• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

Want to learn how to set up.

N

nohoguitar

New member
Joined
Dec 23, 2008
Messages
3
So I want to learn how to set up my JPM 6 string. I have some string buzz on the low E, and around the 4th fret G string. The guitar tends to go sharp right now. I have bought books on floating bridge but when I follow the direction . . it seams to never workout very well.

Anyways. I have been seaching the forum, if anyone one has written on the subject could you please reply me your links.


Or if you have any advice, a million thank yous!



Just want it to play the way I know it should.

Nohoguitar.
 
beej

beej

Moderator
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Messages
12,337
Location
Toronto, Canada
Tommy, you ever want to write that stuff down I'll be the first guy to cut you a cheque ;) (Better yet- put out a solo album!)

Basic setup isn't such a mystery- just get a handle on getting the neck straight (or with a bit of relief if you like) before touching the trem. Once the trem is level you can set the saddle height & intonation.

Google is your friend. Just read what you can, and give it a shot. Dan Erlewine has a good basic book that's handy ([ame=http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Player-Repair-Guide-Erlewine/dp/0879302917]Amazon.com: Guitar Player Repair Guide: Dan Erlewine: Books[/ame]), think there's a video as well. But this is all stuff you can easily research.

Another option is to find somebody in your neck of the woods (a fellow forumite, guitar tech, etc.) and ask them to let you watch while they set up your guitar. You'll learn a lot by watching somebody do it.

Eventually we all get stuck and there's an issue we can't tackle (fret job, warped neck, bad nut, you name it), then it's time to ask a pro for help. But give the setup a shot and you'll learn a ton in the process. Bottom line, don't be afraid to tinker.
 
TNT

TNT

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 18, 2005
Messages
3,576
Location
Oakland - Raider Nation!
You know, guitar set up is somewhat of a "developed" skill. Even though you read it in a book, it's not the same.

In other words, buy a cheap, used guitar and just practise, like you would anything else. After a while, you will learn exactly how to set up ANY guitar, whether stop tail, Floyd, etc. . .

Every dedicated "long term" guitar player has learned this skill thru trial and error.
They have no choice, or they would be running back and forth to their tech every couple hours!!!

Learn the skill!!
 
Colin

Colin

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2005
Messages
10,649
Location
Brisbane Queensland
learn to crawl before you walk. start off by learning how to look after your guitar like cleaning body, fretboard etc. Then master the art of changing the strings and setting intonation (believe me this is an art especially if you don't have locking tuners). I still get my guitars professionally setup once/twice a year going from winter into summer and vise versa (it's like with owning a car the mechanic knows best). but then having the confidence/knowledge to adjust the truss rod, set the action and adjust the trem to suit the radius is also worth learning. Good luck with it. :)
 
L

Lord Nerdos

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 5, 2008
Messages
51
Drew Montell on YouTube

Hi there!

I found a couple of great videos at youtube from a guy called Drew who works at Ernie Ball. In fact I followed it for the first time to adjust my truss rod.

[ame=http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=FNHV-IHhhBU&feature=related]YouTube - Truss Rod Adjustment[/ame]

I always thought that adjusting the truss rod might cause the Earth to shift on its axis and trigger the end of the world... but all it did was lower the action on my Axis SS.

There is a lot of voodoo surrounding guitar maintenance, but it's not brain surgery.

To the guys at MusicMan - any chance of more videos from Drew with other basic guitar tech?

Cheers,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom