Setting Up Your Synapse Guitar

IMPORTANT! If you are NOT familiar with setting up instruments, you should NOT attempt to do this yourself. You should contact a qualified guitar technician for assistance.


Your Synapse guitar is individually inspected and set-up prior to leaving the Steinberger factory. Typically you will only need to set up your guitar again under the following conditions:

‣ You prefer your string height (action) higher or lower than originally set by the factory;

‣ You decide to install string gauges that are different from those originally installed at the factory;


The string sets installed at the factory are:

TranScale 6-String Guitar - LIGHT BARITONE SST-102

6-String Guitar - STANDARD SST-105

4-String Bass Guitar - LIGHT SST-108

5-String Bass Guitar - Low B SST-111


‣ Your guitar has been subjected to significant environmental (temperature and/or humidity) changes;

‣ Your guitar is six months old or more.


NOTE: As with any guitar, small changes and movement can occur in new instruments. Therefore we recommend that after about six months of continuous use you have your guitar "tuned-up" by a professional technician.

Adjusting Standard Bridge with Individual Saddles (Non-Piezo)

To set the action (string height):

1. With the smaller hex wrench provided in the tool holder, loosen the set screw (turn hex counter-clockwise) on side of bridge . This will unlock the saddles.

2. Using the same hex wrench, adjust the saddle set screws up and down to desired action height. Turn hex clockwise to raise saddle height, counter-clockwise to lower it.

3. Once adjustment is complete, tighten the set screw (turn clockwise) on side of bridge to lock.


NOTE: Don't forget to tighten the saddle locking set screw when finished. Failure you to do so can allow the saddles to move, causing tuning problems and unwanted buzzing at the bridge.

Adjusting Piezo Bridge with Single/Mono Saddle

To set the action (string height):

1. With the smaller hex wrench provided in the tool holder, loosen the set screw (turn hex counter-clockwise) on side of bridge This will unlock the piezo equipped saddle base.

2. Using the same hex wrench, adjust the saddle base set screws up and down to desired action height. By adjusting these top three screws you can change the height and angle of the saddle base. The top of the saddle base should be tilted back so that it is evenly spaced under the strings, running parallel with them.

3. Once adjustment is complete, tighten the set screw (turn clockwise) on side of bridge to lock.


NOTE: Don't forget to tighten the saddle base locking set screw when complete. Failure you to do so can allow the saddle assembly to move, causing tuning problems and unwanted buzzing at the bridge.

To set the intonation:

1. Loosen the set screw (turn counter-clockwise) on side of bridge.

2. Set the intonation of the two center strings first. Push the saddle backward (toward the tuners) if intonation is sharp/high at 24th fret. Push the saddle forward (toward the neck) if intonation at 24th fret is flat/low. Keep the saddle base parallel to the front of the bridge at all times.


NOTE: If you find it difficult to move the saddle base, loosen the outer strings as necessary to allow it to slide more easily.

3. The piezo saddle is mounted in a slot that is shaped like a bow-tie. The single set screw on the front of the saddle base rotates the saddle. By rotating the saddle in the slot, intonation of the high and low strings can be adjusted.

4. Re-tune and check intonation.

5. Once adjustment is complete, tighten the set screw (turn clockwise) on side of bridge to lock.


NOTE: You may need to adjust both action and intonation when adjusting the saddle, especially when changing string gauges.

Adjusting the CybroSonic™ Technology (Graphite U-channel) equipped truss-rod

IMPORTANT! - If you are NOT a qualified guitar technician, we do NOT recommend you attempt truss rod adjustment yourself. Improper adjustment can lead to permanent damage and void your warranty. The truss rod adjustment can be both simple and complex at the same time. On the simple side, a minor adjustment to straighten a neck with too much concave or convex bow is possibly all that is needed to make a dramatic improvement in your guitars playability. On the complex side, adjusting the truss rod alters other aspects of the setup such as overall action, string height and intonation. YOU CAN DAMAGE YOUR GUITAR PERMANENTLY IF THE ADJUSTMENT IS NOT MADE CORRECTLY! If you feel confident that you can make this adjustment then read on.

The patented Steinberger CybroSonic™ System provides for an ultra-stable neck with a built-in optimum relief. Therefore truss rod adjustment is rarely necessary. When needed it works like a standard guitar one-way truss rod. However, due to the rigidity of the graphite U-channel embedded in the neck, neck movement is much less pronounced. Adjusting the truss rod nut also requires more effort.


1. Place a capo at the first fret while pressing the low E string down at the 17th fret.

2. Look for a small gap of (approximately .010" or 0.25mm) between the tops of the 7th to 9th fret and the underside of the string.

3. If there is too much gap, the truss rod needs to be turned clockwise (tightened). If there is not enough gap, the truss rod needs to be turned counter-clockwise (loosened). Use the larger hex wrench provided in the tool holder to make these adjustments.


TIPS:

‣ Never force the adjustment if it feels tight. Again, forcing the truss rod can irreparably damage the neck. 

‣ Make any adjustments in very small increments, roughly 1/16 to 1/8 turn at a time.

‣ Give the neck time to "settle" between adjustments, preferably overnight.