Set up!

Dooogz

Dooogz

New member
Right guys! i have a problem. Basically i had my guitar set up costing $80 (£40) and it plays nice etc, but when fitting my pickups there must have been a lack of tension, and since playing a lot recently i noticed it drops tune rather quickly (espescailly on G string) but that may just be on the head tuner screwy thingy! Anyway , my cousin agreed with me (although it could just be cus the guitar is reasonably cheap) anyway we thought that maybe tightening the truss rod may be a solution, shall i attempt this myself (i dont fancy another hefty fee) - what should i no whilst doing this???

All i know already is i shouldnt turn it more than half a turn each day!???

cheers,
Doogz
 
Re: Set up!

You have stretched the strings in right? Just do again, maybe the guy that set it up didn't bother to...
 
Re: Set up!

Rub some graphite (pencil) lead in the nut (do it on all of them) and this may well be the problem, or use some lube. Otherwise get a new set of strings and put these on and stretch them. Depending on where you had the guitar set up (US?) you may find that this may be different to the UK. Generally necks don't have to much of a problem because the weather over here is pretty constant.
 
Re: Set up!

no i had it done in UK ( i was just putting the price in context for most forum bro's)!
Right well, ill try this, is tightening the truss rod worth an attempt as the guitar had no strings on it for a good 24 hrs, so there would have been a serious lack of tension!
 
Re: Set up!

Could be cheap tuners, do they have screws to tighten the tenision? Does it go out of tune while playing, or over the course of a week or two?
 
Re: Set up!

I wouldn't mess with the truss rod...assuming it's functioning normally and is not damaged in any way, it wouldn't cause tuning problems. Make sure the strings are wrapped properly around the tuning posts, make sure the nut is lubed, make sure the strings are fresh, and make sure the screw holding the tuners in place is tightened properly.

Ryan
 
Re: Set up!

yah try the graphite thing i had grovers on and my guitar couldnt stay in tune till i rubbed grahpite in the nut
 
Re: Set up!

I've kept strings off a guitar for a day and when i put them back on, the guitar didnt needs truss rod adjustments.. a few guitars actually. Check the crappy tuners. 80 BUCKS?! I do free set ups for anyone that is a friend.. or a friend of a friend... or anyone if i'm bored... :)
 
Re: Set up!

Do some reading, invest in a few tools and experiment a bit. A setup is not that tough if you've got good info and the right tools.
 
Re: Set up!

A setup is not worth $80. Not unless they level your frets, wire your pickups, oil your fret board, and GIVE you a set of DRs. Then maybe...
 
Re: Set up!

It won't hurt the guitar to leave it without strings for a while...I wouldn't let it sit like that for a year unless I loosened the truss rod, but overnight certainly won't hurt anything. What you don't want to do is shock the neck by cutting off the strings while they're still under tension. You might remember the story about Slash ruining one of his Les paul's back in the day when he clipped all the strings under full tension, causing the neck to be damaged from the sudden change in tension.

Ryan
 
Re: Set up!

well, i agree, $80 is exsessive, however i do remember that the cost of living is much higher over here and that is averag price of a set up in the south east!!
 
Re: Set up!

A set up requires a lot if it is done right. Here is what should be done.
Examine the condition of the guitar and judge what adjustments it may require BEFORE REMOVING THE STRINGS.

1. Remove all strings.
2. Buff frets with steel wool (00000). On maple FB the board needs to be taped off. (put tape over the pups so no steel wool attaches to the magnets this can create annoying buzzing)
3. Fingerboard needs to be cleaned Rosewood will require cleaning with Lemon oil. Be careful not to leave to much oil on the board as this can cause the frets to become loose.
4. The entire guitar needs to be cleaned while the strings are off. In certain cases I will take a brush and clean the pole pieces on the PUPS if they need it, as well as the saddles to remove all the gunk in them.
5. Restring the guitar... stretch the strings several times before bringing to pitch. I actually tune the guitar ½ step below pitch and massage the strings by pulling on them over the entire length of the string. Once this has been done I bring the guitar to A440.
6. Check the Truss rod. To do this press 6 string down on the first fret and the last. There should be a small amount of clearance (relief) between the bottom of the string and the top of the 7th fret. IF there is no space the guitar will buzz when fretting. IF there is to much it will buzz in the open position. Relief adjustments can vary depending on how the player prefers the guitar to be set up. I like enough clearance to fit a .011 piece of string between the fret and string. I check this on the 6 and the 1 string. IF the truss rod needs to be adjusted: If you tighten the rod you will remove relief. If you loosen the rod you will add relief. MAKE SMALL ADJUSTMENTS LESS THAN ¼" TURNS AT A TIME.
7. Set the action or string height to the desired setting. Some players prefer low action, some prefer higher action. Most of the time it is best to set it as low as can be set without buzzing. (IMO this is too low).
8. INTONATION: One of the most critical settings to make the guitar play in tune up and down the neck. In essence you are adjusting the length of the strings. Sound the harmonic at the 12th fret, and then fret the note at the 12th fret. Use a good tuner to measure this (A cromatic is best). IF the note is Flat move the saddle forward (towards the neck), If the note is sharp move the saddle back. Do this on each string and repeat it after you have played the guitar a little to see how it feels and sounds. Once this is all done It needs to be polished again.
as you can see a setup does require a lot of steps. However $80. is to much unless the guitar has a Floyd Rose type of bridge. This requires a lot more time to do a proper setup. As someone else here mentioned If you want to do this yourself.... Go buy Dan Erlwines book on guitar m,aintenance. It is available at Stew Mac. Great book.
 
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