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How to setup a guitar

By: Steve Miller

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If you've ever wondered how to setup your electric guitar, or your 4, five or 6 string bass guitar yourself, you have arrived to the right place. Read on.

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

*In all the illistrations below, the head-stock is pointing to your left.

In case your electric guitar has a Floyd Rose or a tremolo bridge system, you'll need to dam it before continuing . One of the most sensible way if you do not have lots of 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 until the gap between the flat part of the bridge system (just under the bridge pickup) and the body is 3/32". Loosen the springs and tune to standard ‘A’ 440.

In case your guitar has a Floyd Rose tremolo system, add coins or picks till the bridge is level to the body, then take off the springs and tune to standard 'A' 440.

Guitar Set-up Step 1: Adjust the truss rod

We do this to prevent the strings from hitting the frets- and buzzing- as they vibrate. Put a capo on the first fret, and press the 5th string on the seventeenth fret with your finger (I use the middle) while lifting the 6th string so it presses against your fingernail.

Use a spark plug calibrator to gauge the gap between the top of the twelfth fret and the bottom of the 5th string.

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

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

Note: if in case you have access to the truss-rod just below 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 1st fret, gauge the gap between the bottom of the strings and the top of the 17th fret using a 6-inch ruler in 64ths. Use the bench below merely as a basic guideline: explore different possibilities till you find the height that suits you best.

Fender Telecaster 4/64th-inch
Fender American standard, vintage 4/64th-inch
Gibson 3/64" or 4/64"
Floyd Rose tremolo system4/64"
Bass guitars 3/32nd-inch

Eliminate the capo and tune to standard ‘A’ 440

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 needed.

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

The overall concept is that pickups ought to give similar signal intensity regardless of pickup or string.

Test to determine if the string-buzz and tweak as needed. Eliminating fret buzz completely is not probable nor necessary. Set to ensure your guitar is comfortable to play, and the buzz can not be heard through the amp.

Electric guitar Setup Step three: Setting the intonation

Tune your electric guitar with an electronic tuner, utilizing the pure harmonics at the twelfth fret. When pressing the string at the twelfth fret, you should notice the same pitch.

If the tuner says it's 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 once more and repeat till you get it the way that you like.

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

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

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!

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