How do I set up my Stratocaster® guitar properly? Remove the truss rod cover, if so equipped, and apply a capo at the 1st fret. Place your capo back on the 1st fret, you can now pull and remove the bridge pins from the bridge with no damage to the tuning post windings. Once the strings have settled "up" to pitch, you can start to check some of the measurements that determine great playability. Always refer to your Fender owner's manual for additional information and/or instruction. Solid Tops, FG, L series, APX/CPX700/9001st String: 1.8mm / .07087 inches (4/64th)6th String: 2.6mm / .10236 inches (6/64th) 1st String: 1.8mm / .07087 inches (4/64th) 6th String: 2.6mm / … Using a feeler gauge, check the distance between the top of the eighth fret and the bottom of the sixth string. This results in more volume, sustain and more "wood" in the guitar's tone. After an initial visual inspection of the guitar, the least expensive and most dramatic enhancement to a guitar's sound and playability is to install a fresh set of strings. Remove the capo from the 1st fret and whilst looking at the side of the fingerboard on the bass side, place your small ruler behind the 6th string directly on the 12th fret. 6/64" 5/64", Lace Sensors As close as desired (Allowing for string vibration). Retune your guitar, it should now meet factory specifications and "play like butter". Start by installing a fresh set of Fender strings before proceeding. (plus: footswitch and cover info). Here are over three dozen precise setup specs collected by Dan Erlewine as he interviewed famous players and roadies. Angle the string slots downward towards the headstock to relieve any pinching of the strings that may happen on that side of the nut. This will determine the "neck relief" necessary to prevent string "buzz" caused by the normal vibration pattern (string excursion) of the strings. Acoustic Guitar Instruction Manual 714KB - EN. The head of the truss rod is accessed at the top of the neck or from within the sound hole depending on the guitar. if your 12th fret gap is 1/64" too high, you need to remove 2/64"(1/32") from the bottom of the saddle. How do I set up my Telecaster® guitar properly? 2008-04-29T04:36. the normal string height that a martin should have when coming from the factory is 7/64ths on the low E string and 5/64ths' on the high e string. Great Guitarists Who Built Their Reputations Playing Brilliant Rhythm Guitar, Foxgear Pedals: Sleek, Professional Quality Pedals at Affordable Prices, Five Lefty Signature Models That are Actually a Great Value, These Services Can Make Your Guitar Feel and Sound Like New (or Better), Coming Soon - The Jared Dines Artist Series Stingray Guitar from Sterling by Music Man, Set of automotive feeler gauges (.002 - .025), 6" ruler (with 1/32" and 1/64" increments). If the gap is too wide, you must "shave" the bottom of the bridge saddle or replace it with a shorter saddle. A guitar setup is adjusting the guitar to play and sound its best. The critical aspect here is to keep the bottom of the saddle flat and level so it sits flat in the saddle slot. Check out all our Acoustic Guitars and Basses here! Neck radius Relief (at 8th fret) String height (at 14th fret), 9.5" to 12" .010" 6/64" 5/64", 15" to 17" .008" 6/64" 5/64", Neck radius Relief (at 8th fret) String height (at 17th fret), 7.25" .012" 5/64" 4/64", 9.5" to 12" .010" 4/64" 4/64", 15" to 17" .008" 4/64" 3/64", 7.25" .014" 7/64" 6/64", 9.5" to 12" .012" 6/64" 5/64", 15" to 17" .010" 6/64" 5/64", Electric Guitar Bass side Treble side, Texas Specials 8/64" 6/64", Vintage style 6/64" 5/64", American/Mexican Std. If you feel you need this adjustment to be made and you're not comfortable with the procedure, take your guitar to your authorized service center or luthier. … worn or popped-up frets, separating bridge, loose or broken top braces, cracked nut or saddle, cracked or loose neck joint.). Since an acoustic guitar is made of wood, variances in temperature and humidity and years of string tension can affect the setup as can changing to lighter or heavier string gauges. This guide also assumes that you know the parts of your guitar, some basic terms, and that the guitar you're adjusting has no structural damage; (i.e. Setting up one of these instruments requires checking and adjusting the neck, nut and saddles. I always do setups in this order: 1) relief, 2) nut, 3) saddle because a) relief can affect the other two and b) there is essentially one correct … AE 1.8MB - EN. Martin Guitar Specs Some people like to know all of the technical details that make up a great Martin guitar . The Yamaha A-Series takes your acoustic performance to the next level with dynamic, natural amplified tone; a refined, powerful acoustic voice and outstanding playability. Each string must be measured and adjusted separately because you shouldn't remove the nut to shave the bottom as you would with the bridge saddle. Setting up a guitar involves working with the bridge, nut, and neck adjustments to dial in the playing action to suit the player. Do you want to be driven around in a chauffeur-driven car just looking at the view whilst someone else operates the pedals or do you want to get behind