. WHen bridge is way up, only extra springs then help.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Jul 8 2008, 10:52 PM

Since I'm brand new Jem owner I would like to say one thing,
if it's floating bridge then you should change strings one by one,
remove old one and put new one then tune it,repeat the same for all 6 strings.
Really easy.

Posted by: Tjchep Jul 8 2008, 10:55 PM

What does this do?

Or prevent for the matter.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Jul 8 2008, 11:01 PM

It takes too long to tune if you change all strings together,
bridge is kind a dancing all the time.
But if your release only one string and then put the same new one
and tune it than the bridge will come on its original position.