L2K Tribute bridge ringing issue (lost screw)

lintwind · #1 02-17-2009, 04:00 PM

Hi all,
probably my second posting regarding the bridge issue, sorry if my first post had already been answered, but i couldn't find it through search

anyway

last time when changing strings on my L2K Tribute i lost the side-screw. I'm not sure the Tribute models support bridge locking, but every time i fingerpick next to the bridge now, i get very prominent bridge ringing (very tinny sounding resonant acoustic feedback from the bridge, and if i mute the bridge with a bit of a palm pressure, the ringing gets less and less obvious, but still sounding very hollow metallic cavity type of feedback)

the question is, is this due to the fact that the bridge is not locked properly (due to the missing side-screw), or is it supposed to sound like that with the high tension strings on, or is it a genuine defect known to L2K Tributes?

dont get me wrong - i absolutely love my G&L Trib - i just want to get to the bottom of my setup problem.

many thanks,
lw.

spideyjg · #2 02-17-2009, 04:42 PM

Make sure the string height screws are tight on both sides of the string. I had something similar and one of these setscrews was doing it.

Jim

lintwind · #3 02-17-2009, 05:07 PM

Hi Jim,
many thanks,
do you mean the saddle height screws? they're coasting tight flat on the bridge base, no probs there.

i'll try to get some sound samples of how it sounds in a couple of days,

many thanks,
lw.

Ken Baker · #4 02-17-2009, 05:47 PM

A missing Saddle Lock screw should not cause ringing. Reduced sustain and maybe a "looseness" to the tone, but not ringing

Quote:

Originally Posted by lintwind

Hi Jim,
many thanks,
do you mean the saddle height screws? they're coasting tight flat on the bridge base, no probs there.

???

What do you mean by "they're coasting tight flat on the bridge base"? Do you mean that the saddles are bottomed on the bridgeplate?

The saddle height screws should both be in good contact with the bridgeplate. The easiest way to make sure this is the case is to verify that the saddle is level to the plate and that tension can be felt on both screws when trying to turn them.

Ken...

lintwind · #5 02-17-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Baker

Do you mean that the saddles are bottomed on the bridgeplate?

Hi Ken,
i ment the screw/bolt feet are fully resting perpendiculary on provided bridge plate surface, as they ought to, sorry if description was a bit misleading. Not the actual saddles but each pair of supporting bolts. The saddles are fine, they are still about 3-5 millimeters above the bridgeplate.

Ken Baker · #6 02-17-2009, 06:23 PM

Okay, thanks for clearing that up.

Try duplicating the sound, but instead of pressing on the bridge, use a finger or thumb to press either or both pickups sideways in their cavities.

This is on the theory the ringing might be pickup "spring ping", AKA the harmonic vibration of one or more pickup springs.

Ken...

lintwind · #7 02-17-2009, 06:42 PM

Many thanks Ken!
the pickup spring problem sounds plausible.
Whatever it is, it is microphonic (and not just to pickups, but audible when played unplugged), i'll try to record some samples this weekend for more detailed analysis.

regards,
lw,

Ken Baker · #8 02-17-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lintwind

Many thanks Ken!
the pickup spring problem sounds plausible.
Whatever it is, it is microphonic (and not just to pickups, but audible when played unplugged), i'll try to record some samples this weekend for more detailed analysis.

regards,
lw,

If it turns out to be spring ping, cut small blocks of soft foam rubber and stuff one inside each spring of each pickup.

Ken...