the wheel, open this thing up and really see what it can do? Acoustic Guitars 2010 2.9MB - EN. There are a basic set of tools that every guitar player should have in his bag, whether you are just starting out in your bedroom or about to step onto a stage in front of 300 people, keeping your guitar in the best working order is vital to getting the best sound out of it and having the most fun playing it. There are two different style truss rods found on Fender guitars and basses. Saddle height directly affects how high the strings sit above the frets. What are the first/twelfth fret measurements of my neck? Setting Up An Instrument String Height At 12th Fret. The standard truss rod can counteract a neck that is too concave (has too much relief), by compensating for excessive string tension. Acoustic guitars are under a lot of stress from the tight strings. If truss rod adjustment is needed, refer to your Fender owner's manual for adjustment procedures, as well as, information on which type of truss rod is installed in the model of guitar or bass you are working on. Using a flat file, remove an amount of material from the bottom of the saddle double the amount of the 12th fret overage, i.e. This distance plays a key role in your setup because it determines the ease in which your guitar … 0 Comments, by Adirondack Guitar These are just rules of thumb, of course. When you have completed the modification to the saddle, re-install it into the slot, then re-seat the strings and re-install the bridge pins. After an initial visual inspection of the guitar, the least expensive and most … Modifications of the specifications can be made (within limited parameters) to adjust for player application (how hard the you pick or fret the guitar), or other considerations. Check the curve of the neck. Measure the distance from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the 6th string. A guitar’s action can also be adjust at the bridge. Check all the electronic control functions, i.e., pickups, volume, tone, etc. The "Standard" truss rod is one which adjusts at the heel of the neck the other adjusts at the headstock, but both operate on the same principle. 0 Comments. Make sure the ball end of the string is seated snugly against the bridge pin at the bridge plate; this will insure that no pitch slipping occurs; (this is usually the cause of what a lot of people think is "string stretch”). By guitar setup, I mean what many people refer to as the action of the guitar… Acoustic guitars are equipped with one of two types of truss rod. Caution: the nut must be isolated with masking tape and wipe away any excess crazy glue with a piece of tissue paper to protect the finish around the nut. There should be a small gap (.006"+/- .002"); remember this gap will be one-half the thickness of the 1st string (.012"). Light Tung oil or lemon oil are fairly traditional sealers but Bee's wax compounds are also excellent. Draw a light pencil line across the base of the saddle along the top of the bridge. A word of warning, don't try to pry it up or you may chip wood away from the bridge slot. I was in one of those very large music shops with a very large guitar section and I overheard a customer ask the salesperson if a set-up (by the store) came free with the purchase of a Martin guitar. Now measure the 1st string in the same fashion; place your ruler on the 12th fret behind the 1st string, then check the gap between the top of the 12th fret and the bottom of the 1st string. If you cut too deeply, the slot can be filled with a mixture of baking soda and crazy glue, and, after it sets, the slot can be cut again. The low E should be 2.2mm and the high E should be 1.7mm for most players. By Rick Turner. Bass pickup height is also measured from the pole piece to the bottom of the string on the bass and treble sides with the last fret depressed. Remove the capo and retune the guitar to pitch. Most have a standard truss rod. For an acoustic guitar saddle that needs to be lowered in height, use self-adhesive sandpaper. Hold the guitar in a comfortable position and press down the … Either way, you'll probably have to do some cutting, so it's just as easy to shave the existing one. The Trifecta of Guitar Setup. Measured from the center of the sixth-string bridge pin to that of the first, the string spread … As always if you feel you need this adjustment to be made and you're not comfortable with the procedure, take your guitar to your authorized service center or luthier. Less than a .006" gap may cause a "buzz" or cause "fret out" if some high frets exist. This will maintain the proper angle of the string over the nut. First, sight the neck just to see what condition it's in. Suddenly … Carefully cut the string slots in the nut with "nut slot files". Think of it as having bought a car, yes the major work is done for you but even if brand new you still need to adjust the seat and find the perfect angle for the wing mirror. Note: In either case, if you meet excessive resistance or need for adjustment, or you're not comfortable with this adjustment, take your guitar to your authorized service center or luthier. Repeat the shaving procedure if necessary. by Adirondack Guitar