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NJG Guitar Owners Manual

Congratulations on your purchase of a NJG Guitar. At NJG guitars we strive to make our guitars play great and stand the test of time. All NJG instruments are set up at the factory to our strict standards before shipping. The purpose of this manual is to explain how to maintain your instrument’s finish and to keep your guitar playing as well as it did when it was new.

Cleaning

Regular cleaning of your guitar is one the most important ways you can maintain its finish and lengthen string life. After playing, wipe down your instrument to remove dirt and perspiration from the strings and finished parts. Pay close attention to the metal parts of the guitar because perspiration can actually contain acids that can be corrosive to metal parts causing them to change colors or rust.

Gloss finish guitars should be polished with polish formulated specifically for musical instruments, and a soft, treated guitar cloth or a cotton rag. Avoid using harsh abrasive rags that can scratch the finish.

String Replacement

If the strings become dirty, discolored or produce a dull tone, replace the strings with new ones. For best results and ease of tuning we recommend replacing one string at a time, this will help to maintain the needed string tension on the neck. If the fretboard becomes dirty, we recommend using oil formulated for musical instrument fretboards. This will moisturize the wood. Be careful not to use too much.

When replacing strings that are a different gauge, it may be necessary to adjust the truss rod tension. This adjustment should be performed by a qualified technician, improper adjustment can cause the rod to break and will void the warranty.

Acoustic String Replacement

The strings are secured into the bridge by pins. When removing the bridge pins, first loosen the string at the machine head, and then remove the bridge pins gently using an acoustic pin remover. Remove the pin and the string ball end. When installing new strings, the string's ball ends must fit firmly in the hole; this allows the pin to hold the string under tension.

Once the string is secured in the bridge area, the strings should be cleanly and tightly wound around the tuning machines from top to bottom with a minimum of 2 to 3 string wraps around the post for the wound strings and a minimum of 3 to 5 on the plain or unwound strings

If the tuning machines have sealed gears, they have sealed grease lubrication. The setscrews for the tuning buttons can be adjusted, carefully tighten the small screw with a Philips head (+) screwdriver to increase the tension.

NOTE: Using strings that have twists or kinks may cause fret buzz during playing. Make sure that the new strings are smooth and free from any defects before installing.

Nylon string models

The strings are attached at the bridge by first inserting the string through the string slot and then securing the string by wrapping the string over and under itself until it is secure. This is called tying the string. The number of ties should be no greater than two or three for the first thru third strings. At the tuning machines, the end of the strings should be inserted through the machine head post then locked by passing the string underneath itself as shown in the illustrations. Once the string is tied the longer end of the string should be pulled tight towards the headstock.

Acoustic Guitar String Action

All string action is adjusted at the factory. However an instrument’s string height can change. Instruments can be affected by changes in temperature and humidity. NJG acoustic guitar string action is controlled by the saddle height at the bridge. A qualified technician should perform string action adjustments. If the string action is too low, fret buzz or unclear notes can occur. To remedy this, shims can be inserted beneath the saddle to raise it, or a higher saddle can be installed. If the action is too high, a qualified technician should look at it.

Acoustic-Electric Models

NJG acoustic-electric guitars are equipped with piezo electric pickups. The pickup is installed under the saddle between the saddle and the bridge. Because piezo pickups depend on the string pressure from the saddle to pickup the string output it is recommended that during string replacement, strings are replaced one string at a time, this will allow the saddle to keep equal pressure on the piezo pickup.

Instruments with built in equalizers need to have the batteries replaced periodically. Generally EQ systems allow 14 to 18 hours of use when plugged in. For maximize battery life, it is important to remove the plug from the output jack, which will turn off the circuit when the guitar is not in use. If the output becomes distorted this is usually caused by a weak battery.

Neck Adjustments

All NJG models are equipped with adjustable truss rods. The purpose of a truss rod is to adjust the neck to counteract string tension. It is not necessary to loosen the string tension while making adjustment. For proper playing and proper intonation the neck needs to be set to 0.3 to 0.5 mm of clearance at the 8^th fret when the 1^st fret is fretted and the string is fretted at the location where it meets the body. To check the measurement, use the string as a straight edge. Using a capo on the first fret and using your picking hand fret the low string at the location that it joins the body, then check the clearance at the 8^th fret using a thickness gauge. A 0.3 to 0.5 mm gauge should fit easily between the string and the top of the fret. This clearance is referred to as neck relief. It is recommended that only qualified technicians make these adjustments.

