Having one will also make iteasier for you to determine if you have a back bow. To get down to these measurements requires you to remove the saddle and take material from the bottom. And learning how to set up your pedal board properly is time well spent. When these adjustments are completed in the correct sequence they will ensure that the guitar is optimal, both in sound and playability. It’s handy to have a set of notched radius gauges. It was a time before Google, Youtube, Photobucket, Twitter and Facebook and the widespread use of multi-media on … Carried out on a regular basis, a setup will help maintain the health of the guitar through its seasonal changes. A neck with too much relief can suck the tone out of a guitar, and when the neck is straight the action stays more uniform as you move up the frets. Once you have verified your fretboard radius and checked the saddle to make sure it matches, take string height measurements with a straight neck and a capo at the first fret in the same manner as described previously. You’ll still need to do a fair amount of work to fit it properly, but much of the shaping work has already been done for you. I actually prefer compliments to my tone over flattering remarks regarding my technique. Essential for both Acoustic and Electric Guitar. This blog and my YouTube channel are dedicated to helping those learning to play guitar. 3. There are two things that occur to me when setting intonation. Adjusting relief, action, and intonation is the groundwork for getting the dream playability out of your guitar. This is often the case even on brand new guitars. … Our first example will be a linear sequence without an effects loop, while the second will use an amplifier effects loop. This applies to both electric and acoustic. Stretch the Strings 8. TIP: As stated earlier, do all this checking in the playing position, and placing a light below you will help to illuminate the gap for clearer reading. The ideal setup is not one that obeys all the rules, but rather, one that makes a guitar comfortable to play and sound great for you. Without a dual-action truss rod, the only fix for this is a more serious repair that can include major fretwork and sometimes heats straightening. With a modest investment in tools and some basic knowledge, you can solve a lot of these things yourself.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'midlifeguitar_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',107,'0','0'])); Before we make our first adjustment it is important to understand what exactly a guitar setup is and what it is we are trying to achieve. For both you will need a ruler that measures accurately to at least 1/32”, and a set of radius gauges capable of measuring both the top of the fret and underside of the strings. I start with 1/16” (1.5mm) from the top of the fret to the bottom of the treble E string at the 14th fret and 3/32” (2.5mm) on the bass. If you are getting too much noise, raise the two E strings by 1/64” (about .5 mm) at a time and reset the saddle radius on an electric. Tip: The high E string should cross the line on the ruler exactly, while the bottom of the Low E string should just barely allow bottom of the ruler line to show. Built to Order.. We’ll build you a Tele, Strat or Jazzmaster…. Neither are great, but sharp notes are more offensive to most people. So make small adjustments to the claw, re-tune and check again until you find the point that the trem levels when you are in tune. If you are experiencing fret noise then make a note of where it is. It can also happen due to humidity and temperature changes that cause the wood to contract. After the wah or EQ, try throwing in … It shouldn’t take more than a 1/2 turn or so in most cases. These tools will make it easier to do your guitar setup but they are not essential to perform the task. You will find many opinions about the amount of relief you may or may not need in a neck, but ultimately it is a matter of preference, technique, and the individual personality of the guitar. I use 120-220 grit unless I have a lot to remove. Other things to look out for are cracks, major chips, and significant string wear. The best saddle material is bone. Every adjustment should be done with the guitar tuned to the desired pitch. PLAY! You need to know what the fretboard radius is so that you can set the underside of your strings with the saddles to match. A guitar setup is a series of adjustments that achieve a balance between three components: the neck, the nut, and the saddle. I will break this step into two sections to make it easier to follow and better illustrate what tools you will need. Cost for the Stratocaster is £999. The thickest string is called the 6th string. 