[NGD] Paul’s Guitar just joined the herd

It could be that the bridge is a bit loose on the pegs and therefore tilting forward. This can be adjusted by making the posts heights more different which flattens out the bridge.
I had a look at this but the action on the bass side would have to be raised considerably for the two posts to ‘lock’ the bridge in place. Indeed there is a certain (minimal) wiggle room which allows the bridge to tilt forward. This is by design, otherwise the studs can’t be adjusted independently. For now, I’ve improvised a quick ‘n dirty trick. I take one of those cheap synthetic sponges used to scrub pans, remove the scratchy layer and keep the foamy back part:

Hzur0TQ.jpeg


I always keep a stash of this stuff because it’s great for removing rattles from archtop guitars. It can simply be stuffed in whatever place. Sometimes I also use it to tame high-end transients because it dampens the treble strings just a little bit without messing up the intonation. So I took a sliver of this stuff, put it underneath the treble strings and voila: the fillings are no longer popping from my teeth. It only dampens the super-high-end frequencies. The stuff is too soft to make the strings sound muffled or to stop the strings from sustaining properly.

ZxCQXCb.jpeg


It’s completely reversible. Takes a few seconds to squeeze under the strings and a flick of the finger to remove it. Purists might balk, but I’m a pragmatist ;-).
 
Great guitar ! 🤩 Got the same (2024 model) in dark cherry earlier this year. Love it ! I don't consider the guitar overly bright though. I raised the bridge on the bass side a bit (like it that way), that could have helped maybe. You could consider swapping the nut for a black PRS one ?
Anyway, it indeed has a unique voice ! Enjoy !
 
Wow, that is a great looking instrument. Stunning. Congratulations.

I am sorry to hear about the bridge trouble. I have not experienced that though my wrap around bridges are of the Tremonti style, with the individual saddles. Great improvisation to find a solution.
 
I had a look at this but the action on the bass side would have to be raised considerably for the two posts to ‘lock’ the bridge in place. Indeed there is a certain (minimal) wiggle room which allows the bridge to tilt forward. This is by design, otherwise the studs can’t be adjusted independently. For now, I’ve improvised a quick ‘n dirty trick. I take one of those cheap synthetic sponges used to scrub pans, remove the scratchy layer and keep the foamy back part:

Hzur0TQ.jpeg


I always keep a stash of this stuff because it’s great for removing rattles from archtop guitars. It can simply be stuffed in whatever place. Sometimes I also use it to tame high-end transients because it dampens the treble strings just a little bit without messing up the intonation. So I took a sliver of this stuff, put it underneath the treble strings and voila: the fillings are no longer popping from my teeth. It only dampens the super-high-end frequencies. The stuff is too soft to make the strings sound muffled or to stop the strings from sustaining properly.

ZxCQXCb.jpeg


It’s completely reversible. Takes a few seconds to squeeze under the strings and a flick of the finger to remove it. Purists might balk, but I’m a pragmatist ;-).

I had very similar issue to my bass strings vibrating on my Paul’s se with the same bridge. I ruled out the nut by playing chords. It was properly set up. I tried an adjustable bridge but I suspect my guitar’s neck is not pitched high enough as I could not lower that bridge to an acceptable action height with it. So I swapped the brass post to a Mann made one. Bingo. It has significant less tolerance in regards to how it holds the bridge. The lean was eliminated and weird vibrating string sound is gone. Now I can feel the strings vibrate thru the guitar better. Crazy how something so simple can make a large difference.
 
Solved the metallic-sounding issue, here’s what’s what. That bridge is so finely machined, it’s a bell. Literally. If you remove it, suspend it from a string and hit it, it rings like a bell. The note it produces is fairly high in pitch so it’s in the range of the treble strings. If I play those strings the bridge starts to vibrate sympathetically (not a rattle or a buzz, but the intrinsic sound of the bridge) and transfers its sound back to the strings. This explains the clangy, metallic sound of the guitar. The problem isn’t caused by the bridge not being rigorously clamped by the two posts. It’s the arc of the bridge between those two posts that vibrates at a high frequency. I took a piece of leather from an old strap, folded it and stuffed it under the bridge at the treble side (invisibly). This stops the bell-effect of the bridge and all of a sudden all I hear is the very woody, pleasant sound of the guitar itself. I guess it’s comparable to trem string vibration, but much more intrusive and unpleasant.

And what a sound this guitar has! Paul’s Guitar has a unique voice. At the risk of doing it an injustice by comparing it to something else, it does remind me somewhat of an original 50s LP goldtop with P90s that I once had the privilege to play for a bit. The PG offers that kind of goodness without the drawbacks. And then some.
 
Wouldn’t the bridge vibrate less with studs that have better tolerance? And thus transfer the vibration to the wood better rather than sympathetic ringing? That was my experience when I swapped to John Mann Studs. Trust me I didn’t think it would make a big difference but said what the hell and gave it a shot. I still don't like locking studs. They hold the bridges well but don’t resonate as well as pure brass studs.

Kudos to figuring out your guitar! Such a killer guitar. Love my Paul’s guitars (both core and SE)
 
I’ll look into it, Broseph. Thanks for the suggestion! I might also swap the bridge for PRS’s adjustable wraparound so that I can use a wound G when I’m in a jazz mood.
 
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