Set up

Fender has some excellent set-up guides on their website. The dimensions given are for their own guitars, but I have used the bass set up guide for Lakland, Godin and Ibanez with good results.

https://www.fender…

Nice post ray1018, since this is the time of season to check these things. Dry winter weather causes excessive bow forward, high action and intonation problems, conversely, the humidity of springtime weather causes the neck to bow back with associated string buzzing and intonation problems. Bass guitars are less prone to this usually, as are guitars with modern two-way truss adjustment.

Yes, the Fender guide is very good and just about covers it all.

One thing I do differently is to release string tension slightly first- before tightening a truss, then bring strings back to pitch. This avoids snapping or breaking the truss.
As for loosening the truss, this precaution would not apply. The above precautions are mainly directed towards vintage stlye trusses.

And one very important consideration if there is decorative binding on your neck- allow the binding to warm slowly(a little heat is OK ) and make adjustments in smaller intervals...this will help to avoid stress cracks in the binding, especially where the little position markers are inserted along its top edge.

Lastly, after the truss and action are set to your liking, intonation can be performed.
Use a strobe tuner if at all possible. They are so affordable now, and should be considered before the purchase of effects boxes. Using a strobe tuner will make the difference between a pro sounding instrument, and one which is not. $200 is not a lot of money for the huge benefit it will return.

Fenders recommendation of intonating between the open string and its twelfth fret harmonic is outdated, and not optimum. Better to compare fretted notes at the 5th and 17th frets, IMHO. Use the equal temperament, unless you plan on composing or playing music with alternative temperaments in mind.

Go to http://www.frets.com for info on just about any guitar related repair/maintenance issue.

Ron

Thanks guys

hey..Thanks everybody..but if some one can draw it in a picture format...that's really useful and more clear that how to make it in the right way...hahah...

Re: Thanks guys

ray1018 wrote: hey..Thanks everybody..but if some one can draw it in a picture format...that's really useful and more clear that how to make it in the right way...hahah...

Gary Willis has some very nice illustrations on his setup site, it's about bass guitar setup but, still applies to guitar. Take a look at some of his drawings, I think they are self explanatory!

https://garywillis…

Treena

I recently went a bit crazy,and decided to build my own Strat,body,neck tuners,set up etc...... it really wasn't too confusing,but at the same time,I have another strat that desperately needed a fret job----so,I took upon myself to re fret the Strat neck :shock:
when all was said and done,the finished job came out real nice,but in the process,I learned the real sense of the word "set-up".
Im my opinion,if the neck is really-really warped--leave it to someone who has all the tools,if not,go for it---------you'll be glad you did http://www.fretnotg…

The PLEK is probably as good or better than the 1/2 dozen or so luthiers who really do it superbly.

Tommy P. wrote:

The PLEK is probably as good or better than the 1/2 dozen or so luthiers who really do it superbly.

Now that's impressive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Real nice piece of machinery

Out of curiosity I called the guy up in San Francisco that has one of these machines and he is asking $215 for a setup on the Plek. Does this seem high or is that in the same price range a master luthier would charge for a setup?

I mentioned that I saw that Heritage is using one of these machines and he said it's because those guys can't see any more.

EdWray wrote: Out of curiosity I called the guy up in San Francisco that has one of these machines and he is asking $215 for a setup on the Plek. Does this seem high or is that in the same price range a master luthier would charge for a setup?

I mentioned that I saw that Heritage is using one of these machines and he said it's because those guys can't see any more.

Ed, no doubt, it sure is pricy. Best done to an axe that deserves/needs it. I have a prized possesion that needs a re-fret, I'll have it Plek'd when I can afford it.

Read what Joe Glaser has to say about the Plek in use in his Nashville shop(from a Tonequest report). http://www.plek.com/TQRJan03low-res.pdf
The file is a PDF (Adobe acrobat) download. Right click and save to your drive.

Cool article, Tommy. Thanks for the link. My H535 could use that treament. It's pretty nice right now but I know it could be a lot better.