Learning to 'Set-up' Your Guitar

[gilligan]

Hello All,

For those of you that do it yourself, what resources (books, websites, etc.) could I investigate to learn how to set-up my guitars (mostly acoustics). I don't want to learn how to hand carve a new saddle or re-glue a bridge just yet, but I'd like to be able to adjust my action and set-up if I change string guages and the like.

Thanks,
gilligan

 

[Roman]

Check out Frank Ford's site . . .

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/pagelist.html

 

[Mingus]

I think that Dan Erlewine's video on acoustic guitar setup and maintenance is THE single most valuable tool that I had when starting out. It was so valuable to me that when it came out on DVD a couple years ago, I rebought it to replace my wearing VHS. Volume 1 is all you need for acoustics. Volume 2 is Archtops.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Video,_DVD/ ... onics.html

$50 may seem like a lot for a DVD, but when you consider that $50 is an average price for "set ups," it seems a lot cheaper!

-James

 

[RussD]

I think that Dan Erlewine's video on acoustic guitar setup and maintenance is THE single most valuable tool ...

+1
Beat me to it: I very highly recommend Dan's DVD.

Or you can attend Galloup's session in August with me! Woohoo! Galloup Guitars

 

[chazzan]

Dan Erlewine's book "the guitar player repair guide" great book to be read and re read

 

[guitar man]

I saw a dvd offered on ebay a while back about setting up an acoustic. It wasn't very expensive. I guess everyone has their own ideas about set up and string etc. I took my collings to a pro and had the action lowered then I felt like I lost some volumn so I had him re-do it. Never satisfied!!

 

[gilligan]

Thanks much for the input.

I've already begun reading on Frank Ford's (lengthy) website, and I'm waiting for the big brown box truck to deliver Dan Erlewine's 2-voume disc set. I'm sure it will be very interesting to me, and will pay for itself shorlty (should I be able to perform the basic operations myself).

gilligan

 

[DennisMiller]

Dan's book is terrific.

Because I have a much larger investment in my acoustics than my electrics, I have the courage to do practically anything on my electric guitars, but not my acoustic guitars.

I will adjust the neck, tighten the tuners, or grind down a saddle to improve the action. I'll change a saddle completely to try a different material and I've been known to shape the saddle or cut nut slots myself.

On the other hand, finishing work, crack repairs and even the drilling and installation of a strap button so it definitely hits the neck block are some things I have left to a qualified tech. I have a K&K Mini sitting here that was going to be installed in a guitar, but once I read the instructions and realized how far I needed to get my huge hands into the inside of my guitar, I decided it might be best installed by someone who has done it before.

None of what I can do is highly technical and most of it can be done with the guitar FAR across the room out of harm's way. I prefer it that way.

 

[chazmo]

One thing I'd recommend is to find someone you trust who's done this kind of work before. Do the stuff with a friend; it's more fun that way anyway.

Changing strings and minor truss-rod adjustments are so easy, though, that you can certainly give 'em a go on your own. Cleaning the guitar, in general, requires practically no experience.

However, shaving down a saddle is perhaps borderline on the difficulty scale that I wouldn't cross over. Anything that requires hole drilling is right out for me. Carving into the nut, fret filing, and especially neck reset (even on a bolt-on) are way beyond anything I'd take on. If you're trying your hand at any of these things, you might want to hone your skills on a guitar that you might not care about messing up. You can get reasonable guitars off eBay for under $100 that you won't mind testing with. Or, you can go into Wal-Mart and do the world a favor by getting rid of one of those First-Act junkboxes. I recommend lighter fluid (and a match) for finish work on those

 

[eixid]

Hi gilligan,

Would love to hear your opinion on Dan's dvd. I'm considering getting vol.1. Did you find it helpful and are you now doing your setups yourself? I like doing basic setup work but I feel there's a lot of simple adjustments I could make to get better sound, but I don't know what they are. $50 sounds like a lot of $ for a dvd but that's what a basic setup would cost at the shop. Thanks for your opinion,
Mike