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Post by squeallydan on Apr 10, 2006 7:21:55 GMT -7
I've played for a long time, but I've always taken my guitars to someone else. It would be nice to save some money and time. Is it that hard to set up intonation, bridge, pickup height, etc?
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 10, 2006 7:40:02 GMT -7
None of that stuff is hard to do at all. There are some good books to help you. Dan Erlewine has a real good one. It also has a lot of other interesting peripheral stuff in it. I keep it for when I need to do some heavy reading in the "reading room". Seriously you can do all that stuff. I just wouldn't try any real fret work. If you need a polish, send that out.
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dave
New Member
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Post by dave on Apr 10, 2006 7:55:19 GMT -7
I've always done my own set ups, nothing much you can do wrong but keep truss rod adjustments to 1/8 turn at a time, then leave for a day to let things settle - take it slowly. Fret dressing and nut slots are a one-way trip though, and the right tools are needed. For fret work you can't beat a Plek fret job. Check out the set-up guide on the Chris Kinman website. Has the basics on truss rods, action and pick up heights. Intonation is also easy with a good accurate tuner. Get hold of a peterson strobostromp. The Perfect Strat page is well worth a read. www.kinman.com/html/toneWorkshop/tone.htmIts very satisfying to tweak things around a bit.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 10, 2006 8:20:48 GMT -7
I agree - I do everything except fret and nut work. The nut has to be the most critical of all...
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 10, 2006 8:56:30 GMT -7
When I've cut a nut slot too deep I've mixed super glue and white plastic shavings and filled then recut. Works okay. The biggest problem is the proper files so best left to a pro.
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Post by Curt on Apr 10, 2006 9:26:59 GMT -7
+1, same here, Leave the fret and nut work to the pro's.
BUT.....I have had some luck when building a guit or swapping a neck on a Fender with using a pre-cut Graph-tech nut, perhaps not perfect, but serviceable for sure.
Read all you can, stay with 1/8th turn at a time as stated above on truss rod adjustments and enjoy, It'll give you a chance to find "your" neck relief, etc.
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Post by guitarman1 on Apr 10, 2006 10:59:41 GMT -7
Intonation, truss rod/neck relief, tremelo adjustment & pickup height are very easy to do and don't require any special/expensive tools. I've been doing mine since I was a kid. You can find a bunch of info by Googling the web.
Nuts & fretwork is a whole 'nother ball-o-wax. I've seen "qulified repairmen" screw this stuff up.
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Post by squeallydan on Apr 10, 2006 12:20:33 GMT -7
Thanks guys.
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Post by prowler on Apr 10, 2006 20:09:24 GMT -7
I do all setups on my guitars. About the only thing I wont try is fret jobs and such. Doing a basic setup is a quick and easy thing to do/learn.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2006 20:48:41 GMT -7
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Post by kevinfromeastky on Apr 12, 2006 21:03:56 GMT -7
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Post by tele1962 on Apr 14, 2006 11:14:18 GMT -7
Dan...while all these components to a good setup are relatively easy to do, it's also true that some guys have a natural feel for doing it, and some stuggle to get a nice action because their "feel" of the neck is interpretively rough. Same with PU height adjustment. It's not that they don't know HOW to do it, it's that they can't hear or feel the same as someone who's a natural. Each step has a trick to it, and this is learned by watching an expereinced guy do it, talking to those who can, and years of doing! The mechanics of doing it are easy. The results, even from guys who think they're right on the money, are sometimes suspect. The most interesting one I did recently was a '54 Anniversary Stratocaster ( the REAL one worth $5300) straight from Fender Custom Shop, and played OK, but just OK. 30 minutes later and the guy that owned it is saying " Holy cow! You mean this is what they played like in 1954?...this is amazing!" Answer was " No, only if they were set up right back then as well!"
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Post by combo800 on Apr 14, 2006 11:19:47 GMT -7
Thanks for the link, Kevin.
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 14, 2006 11:20:33 GMT -7
The Erlewine How To Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great has a lot of real interesting reading in it. I highly recommend it on that level alone.
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dave
New Member
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Post by dave on Apr 14, 2006 11:25:40 GMT -7
Charlie Chandler, Londons guitar repair guru, has just published a slim volume - a Guitarist's guide to set-up and and maintenance'. Saw it last week. Looks good and only £9.99! www.guitarexperience.co.uk/html/index.php
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Post by kevinfromeastky on Apr 25, 2006 18:06:22 GMT -7
Thanks for the link, Kevin. No problem, I hope it helped.
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Post by Paul (TRANE) on May 12, 2006 11:32:40 GMT -7
I do all my own set up work. Mostly due to my being way to picky on what I expect. I also now do all my own electronics work. Kind of forced into that due to nasty personalities in some of the local repair folks. Long story. Try it yourself afterall...it is your guitar....Do not be afraid to work on it. However, if you are ever unsure stop and have an experienced person show you so you can do it yourself later.
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