To adjust the truss rod, locate the truss rod bullet and adjust it by inserting the correct wrench into the nut and tightening (clockwise) or loosening (counter clockwise) the rod. Too much relief can cause higher action in the middle of the neck causing poor intonation. No neck relief can cause fret buzz. A properly adjusted neck will always have some relief.

Electric Guitar String Action

All NJG models are shipped from the factory with the action set to the optimum height for the specific model. However all NJG electric models allow for simple string height adjustment, each bridge may have a unique style of height adjustment but share these common factors for adjusting the action.

1) First the guitar must be tuned to the desired playing pitch. The factory standard tuning is A=440HZ on the Fifth string.

2) The truss rod must be adjusted to the proper relief as explained in the truss adjustment section.

Note: The action may also need to be readjusted after the neck has been adjusted or strings have been changed to a different gauge. Follow the instructions in the relevant bridge manual to make adjustments. If strings other than those described above are used, gradually increase the action clearance from the treble side through to the bass side.

Adjusting Intonation Electric Models

Using an electronic tuner first tune the string to the correct pitch open or while playing the 12^th fret harmonic, this is the true note. Fret the string at the 12^th fret and compare the fretted note to the string played open, they should be exactly the same. If the fretted note is flat compared to the open note the saddle is too far back and needs to be moved forward. If the fretted note is sharp then the saddle is too far forward and needs to be moved back.

Electric Guitar String Replacement

Follow the sting replacement for each style of bridge.

NJG Stop Bridge

To replace strings thread the new strings through the string holes in the bridge. The intonation is be adjusted the two outside Allen screws to move the bridge forward or backward. String height is controlled by raising or lowering the two studs on either side of the bridge use a flat head (-) screwdriver.

NJG Standard Bridge With Bar Tailpiece

To replace strings, thread the new strings through the string holes located on the back of the tailpiece and bring them up and over the saddle. The intonation can be adjusted by moving the saddle forward or backward using a Phillips head (-) screwdriver on the adjustment screw at the rear of the bridge. String height is adjusted using a screwdriver to raise or lower the small adjustment screws on either side of the bridge.

The height adjustment of the bar tailpiece can be raised or lowered using the two height adjustment studs on either side of the tailpiece

NJG Two Point Tremolo

To replace strings, thread the new strings through the string holes located on the back of the guitar. The strings are then threaded through the tremolo block and up and over the saddle. The intonation can be adjusted by moving the saddle forward or backward using a Phillips head (+) screwdriver on the adjustment screw at the rear of the bridge. String height is adjusted by using a wrench to raise or lower the small Allen screws on either side of the saddle.

Two point tremolo bridges also have an adjustment for overall bridge height on either side of the tremolo. The tremolo springs located under the tremolo plate on the back of the guitar control the bridge angle by counteracting string tension. To adjust the tremolo angle down, tighten the screws, to raise the tremolo angle, loosen the screws

Adjustable Hollow Body Bridge

To change strings, thread the new strings through the string holes located on the back of the tailpiece and bring them up and over the saddle.

To adjust the string height turn the thumb wheel screws located on either side of the bridge. Clockwise lowers the string action; counter clockwise raises the string action.

Intonating Hollow Body Bridges

Note: The bridge is not fixed to the body, this style of bridge was designed to allow even string transfer from the bridge to the top of the guitar: loosening the strings and moving the location of the bridge forward or backward can adjust Intonation. To avoid the need to set the intonation it is recommended that you change one string at a time.

NJG Bass Bridges

To replace strings, thread the new strings through the string holes located on the back of the tailpiece and bring them up and over the saddle. The intonation can be adjusted by moving the saddle forward or backward using a Phillips head (+) screwdriver on the adjustment screw at the rear of the bridge. String height is adjusted to raise or lower the saddle, to adjust use the correct Allen wrench.

Pickup adjustment

Pickups use magnets to pickup the string vibrations, the output level of the instrument as well as the quality of the signal is affected by the pickup height. Pickup height is set from the factory however it can be adjusted to your personal preference. Factory adjustment is set so that the outputs of the neck and bridge pickups are equal. Because the pickups are magnetic, fret buzzing and distortion may occur if the pickup is too close to the strings. Adjustments to raise or lower the pickups are done using a Phillips head (+) screwdriver.

Instruments having adjustable pole pieces can be adjusted to balance the output of each string.

Control function

Switch Functions

Three way switching systems

This system allows the player to achieve three distinct pickup combinations.

When the switch is up the neck pickup is on

When the switch is in the middle both the neck and bridge pickups are on.

When the switch is in the lower position the bridge pickup is on.