5. Of the many products for guitars available, pedalboards are at the top of the list for best “bang for the buck” guitar gear. On the bass E, you need just under a 1/8th inch (about 3mm) and 3/32” (about 2.5mm) on the treble in the playing position. You will need to check both E strings as the amount of curve can vary from one side of the neck to the other. You can check with the manufacturer for the details of your specific guitar, but if your adjustment nut is not removable, you have a two-way rod. We also participate in and receive compensation from additional affiliate programs which we believe can add items of value. Place a capo at the first fret or hold the string down with your finger, and fret again around the body joint where the neck starts to thicken, this is usually around the 12th to14th fret. These are included individually or in the StewMac setup kit, and also easily available on Amazon. You can download a free chromatic tuner app and this will work fine for this exercise. Tip: It’s very likely that the guitar’s intonation has been set accurately before it left the manufacturer – most of the time you won’t have to do anything here, but it’s not a proper guitar setup if you don’t check. If the first fret is high or low it can throw off the reading and this is will verify what you saw. It will just cause you tuning issues and whatever you put in there will be temporary at best. Fretwork is a vast subject that I won’t get into here, so if either of these is the case and you are not comfortable with handling fret problems, have the guitar looked at. For an acoustic guitar saddle that needs to be lowered in height, use self-adhesive sandpaper. If the fretted note is sharp when compared to the open note, you will move the saddle back a small amount, retune and check again until you are in tune on both. Second, when a guitar is in tune and intoned at the 12th fret, it tends to play a little sharp by the nut in the open chord range where many players spend most of their time. However, I often do it differently. Want us to build the guitar??? Truss rod repairs can be an expensive endeavor, so make sure you have the proper tool and don’t force anything. By now, everything should be in its right place (as Radiohead puts it), so get your screwdrivers out one last time. When you tighten your truss rod nut clockwise it will straighten your neck (or force it into a back bow,) and when you loosen it counterclockwise the neck will relieve with the pull of the strings into a forward bow. I check the 12th fret and the 3rd fret and find a compromise between the two, often going until the 3rd fret is no longer sharp at all. In standard guitar tuning, this is tuned to E and is often referred to as the "low E string," meaning the lowest note you can play. The metal fret wire, of course, does not fluctuate as much. Still very much an attentive & focused build, the guitar once done will be setup and ready to play as per the course guitars.. Additional costs apply for humbuckers, gold hardware and custom colours etc but as per the build course send us your ideal … The guitar setup process can be broken down into nine distinct phases. Set Intonation. To check the tension on the neck, first make sure the guitar is properly tuned. A guitar neck support is ideal for solving this problem. That being said, effects chaining is not an exact … Angle the file with the approach of the string from the tailpiece, and use a file of the same gauge as each string. It is important to understand that as you tune the guitar the amount of tension on the bridge changes and will cause it to move, and conversely, as you adjust the tremolo your tuning will change. Just remember…You have to find the balance between your neck, the nut, and the saddle. The good news is that you don’t have to be a pro to address the standard issues. *If you’re changing to a different gauge string set, you should have done this already. To learn more and get in contact, please click the button below. You won’t need all of these if you are just working on one type of guitar electric or acoustic. Gravity has a significant influence on the neck, and the amount of relief will look drastically different when the guitar is laying on it’s back as opposed to sitting upright. The only difference here is that you will want to start a little higher than an electric. When these adjustments are completed in the correct sequence they will ensure that the guitar is optimal, both in sound and playability. TIP: Doing this step properly requires some tools. Guitar Setup Before Intonation Adjustment This section will deal with the setup of the guitar you will need to do before you adjust the intonation. Every other note on the fretboard will be a little sharp or flat. 3/32″ on the bass side and 2/32″ on the treble side for humbuckers. Action, Intonation and Fine Adjustments 6.1 Adjust the Truss Rod 6.2 Set the Bridge Height and Radius 6.3 Recut the Nut 6.4 Adjust the Pickup Height 6.5 Check and Adjust the Intonation 7. Thesetup processfollows a logic… TIP: I do not advise filling the slot with anything. That … Setting up the Pickups Hold down the fret closest to the pickups on the top string. Some pedals will perform better when … Remove old strings. Using the sandpaper and the flat surface, drag the saddle towards you being careful to keep it 90 degrees to the sandpaper. