PRS Swamp Ash Special SE

[Leebr97]

I recently bought a Swamp Ash Special SE . The back of the bridge is resting on the body. Should it be floating?

 

[John F]

Yes, the bridge on the SE SAS floats from the factory. Simple fix: put something under the back of the bridge until it is parallel with the body. I have used guitar picks, business cards, playing cards etc. Next tune the guitar up to pitch. Last step is to slowly loosen the screws on the claw where the springs attach at the back of the guitar. Be sure the claw stays parallel to the back of the body by keeping the screws the same length. Do this while the guitar is held with the back facing you while it is resting on its side. When the screws are loosened enough, the spacer(s) you placed under the bridge will fall out. Now re-tune to pitch and your bridge will be floating. If the bridge is not parallel to the body when tuned to pitch, slight claw screw adjustments can be made then retuned to pitch.

Once the bridge is adjusted properly, check your neck relief is correct. Press on a string on the first fret, and then a fret on the same string where the neck meets the body. While holding these 2 frets, press the string at the 12th fret and see that the string rests slightly above the 12th fret. Otherwise a truss rod adjustment is necessary. Keep tuning to pitch between adjustments.

With the neck relief correct, check your string height. It must be properly set before checking your intonation. Lastly check intonation is good. The PRS website lists the string heights.

 

[dogrocketp]

While the PRS string height recommendations are a good starting point, let your ears be the guide. Some guitars resonate better slightly higher, and some can go way down.

 

[Leebr97]

Thank you both for the assistance!