How did you learn to set your guitar up?

[LowDesertSludge]

I feel I need to learn how. I'm a mechanic by trade, but I feel with simple pointers and some notes, I could make it happen. I half way want to put an ad on Craigslist and ask for an afternoon of help for some beer. I don't wanna ask my guitar shop/guy, that's almost like taking food out of his mouth.

 

[marvcus]

By taking older guitars apart and re-assembling them and by putting together kits or parts guitars. I had the benefit of working at a guitar store with a full repair shop and learned by watching and reading manuals. Most of it, though, was by deconstruction/reconstruction. You learn so much that way.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

By realizing the old saying that "if you want something done right...."

I've had a few people work on guitars. They come back with new dents. I had a guy make a nut before, the string spacing was way off. I've even had guys work on my guitars that people told me "best guy around for work" and I've had issues with their work.

I'm one of "those guys" so I do most everything myself. I even repaired a dent in the clearcoat of the neck binding a couple weeks back with super glue and it came out perfect. If I need a tool I buy it.

Finally, I can not stand not knowing how to do something and I also can't stand waiting two weeks for someone to do something.

As far as setups, action, neck relief, etc.... there's been no time in history when it's been easier to learn. YOUTUBE.

I'm always wrenching on something. My buddy brought this Jackson over the other day. I put an EMG in it back in 87. EMG straight to volume to jack. Lego block in the floyd cavity because I didn't have a clue how to setup a Floyd. Thank God I'm not a hack like I was back then. We're putting all new guts in it with new pickups and I'll even go the extra mile and setup his Floyd properly this time.

 

[cardinal]

I learned by just screwing around with the guitars I had. Unless you act completely insane, adjusting basic set up stuff like action, truss rod, trem angles, shimming the neck, wiring, etc., can't do any damage to the guitar.

I'd like to learn how to do fret work, but screwing that up does have consequences.

 

[snowdog]

Report to YouTube there are videos for everything there.

 

[anomaly]

Something I picked up from articles and stuff.

 

[LowDesertSludge]

Anyone trust a specific you tube vid over all the rest?

 

[H Golf Sport]

Available at amazon. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...=14ckC5Tti1bofV0717wwLg&bvm=bv.87920726,d.cGU

If your a mech by trade basic setups should be a piece of cake.
Make yourself some straightedges and feelerguages.

 

[jammin1]

Stew Mac has some good vids and sells all the tools that you would need!
https://www.youtube.com/user/stewartmacdonald

 

[rusty1070]

No youtubes in the 80's when I started playing as a kid. The first new guitar my folks bought for me had instructions on how to adjust the neck and intonation. The rest was just fooling around with pickup height and bridge height. Learned how to do fretwork from youtube in recent years. Do small adjustments to start with.

 

[LowDesertSludge]

Available at amazon. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...=14ckC5Tti1bofV0717wwLg&bvm=bv.87920726,d.cGU

If your a mech by trade basic setups should be a piece of cake.
Make yourself some straightedges and feelerguages.

is this a newer edition? I own this book, but was told by a guitar shop its out-dated in the wiring section. He told me they get more work from people buying this book and trying it on their own and failing. But if the truss rod and string height section are solid, I'll supplement my learning with it.

 

[LowDesertSludge]

Stew Mac has some good vids and sells all the tools that you would need!
https://www.youtube.com/user/stewartmacdonald

I couldn't remember that name, Thank you! I remember watching a 12 part series on strat building and the luthier used those tools exclusively.

 

[H Golf Sport]

Available at amazon. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...=14ckC5Tti1bofV0717wwLg&bvm=bv.87920726,d.cGU

If your a mech by trade basic setups should be a piece of cake.
Make yourself some straightedges and feelerguages.

is this a newer edition? I own this book, but was told by a guitar shop its out-dated in the wiring section. He told me they get more work from people buying this book and trying it on their own and failing. But if the truss rod and string height section are solid, I'll supplement my learning with it.

I have an older edition. Not a lot of wiring other than how to solder and a couple of mods.
I would refer to Duncan or DiMarzio etc... for wiring diagrams for your pickup.
Don't know how it could be out of date. Wiring pickups hasn't changed much since the first les pauls and tele's. Different color codes per manufacturer and now there are actives etc... but the process is the same.

Set up info is solid.

 

[ke2]

This is pretty good reading:

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-technic ... 101-a.html

 

[Fragglerick]

Back before the internet I used to hang out at a local music store and bug the shit out of the tech there. (Jim Mouradian)
Fortunately he's an extremely caring person and would answer all my questions. He could tell that I was a tinker-er and I just wanted to take what I had and fuck with it to make it how I wanted. His best advice was "don't be afraid, just dig in and try".

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

Ask on here dude, we'll help you out as well. What are you trying to do specifically?

 

[dfrattaroli]

It's never good to just start flailing away at a guitar. There are plenty of books and videos on the net. Buy the tools you need if you're going to commit to it. And also realize there are things better left to a tech. A real tech. Not someone that installed a pickup for a buddy once during the Super Bowl while drinking beers...

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

Also, know your limits. I draw the line at fret work. I don't have the tools or knowledge.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

trial and error, books, guitar forums and google/youtube videos

 

[LowDesertSludge]

Did some reading last night. This guitar players repair guide seems very straight forward. And im trying my 1st one on a hard tail strat. I feel I understand the chore of intonation a little more clearly too.