Took the 339 in for 100,000 mile service

[voggin]

I've had my ES 339 for about 15 months now. Played it every day.

It was my first semi-hollow, and it took me a while to set it up how I liked it. I found I played it a little more aggressively (I'm usually a pretty light touch), but the thing was so dynamic in its response that the range from subtle to sharper pick attack really made a huge difference, and all the sounds were great, especially on a just enough gain to break up setting. Great guitar.

Anyway, I've been trying to do more of my own setups, and got everything to about 95% of where I wanted it. I ended up with slightly higher action than my lp, with a bit more of a difference from the low E to high E. I also put on .010s (it came with 9's, apparently changed by the original owner from the stock 10s.) I noticed the 15th fret was a little high, and needed to be filed down. Didn't want to do that myself, so I took it in to a very good tech.

I decided that while it was there I'd spend the extra 50 bucks to have him give it the full set up treatment, now that I know exactly what I want.

So, after all that preface, my question is: how do I get to the point where I can do the full 100% of the work on my guitars? I've read the Erlwhine book, I've watched a lot of YouTube videos, but I'm still not confident enough to do the extra-fine detail stuff. Is there a better book or video course out there? Should I buy an old beater to practise on? How did you guys and gals get past the "basic setup" stage?

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Took the 339 in for 100,000 mile service

For me it was just a case of gradually acquiring the right tools for the job, rolling up my sleeves and giving it a go. I've never bought a really cheap guitar just for the sake of practising as such, but I have turned cheap guitars into something better. I guess I learned most from putting together my Warmoth guitars - I have three. Doing that gave me the opportunity to try fret work, beyond just polishing them up; you need a little nerve to do your first fret level, but it's actually not as bad as you might first expect, it just needs to be done step by step, with the right preparation, the right tools and patience. After that, fret ends are easy.

 

[Bludave]

Took the 339 in for 100,000 mile service

I like you draw the line at fret levels and making a nut. These two items IMHO make a guitar or break it. I have been playing a long time and I know how I like my guitars setup and I also know how my guitars NEED to be setup for them to play properly. Even though I have done fret levels I don't like doing them. I always afraid of going too far the same thing with nuts. You cans buy a standard nut and adjust it to fit or you can make one from a piece of whatever material you choose but having the right tools is only part of it, it's knowing how to use them. I am more of a player then a tech and I think I prefer it this way. But as I said I can do a pretty mean setup

 

[voggin]

Re: Took the 339 in for 100,000 mile service

Thanks for help. I think I'm with you, Bluedave, frets and nuts scare me.

Dying to get the guitar back. Hard being down to three!

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Took the 339 in for 100,000 mile service

Is it nitpicking to point out that 15 months on a guitar is nothing like 100k miles on a car?

 

[voggin]

Re: Took the 339 in for 100,000 mile service

Is it nitpicking to point out that 15 months on a guitar is nothing like 100k miles on a car?

I got it used. Had some city miles on it.