Guitar Repair/Setup Basics... let's fix some sh*t!

[JerEvil]

Hey all! I have talked for the last couple years about learning to do my own setup's and general basic maintenance but have done ZERO about it. I ordered a set of tools from Stwe Mac in 2013 I think and then bought a soldering station back about 18 months or more ago. I decided to try and adjust the action on my GAB Balaguer and confirmed with Joe that I was in fact using the right tool and size for the radius on the neck. Watched a vid on how to use it and that was that!

I also did it try "zero give a darns' fashion and used a 1.5mm allen wrench (the same for adjusting the saddles) to set the Low E sting height since Stew Mac says that's a good general measure for a starting point.

Here's the vids I watched on using the gauge and setting the saddles:

[video]https://youtu.be/-yiBbIzGjW8?t=83[/video]

[video]https://youtu.be/cFPoH40WuEQ?t=257[/video]

Saw this for setting up Les Paul's. Not sure if it's a good one or not but provides some good measurement starting points for neck bow, string and pickup height

[video]https://youtube.com/watch?v=oArF-4nUl38[/video]


Anyone else have good tips, tricks or links to vids - feel free to share!

[Noah]

Cool!

I usually use the Fender guide when I'm attempting setup stuff. https://support.fender.com/hc/en-us/art ... -properly-

[itchyfingers]

Doing a setup for a friend on his Strat right now, and just remembered I hate setting up that stupid trem.

[JerEvil]

Doing a setup for a friend on his Strat right now, and just remembered I hate setting up that stupid trem.

Yeah man I am lucky to only have one guitar with a trem and it is blocked. All hardtail variants.

[Spiderwars]

The Stew Mac String Height gage is a tool I'm really glad I got. I got the metric version just because it seems millimeters are the perfect unit for measuring string height. Makes a good fret rocker too.

Not sure if he's a member here but Xssive on R/T and TGP always has valuable tips. There's no substitute for experience.

[Kardula]

I just rewatched the metal method "how to set up your guitar" dvd I bought like 12 years ago lol (was trying to check pickup height). Lots of great stuff in there on basic guitar setup and cleaning. A few things not in there though are:

Checking for the neck curve perpendicular to the truss rod, there shouldn't be any, the neck shouldn't have have curves or bumps apart form the curve caused by the truss rod. You also want the line the neck follows to be in line with the bridge, if the neck is too low where it attaches to the body, the frets high up will pull sharp. Some of this can be corrected by lowering the bridge, but too much and you'll then through the lower frets out of whack. (I'll check for pictures online to show an example)

Pole pieces should follow the radius of the fretboard/strings, except for the g string. I don't know the reasons behind it but the g string pole piece needs to be lower so that it's not overpowering the rest of the strings.

Cleaner for the pots/switches (this would go for amps too, I also use compressed air to get the little bit of dust that might accumulate). One bit of advise I got from the guy at FJA, and this applies to amps more so, was to make sure you're turning the knobs, this helps prevent them from getting dirt and grime accumulating, not as big an issue on guitars as I think we play more with those dynamics but for amps it's a little more important.

String gauges - if you change gauges you'll want to double check your setup afterwards, especially if there's a large difference in the overall gauge. If you're downtuning, check into strings designed for it (the gb lows are what I use from GHS).

I may have to pickup one of those stewmac tools, those look really useful. I know my information is incredibly basic, but I haven't needed a guitar set up in quite some time. Once it's done right you won't need to do much with it for a long time.

[Mamberg Jr]

I do setups for friends for $10-$20 bucks... Basses I usually charge in the middle of that because trying to distinguish pitch is a bitch sometimes, but My Irig into IKMultimedia app works great I'm not the best... I don't have the proper tools for fret leveling and crowning, and I don't have proper files... I've learned to either use sandpaper, or the thin metal nail files... my neck radius things are the makeshift cardboard ones too

I just rewatched the metal method "how to set up your guitar" dvd I bought like 12 years ago lol (was trying to check pickup height). Lots of great stuff in there on basic guitar setup and cleaning. A few things not in there though are:

Checking for the neck curve perpendicular to the truss rod, there shouldn't be any, the neck shouldn't have have curves or bumps apart form the curve caused by the truss rod. You also want the line the neck follows to be in line with the bridge, if the neck is too low where it attaches to the body, the frets high up will pull sharp. Some of this can be corrected by lowering the bridge, but too much and you'll then through the lower frets out of whack. (I'll check for pictures online to show an example)

Pole pieces should follow the radius of the fretboard/strings, except for the g string. I don't know the reasons behind it but the g string pole piece needs to be lower so that it's not overpowering the rest of the strings.

Cleaner for the pots/switches (this would go for amps too, I also use compressed air to get the little bit of dust that might accumulate). One bit of advise I got from the guy at FJA, and this applies to amps more so, was to make sure you're turning the knobs, this helps prevent them from getting dirt and grime accumulating, not as big an issue on guitars as I think we play more with those dynamics but for amps it's a little more important.

String gauges - if you change gauges you'll want to double check your setup afterwards, especially if there's a large difference in the overall gauge. If you're downtuning, check into strings designed for it (the gb lows are what I use from GHS).

I may have to pickup one of those stewmac tools, those look really useful. I know my information is incredibly basic, but I haven't needed a guitar set up in quite some time. Once it's done right you won't need to do much with it for a long time.

Do you still have that??? do you think You could download and send it to me please??? I would really appreciate it bro... Youtube and asking the Guitar Center Tech only gets you so far...