Electric Guitar Setup

Remove the truss rod cover.

Electric guitar setup.

A professional electric guitar setup aside how well you play is how your guitar delivers the richest sound quality. Look down the profile of the fretboard on both the bass and treble sides of the neck is the neck straight or is there a curve. Below you will find all the information you need to setup your guitar the right way. To do this we will measure your guitar neck s action and adjust it for both fender and gibson style bridges.

Tune the guitar to desired pitch. Sight a guitar neck. In part 2 we will fine tune your string height so your guitar is perfectly tailored to your playing style. A playable guitar that sounds amazing requires a setting up process only then will your guitar play well.

Tools a machinist rule a screwdriver or hex key electric guitar calipers a shim stock or stationary belt sander acoustic guitar. I ve been blown away by the improvements in playability and sound clarity that come from minor adjustments to the guitar s setup. Tune the guitar to pitch. Turn the guitar on its side close one eye and look down the neck from the headstock towards the bridge left.

First sight the neck just to see what condition it s in. Sight the neck please read the beginning of this article for thorough instruction on sighting your guitar s neck. With the guitar on its side look down the fingerboard edge for overall straightness back bow relief forward bow and humps as well as high or uneven frets. Setting up a guitar can be a daunting undertaking even to seasoned players.

Set the relief capo the first fret and press the 15th fret with your finger then use your feeler gauge on the 8th fret to measure the height. A guitar set up balances the numerous settings that affect tuning tone and playability. If you need electric guitar repair you should explore our electric guitar luthier services. On an acoustic guitar you may have to shim or sand the bridge saddle.

Guitars and wooden stringed instruments in general are malleable. Use a straightedge for added assurance pictured. Setting up a guitar involves working with the bridge nut and neck adjustments to dial in the playing action to suit the player. A guitar s action can also be adjust at the bridge.