Is this normal for a 594 bridge..?

[Grim_Pickins]

Those with a core 594- does your bridge lean a little toward the pickups like this? The bridge posts are drilled perfectly straight in the guitar and not bent, but I think what’s happening is there’s some play between the thumb wheels and posts when threaded on and the strings pull it that way a little when tuned up. The carve of the top probly exaggerates it a little too. The angle of the bridge and the thumb wheels closely mimics the string path so I’m almost wondering if it’s by design It’s been like this since new. I asked around on some FB groups and got all sorts of replies… most people said theirs weren’t tilted and the bridge and thumbwheels sat level, others said theirs had some tilt and some even tilted in the opposite direction. Curious if anyone has noticed the same thing on theirs. This is a very expensive guitar for me and I’d hate it if it were a defect

Here’s some pics. First one shows what I’m talking about:

https://imgur.com/a/tJbQqVQ

Here’s one that shows how the bridge lines up with the angles of the strings and pickup ring:

https://imgur.com/a/SfO0sji

And here’s a couple just for reference of what the saddles look like when intonated and the brake angle to the tailpiece:

https://imgur.com/a/bsDhh8p

https://imgur.com/a/i5wij7J

 

[theDeepender]

Those with a core 594- does your bridge lean a little toward the pickups like this? The bridge posts are drilled perfectly straight in the guitar and not bent, but I think what’s happening is there’s some play between the thumb wheels and posts when threaded on and the strings pull it that way a little when tuned up. The carve of the top probly exaggerates it a little too. The angle of the bridge and the thumb wheels closely mimics the string path so I’m almost wondering if it’s by design It’s been like this since new. I asked around on some FB groups and got all sorts of replies… most people said theirs weren’t tilted and the bridge and thumbwheels sat level, others said theirs had some tilt and some even tilted in the opposite direction. Curious if anyone has noticed the same thing on theirs. This is a very expensive guitar for me and I’d hate it if it were a defect

Here’s some pics. First one shows what I’m talking about:

https://imgur.com/a/tJbQqVQ

Here’s one that shows how the bridge lines up with the angles of the strings and pickup ring:

https://imgur.com/a/SfO0sji

And here’s a couple just for reference of what the saddles look like when intonated and the brake angle to the tailpiece:

https://imgur.com/a/bsDhh8p

https://imgur.com/a/i5wij7J

Looks like it was dropped and the posts got bent.

 

[Grim_Pickins]

Looks like it was dropped and the posts got bent.

Posts aren’t bent. It’s apparent they’re straight if you were to look close with the guitar in hand. I’ve also had the bridge and wheels off and confirmed this. Guitar was bought new. Here’s a pic showing how the post comes out of the guitar. I’ve added the line to show its path.

https://imgur.com/a/76lfPLg

 

[Rider1260]

I would be checking with PTC ( and or your dealer ) and see what they think.
at first glance it does look to be leaning , but your pics seem to show it being parallel to the pickups and body
Hmmm

 

[Herr Squid]

Of my 3 Core 594s, only the oldest (a 2016) has its bridge leaning towards the pickups, and nowhere near as much as yours does. On my other two and an S2 594 Thinline, those thumbwheels are pretty much parallel to the top.

 

[Simon Says]

I only guessing the bridge axis is 90 degrees to the neck. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the neck in Mccarty is glued angled like in gibsons, not straight like in Customs

 

[garrett]

My 2016 seems pretty much perpendicular with the body, and sits higher.

I'd think the most important thing is that they are solid. Probably a bad thing if the bridge wiggles.

But we're just a bunch of dudes on the interwebs. PRS will give you the final word.

 

[Grim_Pickins]

I only guessing the bridge axis is 90 degrees to the neck. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the neck in Mccarty is glued angled like in gibsons, not straight like in Customs

This is a very good point. With the posts themselves installed at 90* to the body, I’m wondering if there is intentionally a bit of play in the thumbwheel to post connection to allow the bridge to tilt slightly to end up 90* to the neck I looked and the neck is definitely glued in at a bit of an angle compared to the body, and the bridge leaning a bit puts it 90* with it. Additionally, something else that crossed my mind is if the bridge wasn’t 90* to the neck and was instead 90* to the body, the strings would break over the saddles at a smaller contact point which I can’t see being a good thing. This would also mean that adjusting the saddles forward and back for intonation purposes would slightly affect the action of that string. I’m beginning to think this might be by design, but then there are so many who say theirs are dead straight…? It’s confusing

 

[Simon Says]

This is a very good point. With the posts themselves installed at 90* to the body, I’m wondering if there is intentionally a bit of play in the thumbwheel to post connection to allow the bridge to tilt slightly to end up 90* to the neck I looked and the neck is definitely glued in at a bit of an angle compared to the body, and the bridge leaning a bit puts it 90* with it. Additionally, something else that crossed my mind is if the bridge wasn’t 90* to the neck and was instead 90* to the body, the strings would break over the saddles at a smaller contact point which I can’t see being a good thing. This would also mean that adjusting the saddles forward and back for intonation purposes would slightly affect the action of that string. I’m beginning to think this might be by design, but then there are so many who say theirs are dead straight…? It’s confusing

I don't know mate, but; 90 degrees with the body would be aesthetic choice. When 90 degrees with the neck is more design choice for even forces distribution. I didn't design that damn thing but it makes perfect sence

 

[xxxadixxx]

Just weighing in based on my experience, rather than with any technical evaluation. I currently have six 594's, from 2018 - 2023. While the action (string height off of the fretboard) is essentially the same on all six, the bridge height and angle vary slightly with all of them. To answer the OP's question, some lean does seem to be "normal" as I observe a similar angle in two of my examples. In each case the bridge seems to be solid and is not rocking on the posts nor is it loose.

I do not think this is an issue of string tension as one of my guitars with the most pronounced "lean" is strung with 10's while most of the others are strung with 11's and show little to no lean.

Again, based purely on my observations I suspect this is a function of the bridge being set to the neck angle rather than to the body. I say this simply from the fact that the bridge on each guitar is set to a slightly different height from the body, but the action on the fretboard is very close on each of my six guitars.