If you are one of those people, simply click on the Martin guitar body size to find the guitar that … Different pickups have varying degrees of magnetic pull. What are the factory specifications for my PRS guitar setup? Pull the saddle out again and check your work. Press down the 6th string at the 14th fret with your right hand. Few things make an acoustic guitarist’s day quite like playing a freshly set up guitar. Because of the various models of acoustic and electric guitars, and basses, we have included with these procedures, specifications charts to assist you. When installing new strings, there are a few things that can be overlooked and may cause some problems later on. This gap should be .070" to .078" (4.5/64" to 5/64"). Acoustic Guitar Saddles Only. The gap at the 1st fret should be .020" +/- .002". AGP10 3.1MB - EN. String height or action describes the distance between the top of your frets to the bottom of your strings. On an electric guitar, this … Personal preferences in string gauge, playing style and technical ability will determine how closely to "spec" you'll want to set your own instrument; there is not one set of parameters that is perfect for everyone. Know Your Gear: Do-It-Yourself Acoustic Guitar Setup. With the guitar on its … Acoustic Guitar Setup Tips and Ideas . December 19, 2017 Since every guitar neck, saddle height, nut height, neck angle, fret, and top condition may be slightly different, using some average measurements can give any guitar a basic, comfortable "feel". I would recommend finding a good repair person to see your guitar and possibly adjust the … Newsletter Sign up here to get product announcements, artist news, and more delivered straight to your inbox. Both of those … Acoustic Guitars … … A shim approximately 1/4" (6.4 mm) wide by 1 3/4" (44.5 mm) long by .010" (0.25 mm) thick will allow you to raise the action approximately 1/32" (0.8 mm). Adjust the Bridge Height. FACTORY SETUP - FREE With the Factory Setup, your guitar will arrive in your hands the way it was setup by Martin and Saga Music (Blueridge guitars). All of these came from Dan's hands-on measurements of the actual guitars. With a feeler gauge, measure the distance between the top of the 5th fret and the bottom of the 6th string. September 17, 2020 It is worth bearing in mind that the more tension in the wood means the more volume and sustain you will naturally achieve. Check the height between the seventeenth fret and the bottom of each string, Check the height between the fret located at the neck and body joint, and the bottom of each string, Pickup height is measured from the pole piece to the bottom of the string on the bass and treble sides with the last fret depressed. The salesperson replied, "If you want one you can get one at a 50% discount, BUT 95% of the time Martin guitars … Note: Medium gauge strings (.013"-.056") have higher tension, with less "string excursion", needing more truss rod tension to counteract the stronger string pull. important that the gap between the strings and the frets (called the ‘action All of the following specifications are for guitars/basses with the standard gauges of Fender strings that the guitar or bass is equipped with from the factory. by John Davis Its a post from Dave at Gibson: Hi I'm David the final … If the saddle gets rounded off, you'll lose volume on the bass or treble side, or even worse, if your guitar is equipped with an electronic transducer, you'll lose response. Measure the distance from top of fret to bottom of string while depressing the string at the 1st and last fret: Relief … Drop the saddle back into the saddle slot and draw another pencil line across the saddle at the base of the bridge. Carefully wrap the strings around the tuning posts downward from the tuning post anchor hole; two to three complete wraps around the tuning post on the bass strings, and at least three complete wraps on the treble side, but no more than five are necessary. Just as with a 6-string guitar, bass, banjo, or mandolin, 12-string setup can be divided into playability and intonation.On the playability side, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and through experience, … Use pliers or wire snips to gently lift the saddle from the saddle slot. String Height At The Nut. Use a 1/4" nut driver to turn the truss rod clockwise to straighten the neck or counter-clockwise to add some "relief". Loosen and remove all of the old strings and while the strings are off the guitar, it's the perfect time to clean and seal the fingerboard and bridge. For acoustic guitars: Check the height between the fret located at the neck and body joint, and the bottom of each string (Refer to the specifications chart for the proper measurement). It should be noted that you should never use standard guitar polish on unfinished fingerboards or bridges as they can actually dry out the wood. Acoustic Guitar Nut Height Relief String height at 12th fret (Without “Zero” fret) (At 8th fret) (From top of fret to bottom of string) Bass side Treble side.008” Bass side Treble side.020” .018” 6/64” 5/64” … For guitars with the Micro-Tilt adjustment, loosen the … Again, using the feeler gauge, measure the gap between