Guide to setting up a guitar

robinbowes

I know vaguely what to do when setting up a guitar - intonation, string height, etc. - but I'd quite like to have a more formal guide to follow. Can anyone point me at such a thing?

The guitar I'm looking to set up in this instance is the Mex Tele project I've recently (almost) completed. It needs intonating more accurately and the action setting up to match the neck profile.

Thanks in advance for any links to good reference material.

R.

markv

There are any number of online guides videos etc - here's a fairly simple example at Stewmac: http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Learn_About_String_Action_and_Setup/Basic_Set-up_Instructions.html

However, if you want more detail, I think Dan Erlewine's book "How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great" is one of the classics: http://amzn.eu/e6Cnxh7

robgilmo

There is always this.
https://support.fender.com/hc/en-us/articles/214343803-How-do-I-set-up-my-Telecaster-guitar-properly-

richardhomer

There's an 'order' to this: nut height, relief, action, intonation, pick-up height.

Nut height should be assessed by fretting (or capoing) at the third fret - it should be possible to easily tap each string on to the first fret.

Relief is evaluated using the low E as a straight-edge (fretted/capoed at first fret and fretted where neck meets the body). There should be a gap of around the thinkness of the top E between the bottom of the string and the 7/8th fret. Heavy handed players may prefer more relief - lighter players can get away with less.

Action - it should be possible to bend the top E a full tone (two frets in pitch terms) without choking, the B one and a half tones and the G two full tones. 

Intonation is note fretted 12th fret vs harmonic. A good tuner App (the Poly Tune's great) is worthwhile - move the saddle towards the nut it the fretted note is flat and backwards if sharp. You should always evaluate intonation with the guitar in the playing position.

Pick-up height I tend to set by ear - the treble side closer to the strings than the bass side.

Hootsmon

Dicky

you think in general 010 relief is best for LP types?

richardhomer

hootsmon said:

Dicky

you think in general 010 relief is best for LP types?

I prefer less relief that on my guitars.

Gibsons will generally play buzz-free with lower actions than Fenders (assuming the frets are properly levelled).

If your right hand attack is relatively light, you proberly won't need that much relief. If you play with SRV-like attack, you'll need more.

NickL

There's loads of advice out there, but Fender's own instructions are a reasonable place to start:

https://support.fender.com/hc/en-us/articles/214343803-How-do-I-set-up-my-Telecaster-guitar-properly-

NickL

There's loads of advice out there, but Fender's own instructions are a reasonable place to start:

https://support.fender.com/hc/en-us/articles/214343803-How-do-I-set-up-my-Telecaster-guitar-properly-