Learn how to setup an electric guitar

If you've ever questioned how one can setup your electric guitar, or your 4, five or 6 string bass guitar yourself, you've come to the right place. Read on.

It is highly recommended to replace your strings before you begin, and install them correctly though this is not completely vital.

*In all the illistrations below, the headstock is pointing to your left.

Whether your electric guitar has a Floyd Rose or a tremolo bridge system, you'll need to dam it before proceeding. The most sensible technique if you do not have many tools at your disposal is: detach the plastic cover at the back of your guitar; next place skinny coins or picks between the part of the bridge that expands downward and the body till the distance between the flat part of the bridge (slightly below the bridge pickup) and the body is 3/32-inch. Loosen the springs and tune to standard ‘A’ 440.

If your guitar has a Floyd Rose, add coins or picks until the bridge is parallel to the body, then remove the springs and tune to standard 'A' 440.

Electric guitar Set-up Step 1: Adjust the truss rod

We do this to prevent the strings from touching the frets- and buzzing- as they vibrate. Put a capo on the 1st fret, and press the 5th string at the seventeenth fret with your finger (I use the middle finger) while lifting the sixth string so it presses against your finger-nail.

Use a spark-plug calibrator to measure the space between the top of the 12th fret and the bottom of the fifth string.

Fender Telecaster: 0.012
Fender American standard, vintage 0.012
Gibson: 0.004 - 0.006
Floyd Rose tremolo system: 0.012
Bass guitars: 0.014

Adjust the truss rod with an Allen key. Turn clock-wise (toward the 1st string) to loosen and counterclockwise (towards the 6th string) to tighten.

Notice: if you have access to the truss rod just under the last fret instead of by the nut, invert directions.

Set action:

This means adjusting the height of the strings.
With the capo still on the first fret, gauge the gap between the bottom of the strings and the top of the seventeenth fret utilizing a 6 inch ruler in 64ths. Use the bench below merely as a general guideline: explore several possibilities till you discover the height that fits you best.

Fender Telecaster 4/64"
Fender American standard, vintage 4/64th-inch
Gibson 3/64" or 4/64"
Floyd Rose4/64th-inch
Bass guitars 3/32"

Remove the capo and tune to standard ‘A’ 440

Electric guitar Set-up Step 2:Setting the height of the pickups

Gauge the space between the top of your pickups and the bottom of your strings (1st and 6th) while pressing at the last fret. Adjust as desired.

Fender Telecaster- 6th: 3/32", 1st: 5/64"
Fender American standard, vintage sixth: 1/8", 1st: 3/32"
Gibson- 3/64nd-inch or 4/64nd-inch
Floyd Rose tremolo system- sixth: 1/8", 1st: 3/32". If it has humbuckers 3/32nd-inch on both sides
Ultra, Plus- 1/16" on either side
four string bass guitars- 4th: 1/8th-inch, 1st 3/32". Or, 1/16th-inch on each sides.
5 and 6 string bass guitars- 6th/5th: 7/64th-inch, 1st: 5/64"

The general concept is that pickups should give the same signal intensity regardless of pickup or string.

Check to see if the string-buzz and tweak as desired. Eliminating fret buzz entirely is neither possible nor necessary. Set so that your guitar is comfortable to play, and the buzz can not be heard through the amp.

Guitar Set-up Step three: Setting the intonation

Tune your electric guitar with an digital tuner, utilizing the pure harmonics at the twelfth fret. When pressing the string at the twelfth fret, you'll have the same pitch.

If the tuner says it is too flat, then lower the vibrating part of the string by tweaking the saddle. If it is too sharp, elongate the vibrating portion.

After elongating or shortening, tune to the natural harmonic again and repeat till you get it the way that you like.

However, if your electric guitar has a tremolo bridge system or a Floyd Rose tremolo system, put the springs back in position and tighten them slowly until the picks or coins fall out. Put the plastic covering back in place, and you are finished!

Article Source: http://casinoarticles.us

Todd Masters is a guitar tech for a local music store. Here are some tips on how to guitar setup tips and tun your guitar by hear. Hope this helps you!

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated