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What are the factory specifications for my U.S. PRS guitar setup?

  • Updated

What are the factory specifications for my U.S. PRS guitar setup?

At John Mayer’s request, Silver Sky tremolo bridges are set up differently than PRS’s normal tremolo-equipped guitars. PRS’s standard setup allows for the tremolo to go up in pitch a little bit and down in pitch a lot. The PRS Silver Sky [USA manufactured & SE] is set up so that the back edge of the tremolo plate rests on the body in a neutral position and the tremolo bridge only goes down in pitch. The reason for this type of tremolo set-up is so that the bridge plate is in contact with the body in the at-rest position. This improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the single-coil pickups by increasing the acoustic volume of the guitar and therefore creating more differential between the actual volume of the guitar as it’s played and the normal single-coil pickups’ hum and noise. (The in-between sounds on the PRS Silver Sky are noise-canceling; the individual single-coil sounds are not).

  • First, once the strings are thoroughly stretched, tune the instrument to pitch. Repeat stretching and tuning the instrument.
  • Then, adjust the truss rod relief, and re-tune the instrument.

Using a capo at the first fret, measure the distance from top of fret to bottom of string while depressing the string at the 1st and last fret: Relief for PRS guitars should measure .3/64" - .6/64" (.1mm - .3mm) at the 8th fret.

Once the relief has been set, re-tune the instrument. The measurements for string height should be as follows: (measure from the top center of the fret, to the bottom of the string):

  • Treble side string height 1st fret: 1/64”- 1.5/64" (.4mm - .6mm)
  • Bass side string height 1st fret: 1.2/64” - 1.9/64" (.5mm - .7mm)
  • Treble-side string height at 12th fret: 1.8/32" - 2.2/32"  (1.4mm -1.8mm)
  • Bass-side string height at 12th fret: 1.9/32” - 2.4/32" (1.5mm -1.9mm)
  • Floyd Rose Treble side string height 1st fret: 1/64”- 1.5/64" (.4mm - .6mm)
  • Floyd Rose Bass side height 1st fret: 1.2/64” - 1.9/64" (.5mm - .7mm)
  • Floyd Rose Treble side height 12th fret  1.7/32" - 2.3/32" (1.4mm - 1.9mm)
  • Floyd Rose Bass side height 12th fret: 2/32” - 2.5/32" (1.6mm - 2.0mm)
  • String height should escalate in value from Hi E to low E 

Adjusting Your Action | Tips From The Tech Center | PRS Guitars - YouTube

Silver Sky Setup: Flush Mount to Floating Trem | PRS Guitars - YouTube

We consider these measurements to be a "factory specification" action height. You can adjust to taste.

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