'Setting up a guitar'?

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'Setting up a guitar'?
Topic Started: Jan 30 2009, 11:19 PM (320 Views)
Strato	Jan 30 2009, 11:19 PM Post #1
Member Posts: 38 Group: Members Member #9,159 Joined: January 21, 2009	Hi guys, As a guitar newbie I'm asking a really stupid question so laugh all you want as long as one person answers lol When I got my first guitar all I did was change the strings and tune it. But whilst I've been hunting for a new one I've come across adverts saying 'price includes free setup, usualy Ł40' or stuff like that. So, what is this refering to? I thought when you bought a guitar it would be ready to play once you've tuned it which isn't a big deal. But all this 'set up for Ł40' and others for Ł60 has confused me.



Leif	Jan 31 2009, 01:34 AM Post #2
Alex Posts: 213 Group: Members Member #9,065 Joined: December 14, 2008	I guess they go over it and maybe remove say the middle spring on the tremolo or whatever and basically set it up so you can play it straight away. 40 is a joke though. lol, Just find a friend if you don't know how to do anything and it'll be free. lol
	Gear: Guitar - Ibanez GRG170DX Black Night Strings - Daddario 8.38 EXL Leads - Planet Waves 10ft Circuit Breaker, Pw Classic 10 channel stereo Lead Pedals/FX - Zoom 505, Marshall Drive Master Amp - Vox AD15VT-XL 15 Watt Recording - Line 6 POD Studio GX, Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 5.25 bay Software - GR3, Fl Studio, AFT Pro, Pod Farm


monwobobbo	Jan 31 2009, 02:21 AM Post #3
Posts: 1,032 Group: Moderator Member #8,625 Joined: June 23, 2008	a set up has to do with things like your action (height of the strings off the fretboard) the intonation (has to do with how well the guitar stays in tune including fretted notes etc.) is the neck straight with prpoper relief and so on. getting that done for you're guitar is highly recommended
	and now for something completely different


Strato	Jan 31 2009, 09:32 AM Post #4
Member Posts: 38 Group: Members Member #9,159 Joined: January 21, 2009	Thanks guys. Is it common for most guitar retailers to sell the guitar with the setup already done? or is it a standard practice to sell the guitar 'as is' and if you want it in top setup condition then it's an extra?



voodoorider	Jan 31 2009, 10:04 AM Post #5
Garry Posts: 673 Group: Members Member #8,964 Joined: November 3, 2008	A respectable dealer won't let a guitar out of the door without it being set up! It's probably worth having a proper set up done maybe once every couple of years provided you don't change string gauges or man handle the guitar a lot! It's worth looking up stuff like setting your own intonation as this is the kinda stuff which maybe needs slight adjustment every few months and wouldn't be worth paying Ł40 to get sorted, you can also play with your action easily enough, but bare in mind any changes you make will effect something else in some way or another! It takes quite a lot of knowledge and experience to be able to set your own guitar up well.. people can know how to make the changes, but not everyone knows quite how to get it right! I make adjustments to mine, but i never imagine i can do a setup as well as a guitar tech who does probably 5,6,7,8 setups a day. Edited by voodoorider, Jan 31 2009, 10:05 AM.
	Guitars: PRS CU 22 R/W neck \| Organic Classic \| Heritage H-150 \| Fender Eric Clapton Strat \| Fender Deluxe Ash strat, scalloped \| 2001 USA std Telecaster \| 2008 USA std Telecaster \| 1996 Gibson Les Paul standard \| PRS Santana SE \| Maverick X1 \| Epiphone SG \| Freshman FA400J Amps: Orange Rockerverb 50 \| Mesa Boogie Electradyne \| Traynor YCV40T \| VOX AD60VT \| Fender Pro 185 \| Zoom Fire 15


monwobobbo	Jan 31 2009, 03:38 PM Post #6
Posts: 1,032 Group: Moderator Member #8,625 Joined: June 23, 2008	Strato Jan 31 2009, 09:32 AM Thanks guys. Is it common for most guitar retailers to sell the guitar with the setup already done? or is it a standard practice to sell the guitar 'as is' and if you want it in top setup condition then it's an extra? most guitars have some kind of set up as voodoo said however it may not be the way you want it. whenever i buy a guitar i take it in to my tech guy and have him give it the once over. once you've played a properly set up guitar you'll never go back and will be able to tell (most of the time) when one is not. often the action could be a little higher or lower when you first buy a guitar. experience will tell you what works for you. many shredders want the action as low as possible for faster note playing other want to feel the strings under there fingers for better grip. you'll figure out what works for you.
	and now for something completely different


Strato	Jan 31 2009, 06:06 PM Post #7
Member Posts: 38 Group: Members Member #9,159 Joined: January 21, 2009	Brilliant, thanks everyone, Is there a section on this site that gives a brief idea of setting intonation and action, or a web page recommended to show it? For 2 reasons really. The first being that I'd like to know exactly what it is I'm talking about with the setup when I speak to the retailer so I can make sure I know that everything will be done that needs to be and secondly, I'd like to have a play around on my strat style, I can't see myself doing much damage to it as I didn't even realise that a setup should be done, and I got it cheap from ebay and as I'm upgrading it's not worth me paying to have anything done to it yet



ramblingrebel	Jan 31 2009, 08:28 PM Post #8
Newbie Posts: 15 Group: Members Member #9,186 Joined: January 29, 2009	There are loads of clips on youtube for setp advice. LINK Check out the related vids too.



monwobobbo	Jan 31 2009, 11:41 PM Post #9
Posts: 1,032 Group: Moderator Member #8,625 Joined: June 23, 2008	you'll need some tools and a strobe tuner to do proper intonation. honestly i'd worry about learning to play first and leave the tech stuff to a pro for now. and yes you could do some real damage if you don't know what you are doing especially with the neck and truss rod.
	and now for something completely different


BENDER	Feb 1 2009, 03:43 PM Post #10
BERNIE. Posts: 15 Group: Members Member #9,173 Joined: January 26, 2009	Give this guy a call, I have taken my guitar to him and after he spent a day on it, it not only sounded better it was easier to play, all the wrist and finger pain went away, He is not only a tuner but he makes them as well. He will match it to your playing ability. http://www.jwhite-guitarworkshops.co.uk/
	Life is easy, Turn it up to 11 and break the knob off. Nice. COOL.

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