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); To complete all of the steps in this article, you will require a few specialized tools (listed at each step). Another important thing to keep in mind is to always check the straightness of your neck in the playing position. The preshaped saddles from StewMac are an option if the saddle should be replaced and you’d like to try it on your own. You’ve just learned how to perform a professional guitar setup – now you can charge all your friends and make those tools pay for themselves. This site is owned and operated by Luke Winter. Tip: Shave down in small increments. If the guitar seems to play well at the higher register, but you are getting buzzing in 3rd-7th fret range, you may need a little more relief in your neck and you can loosen the truss rod a little. Acoustic saddles are more involved and require greater skill. In this lesson, we’re gonna talk about putting your guitar effects pedals in the proper order in pursuit of the holy grail of every guitarist, ultimate tone. With an electric, you will be able to make your adjustments simply with a wrench, but when dealing with an acoustic saddle you will need to add or remove material. Essential for Acoustic and Electric Guitar. Remove small amounts at a time until you get where you need to be. Acoustics are very, very different than electric guitars, when you get right down into the mechanics of … Poorly fit saddles will eventually cause cracks in your bridge. Now set the height of the two E strings, and just like the truss rod adjustment, check these measurements in the playing position. Place the capo just behind the first fret. Assess instrument for work needed. Even if you have the correct tool, the nut may be worn or stripped and you could cause further damage trying to adjust it. Simply, because an appealing and appropriate guitar sound speaks to serving the song and style of music. The best way to judge relief is with a straight edge, and a straight edge will make it easier for you to determine if you have a back bow. If you have an American made Gibson, Martin, or Fender, or most any vintage guitar, you almost certainly have a single action rod. Different gauges have different tensions and will affect all of the adjustments we make, as well as needing wider nut slots (or a new nut in some cases). There are some things you need to understand in order to adjust your truss rod successfully. If this happens, bow the neck and then bring it back to straight. This extensive starter kit is ideal for the guitarist just getting started with guitar maintenance. This will cause your neck to bow. Use this as a rule of thumb, but I can tell you from experience that what you are looking for is slightly higher than what you see over the second fret. You can find a good selection here on Amazon, Kyser (click here to check price on Amazon). You can use the under string radius gauge instead of these but you will need to move the strings out of the way. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'midlifeguitar_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_11',119,'0','0'])); If the neck is straight from the 2nd fret down and the first fret doesn’t touch the straight edge, then it is low. These Notched Radius Gauge’s save the hassle. Utility Pedals. Normally I would advise you on purchasing a Shure S1 Capo as per my tried and tested review which you can find here Best Guitar Capo Under $20.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'midlifeguitar_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',111,'0','0'])); However, in this circumstance, you are best off with a spring action clamp Capo as they are quicker and easier to apply and take off. You will need a capo, and for repair purposes, I prefer the Kyser (click here to check price on Amazon). The reading at the first fret and second should look about the same. The saddle is separate from the bridge. If yours is plastic or some type of synthetic material and you want the best tone possible, have it replaced with bone. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'midlifeguitar_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_19',124,'0','0'])); You’ll need to find the balance point for the tension of the strings so that the bridge sits level. If you have a new guitar or one that is otherwise in good shape, this guide will be perfect for you.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'midlifeguitar_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_5',112,'0','0'])); Fundamentally these methods apply to both acoustics and electrics, but I will point out differences in approach as they arise. After doing a few setups though you may feel differently, I know I did. If you are too low, you have two choices: replace the saddle, or shim it. TIP: It’s ok to adjust the rod while it’s laying flat if you prefer, but always check the results in the playing position.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'midlifeguitar_com-leader-2','ezslot_12',118,'0','0'])); Now check the amount of relief you have. There are two types of truss rods: single action that counters the pull of the strings, and double-action that will counter the strings and also push the neck in the direction of the string tension. If your nut slots are already too low and buzzy off of the first fret or you go too far, you have the same options as the saddle: replace or shim and recut it. Your personal preferences in playability and sound quality should always override any rules and guidelines. Once you’ve set the neck, nut, and saddle, spend some time playing the guitar. You’ll need to cut it to length and thickness it and set the height in the same manner as we have discussed here. In order to do your own guitar setup, you need to know how these three things work and how they relate to one another but firstly you will need some tools.