Guitar setup (1 Viewer)

[ShiftZZ]

Has anyone ever been on a course on how to setup or fine tune a guitar?

 

[PaulyP]

Has anyone ever been on a course on how to setup or fine tune a guitar?

No, but you will find everything you need to know on YouTube.

 

[The Wino]

I think I'd have a go after looking at u tube but only on a spare guitar!.

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[ShiftZZ]

Looked at yiut, enty of stuff, but I think I would rather do hands on..

 

[eddie]

Has anyone ever been on a course on how to setup or fine tune a guitar?

What would you need to know?

Luckily I have pitch perfect hearing and can tune a guitar perfectly by ear. If not use a pitch fork or a new fangled electronic tuner

 

[old-mo]

ShiftZZ .........

Before I gave all my stuff to a young boy who lives opposite and could not afford a guitar...

I gave him one of these =

Amazon product ASIN B002IRTZWM

Idiot proof and dead easy to set up and tune a guitar...

And NOT expensive..

He has had my guitar for a couple of months and is getting on well with it..

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[Coolcats]

Has anyone ever been on a course on how to setup or fine tune a guitar?

Everyone will have a different take but this may help

1) Download the fender Guitar Tuner on you phone Apple or Google App store

2) You may want to use structured sessions by joining Fender Play which is a monthly subscription service here is a review

Personally I think this structured program is a good way to start

 

[Janine]

Or are you talking about fettling the guitar as in bridge and nut height etc?

 

[ShiftZZ]

I mean fine tune as in setting the bridge, nut etc, plus the Truss rod, Intonation, fret dressing.

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[robnchris]

If you have a smart phone download the App "Simply Tuner" will tune Acoustic, Electric, Bass and Ukulele. also shows Chords.
Brilliant App which I use on a daily basis.

Just seen the two above posts, my bet would be find a local Luthier.

 

[eddie]

I mean fine tune as in setting the bridge, nut etc, plus the Truss rod, Intonation, fret dressing.

Again, it really is a combination of personal choice, playing style and tone

 

[Janine]

I mean fine tune as in setting the bridge, nut etc, plus the Truss rod, Intonation, fret dressing.

Is the action too high at the moment?

If you are going to file the nut, do it millimeters at a time with specialist files. (Look on ebay for fret files)
Don’t take it too low otherwise it will buzz.

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[ShiftZZ]

Is the action too high at the moment?

If you are going to file the nut, do it millimeters at a time with specialist files. (Look on ebay for fret files)
Don’t take it too low otherwise it will buzz.

That's the problem, Intonation is off, I need to be able to sort these things out, I have a Fender strat, but I don't want to screw that up. Just thought it would be a good thing to learn..

 

[headlight]

What style bridge does your strat have ?
Intonation is easy to set.

 

[gpat]

Take it to a good guitar shop. Its a skilled job and you can make a real mess of it. They do it with their eyes shut and charge surprising not much. I once messed with my strat and I had buzzing frets for weeks. An hour in the shop, sorted

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[headlight]

You can't make a mess of setting intonation as you're just adjusting the string length.
If you adjust (file) the nut or adjust string height or neck relief, then you could get fret buzz, choking etc.

 

[grasscutter]

I’ve always take mine to a luthier. Really didn’t want to mess them up.

 

[headlight]

Seriously if it's just intonation a luthier is not needed.
If intonation is sharp lengthen the string if it's flat shorten the string, using the bridge string adjustment screws.

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[ShiftZZ]

What style bridge does your strat have ?
Intonation is easy to set.

It's just I want to be able to do it all. I have a strat and a telecaster.

 

[ShiftZZ]

Seriously if it's just intonation a luthier is not needed.
If intonation is sharp lengthen the string if it's flat shorten the string, using the bridge string adjustment screws.
View attachment 690486

Nice gear

 

[headlight]

Nice gear

Thanks, I've been playing off and on for over 40 years.

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[ShiftZZ]

Thanks, I've been playing off and on for over 40 years.

I'm currently having lessons, bought my 1st guitar in Cardiff, an accoustic Eros,, that was a long time ago..

 

[headlight]

I live in Cardiff.

 

[ShiftZZ]

Seriously if it's just intonation a luthier is not needed.
If intonation is sharp lengthen the string if it's flat shorten the string, using the bridge string adjustment screws.
View attachment 690486

Looks like shredding gear..

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[headlight]

You can play any style on any guitar.
I don't really shred, mainly classic rock, metal and blues.

 

[Dorwyn]

My eldest son Gary is in the process of opening a guitar shop in Mont de Marsan, France. He offers a guitar servicing and dressing service. Not much help here, but if anyone is on their way to Spain, it's roughly en route!! I was seriously wondering if there was much call for his skills in the middle of France since I'd never heard of the facility, so perhaps it'll work for him!

 

[Dorwyn]

And incidentally he did take such a course a while ago in Lyon. But that's probably too far for you!!

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[makems]

That's the problem, Intonation is off, I need to be able to sort these things out, I have a Fender strat, but I don't want to screw that up. Just thought it would be a good thing to learn..

If intonation is off this can all be adjusted quite simply and you won’t screw anything up that isn’t easily reversed.
you need to-learn this because if you ever change string height (also easy) or change to a different guage of stings eg from 9s to 10s then the intonation will need to be adjusted.
Assuming you have string height as low as you like it (always adjust this first using the vertical screws on the bridge saddles), then using a clip on digital tuner play an open string and ensure it is exactly in tune. Next play the same string at the 12th fret. If the intonation is correct it should be the same note one octave higher and perfectly in tune. If it isn’t in tune do the following:
If the fretted 12th fret note is sharp, adjusting the horizontal screw at the back of the bridge clockwise will improve intonation. Give it a half turn, re-tune the open string and check the fretted 12fret note again.
If the fretted 12th fret note is flat, adjusting the screw clockwise will improve intonation.
Things like truss rod adjustment and especially nut slot adjustment are definitely in the ”advanced” category and should not be attempted without having the correct tools and either some training or a great deal of confidence.
Fret levelling and crowning require skill and specialist tools.
for years I have done my own string height and intonation adjustment - I learnt by trial and error more than 50 years ago. If I need any other adjustments I take my guitars to a proper luthier - they are all expensive instruments that I use on stage and I can’t afford to ruin them.
while it would be interesting to know how to carry out the specialist adjustments, I really wouldn’t get to use those skills more than a couple of times a year (I have half a dozen guitars but hardly ever change string guage) so it wouldn’t be worth the cost. my luthier will do a fret level and crown, adjust nut, string height and intonation for £75 (£85 for my 12 string).
courses seem to range from £120 to £200 then there are the tools required £100 for Chinese stuff up to £300 for pro level tools.
hope that helps