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What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

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  • #1

    What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

    I just had the nut replaced on my Strat as well as had a new floating bridge installed. The money it cost to do those jobs alone is hurting really bad right now, so I was wondering what are some good general locations that I could work off of?

    I heard neck should be so that if you press the first and last frets you could slide a business card, but not a credit card under the strings at the 12th fret without moving the string.

    What are some good tips for string action at the bridge, radiusing the saddles to the neck, adjusting the relief, or any other things I should keep in mind setting up this guitar?
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  • #2
    Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

    You just have to practice. I memorized the look of the bow, string height, and string contour that I like. Some measurements I'll shoot out there where you really do NOT want to **** up is string height at the nut. Staggered 0.018" at the 1st string to 0.023" at the 6th string. If you (or your luthe) hit these measurements, I promise there will be no pressing the strings sharp, no buzzing from not enough clearance, and enough height to dig into but not hard to bar the 1st fret.
    The things that you wanted
    I bought them for you

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    • #3
      Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

      When you had the nut & bridge installed the tech did not set the guitars action?
      aka Chris Pile, formerly of Six String Fever

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      • #4
        Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

        I think he means he doesn't want to pay anymore.
        The things that you wanted
        I bought them for you

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        • #5
          Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

          ^ So if the guitar was setup well in that recent work, the measurements he can look at are right on a guitar he has in front of him. Seeing it in person is usually more helpful than just reading about it.

          Its nut slot height and relief that you can measure as repeatable aspects. The other side is not so visible, and thats the fretwork you might need to do. But that is a 'less often' type aspect, and needs a bit of practice and a few specialist tools.

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          • #6
            Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

            I think he means he doesn't want to pay anymore.
            When I install a nut or bridge on a clients' axe the setup is part of the job, and thus included in the price.
            aka Chris Pile, formerly of Six String Fever

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            • #7
              Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

              A guitar's pretty simple if you're just doing a basic setup.

              For setting the truss rod, I usually capo the 1st and fret the 15th frets and then check that there's a very tiny gap (just enough to make a sound when you tap it) over the 7th and 8th frets. A nut that's set to proper height should leave the strings a hair above kissing the first fret. That done, it's time to adjust action. Are you getting string buzzing? Is it hard to fret notes? Then you want to move the bridge up or down, respectively.
              Join me in the fight against muscular atrophy!

              Originally posted by Douglas Adams
              This planet has - or rather had - a problem, which was this: most of the people living on it were unhappy for pretty much of the time. Many solutions were suggested for this problem, but most of these were largely concerned with the movements of small green pieces of paper, which is odd because on the whole it wasn't the small green pieces of paper that were unhappy.

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              • #8
                Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

                How did it leave the bench without those things being done?
                YouTube is a great resource, and probably the best as it is difficult to describe what to do. The other option is to pay more for a setup (but that should have been done with the original work).
                Administrator of the SDUGF

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                • #9
                  Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

                  Originally posted by ICTGoober View Post
                  When I install a nut or bridge on a clients' axe the setup is part of the job, and thus included in the price.
                  In the future.
                  The things that you wanted
                  I bought them for you

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                  • #10
                    Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

                    That stuff just takes time man. Also - and here is an important note - those things run in a "cycle"

                    Change the truss, you might want to change the height. Change either and you might want to check intonation, that might make you want to goof with the radius a little. Change the radius, you might be able to lower the height a touch for bends!

                    When a tech does this they DO NOT DO THESE THINGS OVER AND OVER until prefect, and especially not perfect for you. They tend to go radius, truss, height, intone, done! Now - can that work great? Yes. Or it might just be ok.

                    Set the radius to spec, Get the neck right, adjust the height and so on as a start and then decide what needs changed by moving just a little at a time and playing for a while.

                    It's all about you, a screwdriver, and some patience! Anyone can do it better than a tech will.
                    Originally posted by Bad City
                    He's got the crowd on his side and the blue jean lights in his eyes...

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                    • #11
                      Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

                      Anyone can do it better than a tech will.
                      I never took you for stupid. But that post IS.
                      aka Chris Pile, formerly of Six String Fever

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                      • #12
                        Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

                        Originally posted by ICTGoober View Post
                        I never took you for stupid. But that post IS.
                        I don't think Ace was slighting techs or the job they do . . . just pointing out that they're usually not going to set it perfectly for an individual's style since most of their work is done without the player present. They're going to set it up for what they think is good, but that won't necessarily exactly match all the nuances of what a player prefers.

                        Anyone can learn to set up an electric guitar well. It's not rocket science, mostly it's turning screws and Allen keys.
                        Join me in the fight against muscular atrophy!

                        Originally posted by Douglas Adams
                        This planet has - or rather had - a problem, which was this: most of the people living on it were unhappy for pretty much of the time. Many solutions were suggested for this problem, but most of these were largely concerned with the movements of small green pieces of paper, which is odd because on the whole it wasn't the small green pieces of paper that were unhappy.

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                        • #13
                          Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

                          I own a pair of digital calipers and mark down all the dimensions of a setup and the guitar.... that way I can better understand my preferences when selecting components, ordering a guitar online or building one

                          Here's just a portion of my sheet

                          Click image for larger version Name: Screenshot 2019-09-28 17.01.32.jpg Views: 1 Size: 89.3 KB ID: 5817152
                          Last edited by NegativeEase; 09-28-2019, 03:05 PM.
                          “For me, when everything goes wrong – that’s when adventure starts.” Yvonne Chouinard

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                          • #14
                            Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

                            I don't think Ace was slighting techs or the job they do . . . just pointing out that they're usually not going to set it perfectly for an individual's style since most of their work is done without the player present. They're going to set it up for what they think is good, but that won't necessarily exactly match all the nuances of what a player prefers.

                            Anyone can learn to set up an electric guitar well. It's not rocket science, mostly it's turning screws and Allen keys.
                            You just jumped in the same boat as Ace. A good tech observes how the client plays, and asks lots of questions before even putting the guitar on the bench. Communication is the first skill a tech must master.... And apparently, you two have never worked with a guy who communicated well. My whole deal is making the client happy, so I set it up the way they want - not what I think is ideal. I have some guys who like their action higher because they play aggressively, and some who want the guitar to play itself - so I accommodate their desires. I'm not the cat who says, "This is what you get, period".

                            You're right, it's not rocket science. It's closer to a dark art.
                            aka Chris Pile, formerly of Six String Fever

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                            • #15
                              Re: What are some good tricks to approximate a guitar setup?

                              If you have a good tech who does as ITC says, you are set. Some people aren't that lucky, so they have to settle for what someone else does. They would be better off investing in some tools and learning how to do it themselves, if they are so inclined.
                              It's kind of like being able to change your own oil or spark plugs etc.

                              Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

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