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'midlifeguitar_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_1',108,'0','0'])); If playing guitar and or maintaining them is something that you want to do on a regular basis then I would recommend buying quality tools. A proper nut is critical to the tone, feel, and tuning stability of your guitar, and there really is no substitute for a well-made bone nut. Over adjustment of either rod will result in a back bow, and loosening the rod should take care of that in a properly functioning guitar. Once you get close to your pencil line, make sure the bottom of the saddle is square. Setting intonation involves adjusting the saddles so that the fretted 12th note matches the open note. This is mainly for an electric guitar and is an excellent kit from StewMac. Tip: Passive pickups have a stronger magnetic field than Active pickups – if you set passive pickups too close to the string, it will kill the sustain and tone. A tremolo will also make this step trickier because you might need to deal with balancing the bridge by adjusting the tremolo claw that anchors the springs to the guitar. Age: 59 Messages: 3. These can all be signs of a saddle that needs replacing. String height coming off of the nut makes a big impact on playability and you may find it all feels right once that is done. For the purposes of this set-up guide, I am assuming your nut is functional but too high. If you are setting up an electric guitar, all that’s left is to set the intonation. It’s a good idea to check the neck starting at the second fret to see if it looks any different. When using a straight edge I also check between the D and G strings to get an average between the two extremes. You will need to adjust the screws of the claw in to pull the bridge back or let them out to allow the bridge to rise. Remove of your old strings and use new strings in order to maximize your guitar intonation. Higher up on the neck or dying string bends can indicate saddle action that is too low, at the end and middle of the neck can mean not enough relief, and open notes are almost always low nut slots or a back bowed neck. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'midlifeguitar_com-leader-4','ezslot_14',117,'0','0'])); I believe the best playing and sounding guitars have the straightest necks. Once in tune, check to see how level the bridge is to the top of the guitar. It shouldn’t be excessively tight and the gap should increase as you back off. Teardown 3. When tuning a guitar with a tremolo, I always tune back and forth to bring up the tension on the tremolo evenly: E to E, A to B, D to G. Because the tremolo is rising as you tune-up in pitch, you will likely find you are flat when you are done. you may find that slight variations will be more ideal for your playing style. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'midlifeguitar_com-leader-3','ezslot_13',115,'0','0'])); Double action rods are useful for stubborn necks that don’t have typical reactions to the pull of the strings. Preliminary Adjustments 6. The general function of these ‘utility’ pedals is written right into the name: they serve … I worked there for many years and now use their tools in my own luthier workshop. TIP: Don’t go too far. Do not move the claw the full amount all in one adjustment. If you have an acoustic then you will likely have a screwdriver at home that will do all you need or you could purchase one from a hardware shop. … Cleaning the Guitar 4. As previously stated, a good set-up is a balance of the neck, the nut, and the saddle. Remember, all three aspects of the set-up (neck, nut, and saddle) are related, and when you make changes to one you often need to make changes to all three. Our site uses cookies. If you don’t have a set you will need to loosen the strings and move them out of the way to check. Hi, I’m Luke and I am the founder of Midlife Guitar. Tip: Use a straightedge for added assurance (pictured). Phasers, Flangers, Chorus & Vibrato Effects. These measurements are approximate and we will likely go back and readjust them later based on how the guitar feels. TIP: You are trying to achieve equilibrium. Use the quick links below to jump to any section you’re interested in: 1. First, the human ear tends to forgive a flat note more than a sharp one. In the Guitar Setup course, the third DVD is devoted to acoustic guitar setup. You need a smooth surface in order to play the guitar comfortably. Tip: Some people just cut the strings at full tension with a heavy duty snipper, but there’s a lot of people who think it’s bad for the neck to endure such a rapid change in tension. I prefer to use wood as a shim and you can find thin purfling at StewMac or wood veneer available online or in hobby stores. Repeat this until you find the height that works for you. A truss rod is a mechanism that counters the pull of the strings. Tune the guitar to pitch. Never miss a critical guitar setup point with this Guitar Setup Cheat Sheet, DOWNLOAD THE FREE GUIDE! the instrument in order to match your preference of strings, pickups and playing habits. Whether you are an experienced player or a beginner, giving your guitar a set up on a regular basis is an important part of learning to care for and maintain your guitar.

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