The incredible stretching neck?

[iglam]

I have an '85 PRS Standard that I'm trying to adjust the bridge on, but
as the years go by (I'm the original owner), I'm having to move the saddles
farther and farther back to properly intonate the strings. I've already clipped
the saddle springs in half on the 3rd and 6th strings, but I'm now out of
room. The only thing left is to file off the back of the saddles, especially
since the 6th saddle is sliding into the rounded corner of the bridge, and
can't go back any more even if the spring were gone.

I'm not letting anyone redrill the bridge knife edge screws to move the
whole thing back.

I have 10's on the guitar.

Anyone have any history with this sort of thing? I doubt that my neck is
growing, any other ideas? The neck curve is fine, the bridge is parallel to
the body...I'm out of ideas. The 6th string is far enough out that I can't
bear to play above the 7th fret.

iglam

[Andrew Chen]

Are the bridge mounting posts all set correctly in the knife edge? Could the bridge be slipping against the posts? It seems really odd that the intonation should change so much without changes in the string gauge.

[iglam]

I certainly don't remember ever touching the bridge screws. I could possibly
have, when I was young and foolish. The tremolo works perfectly. Always
comes right back in tune. I see no slipping, the height is consistent.

I'll take the strings off and check it more thoroughly.

If the screws or the knife edge is worn from use/abuse, then that might
explain why the bridge is too far forward. Hmmm. If its screwed up, how
do I get it fixed?

[Andrew Chen]

If it's just the posts, you could order a new set. If it's the bridge, you might be able to find a tool to sharpen the knife edge at Home Depot.

[aleclee]

If it's just the posts, you could order a new set. If it's the bridge, you might be able to find a tool to sharpen the knife edge at Home Depot.If it's the bridge, I'd suspect that the bridge will require replacing. I say that because the knife edge on the screw holes would have worn down on the saddle side, causing the bridge assembly to shift towards the nut. Sharpening the knife edge would only make that worse becuase you're removing even more material from the worn side of the hole.

[iglam]

Took the strings off this morning, and pulled one of the bridge mounting screws
out to check it and the bridge out.

The peg looks fine. The groove in the top is consistent all the way around.
The bridge hole is perfectly round and shows no sign of wear.

Looks like I'll be taking a dremel to the back corner of the 6th string
saddle. Its a better option than filling and redrilling the bridge screws.

Thanks, all.

[jbird]

What about the nut? If it's never been replaced, I would try that 1st! If it's worn , that could have everything to do with your problem! The nuts PRS sell are rather squared, not rounded or smoothed out at all, but that might just be what your in need of!

[iglam]

Could be. There is a dent in the the nut diagonally across the 6th
string from when a cymbal stand fell over once upon a time and the
cymbal edge dug into the wood.

The whole thing is really in need of an overhaul, anyway. Worn frets...
I think I'll just find a REAL luthier for once and let em go through it
from top to bottom.

Thanks for the idea. Now I just gotta find someone whom I trust with
my beloved '85 PRS.

iglam

[Andrew Chen]

One other thought struck me last night: have you had the frets worked on recently? They may be shifting due to climate changes impacting the fingerboard.

[iglam]

They've never been worked on.

I think its a combination of a lot of things.
Gradually moving from 9's to 9.5's to 10's over the years....seasonal changes...
a worn nut...worn frets. And maybe the bridge was dropped in a little short
to begin with. I don't imagine their quality control was what it is now. This
guitar was produced in the first 3 months of operation.

Maybe I just got a lemon. The guitar IS bright yellow :)

iglam

[zerolight]

did you check your knife edges as was suggested by someone above? that sounds te most likely candidate.