Am I crazy or just an idiot

[iwantmypie]

I've owned a Epiphone SG '61 Reissue model for about 2 years now and I love it. I've never owned a guitar with a Tune O Matic bridge before and I'm still not sure if there is a right or wrong way to set the height of the bridge and if it is a big reason why I can not get my guitar intonated. Recently I noticed when playing other Epiphones and Gibsons at a local guitar store that most of the guitars have the bridges set very low, if not completly flat. Mine is almost an inch high! When I tried to lower it, it obviously led to neck buzzing so I tried to higher the action, as high as it could go. Still the neck buzzes. I don't know if I'm crazy or not but the neck almost seems like was install back at an angle. It doesn't seem to lay flush flat like my Strat, or maybe I'm just seeing things. Still I have to have my bridge set so high that I can not even get to adjusting the saddles. So what I'm trying to say is 1) is this a possibility to have a neck installed incorrectly, 2) has anyone else ever had this problem, and 3) are there any suggestions on how to possibly fix this. Having the guitar set up the way I originally had it with the bridge high was fine but the intonation is really become a problem to me and pissing me off. There is nothing like the sound of being able to hit a pefect chord ANYWHERE on the neck. I have never been able to do this with this guitar. Thank you

 

[andyhix]

I have an Les Paul that I bought used and I love. I had tried, for the first few years I owned it, to set the intonation, bridge height, etc. myself and did OK. Then I decided "what the hell" and brought it to a local shop I like. For like 35 bucks, it was like a got a brand new guitar that was SOOOOO much easier to play, and sounded so much better. The moral of the story? Pay someone - at least the first time - to get it set up professionally. If, after that, you decide to tweak it yourself, you at least know what the guitar is capable up, and you have a goal to shoot for. As for the neck, I believe they can be shimmed a bit, if it's it not coplanar with the body. I'd leave that to a pro, too.

 

[iwantmypie]

Yeah I was thinking about doing that but I always thought it'd be a waste of money. I've been modding and rewiring all my guitars for over 6 years now. Seemed like this sort of problem would have been something easy.

 

[rayc]

You mod & rewire because you feel confident doing it.
You're having trouble with the bridge because you don't.
2 options:
1) take it to a shop & have it done
OR
2) Pay a tech to teach you how.
Hesitation & learning by trial & error won't get you far with that particular problem.