the top of the 1st fret and the bottom of the 6th string; the gap should be .022" +/- .002". Acoustic guitars might all be built for a common purpose but they are as individual as the people who play them, so to make sure that your guitar is not only at its optimum when it comes to playing, but comfortable and suited to your own personal needs. You could shim your existing saddle in a pinch, but shimming can dull the tone if it doesn't fit properly; so you may as well just cut a taller saddle, making sure the "radius" (side-to-side arc) on the top of the saddle matches the radius of the fingerboard. The Dunlop Action Gauge from sweetwater.com is great for this. This set-up guide will give some basic, measurable parameters needed to keep your acoustic guitar in optimum playing condition. And to take that analogy to breaking point. Unlike standard truss rods, which can only correct a neck that is concave (underbow), the Bi-Flex truss rod can pull the neck in either direction. String height at the nut should be as low as possible without causing open string … The top of an acoustic guitar may rise or fall to some degree, depending on the climatic conditions in your part of the country. What tubes are in my amp? November 09, 2020 Then place a … Compensations may need to be made, if you plan to change string gauges. Measure the 1st string gap in the same fashion; with a feeler gauge between the top of the 1st fret and the bottom of the 1st string. Note: These are minimum specifications, meant to guide you, not to be taken as hard and fast rules. Loosen the strings, but don't remove them from the tuners. Acoustic Guitars 2014 4MB - EN. Here's the final setup specs from a post by Dave at Gibson: Here's how Gibson - Memphis does the final setup on their instruments. For acoustic guitars, our recommendation bumps up to 7/64th of an inch (2.78mm) on the bass side and 5/64th of an inch (1.98mm) on the treble side. Depress the strings at the fret located at the neck and body joint. Parts of the guitar… There is only one thing about buying off-the-rack acoustic steel string guitars that really, really sucks, and that's the setup, or rather, the lack of it. Ask questions, show off your gear, or simply chat with fellow guitar fanatics. So action will change over time. 120 – 200 grit is recommended unless you have a lot to take off and make sure … Even a quarter-step below pitch can relax the tension in the top (behind and in front of the bridge) and the neck, leaving the guitar sounding a little dull and lifeless. First, adjust the truss rod relief. A Series - Specs - Acoustic Guitars - Guitars… More … Some Fender guitars and basses have a unique Bi-Flex truss rod system. This fine tuning of the hardware is known as “setting up.” New guitars will come with a factory set up but as this is done from a “one size fits all” ethic, you will still need to make your own adjustments. Caution: The following procedure should only be made with the proper files and a certain amount of experience. There is a lot of technical work detailed above, some of which you may not feel comfortable with right away but as the analogy in the introduction points out, this is the equivalent of working on your favourite car so learn to understand and love your guitar, it is a masterful piece of work combining woodcrafting and acoustics, physics and aesthetics, and the process of keeping it in perfect condition or modifying it, working out its limits and its individual characteristics are all part of the enjoyment of the instrument. Acoustic Guitars 2007 4.5MB - EN. Bring the strings completely up to pitch. Now remove the capo and recheck your 12th fret measurements. We guarantee that it will be free from defects and … 0 Comments, The History and Importance of the Martin 18 Style, Adirondack Guitar Lefty Profiles: Promise Ring’s Davey von Bohlen, The Best Bands From the First Two Waves of Emo (90‘s and 2000‘s). Doing the steps out of order will force you to go back and recheck things over and over, so... maintain the flow, and your instrument will fall right into “spec". S L November 15, 2012. Martin Style 18 vs Martin Style 28 -- What’s the Difference? Because you've taken the tension off the neck by loosening the strings, you must now go back and check the neck straightness (using the preceding procedures), as the truss rod may have shifted during tension release. When a string is plucked, it vibrates in an elliptical … This gap should be from .085" to .093" (5.5/64" to 6/64"). 5/64" 4/64", Humbuckers 4/64" 4/64", Lace Sensors As close as desired (Allowing for string vibration), Bass Guitar Bass side Treble side, Vintage style 8/64" 6/64", American/Mexican Std. The "Standard" truss rod can counteract concave curvature, for example, in a neck that has too much relief, by generating a force in the neck opposite to that caused by excessive string tension. (It’s a testament to Snuffy Smith’s setup work that the guitar simply does not buzz–unless you really go nuts on it.) To check the tension on the neck, first make sure the guitar is properly tuned. If the gap is too narrow, you'll need to put in a taller saddle. Strings.
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