Give Audible a try! Setting up a guitar involves working with the bridge, nut, and neck adjustments to dial in the playing action to suit the player. Using a feeler gauge, you can check the relief in the neck at the seventh fret. Bridge radius inspected and conformed to fingerboard radius as required. (Image credit . Acoustic Guitars 2014 4MB - EN. If the guitar is not set up to compensate for this stretching you will pull the strings pitch either flat . First, sight the neck just to see what condition it's in. the total length of the string from its contact points at the nut and the bridge. These are just rules of thumb, of course. A step-by-step guide to DIYing your bridge saddle height to get a better action. I adjust string height at the nut and at the bridge to accomplish the measurement I desire at the first and twelfth fret. same principles. I like to think of the top as being like an amplifier and the body as being like a . Category: Picture. For the purposes of this acoustic guitar setup feature, we'll be giving a new bargain B-stock Ibanez AEG a going-over to make it feel just right. we take the time to carefully inspect and adjust your guitar. Of course, I need to put new strings on it and see how it sounds then. Place a capo on the first fret. The scale length of any guitar is defined as double the distance from the nut to the 12th fret. Once you have altered the truss rod of your acoustic guitar, and you are satisfied with the alignment of your neck, you can measure the string height with a ruler once again. Step 1: Adjust the Truss Rod. Most of the setup and adjustment considerations are similar to other steel string acoustic instruments, including truss rod adjustments and nut action. 2.3 Step 3: Put on the New Strings. First, the neck should have a small amount of relief between the nut and body joint. Edge-Zero tremolo bridge w/ZPS3 1.4MB - EN. The action . In the design of the EB-guitars the scale length is 648 mm and the compensated scale lengths are: 650.0, 648.8, 648.5, 649.7, 648.9 and 648.5 mm for the strings E-low to E-high. Compensations may need to be made, if you plan to change string gauges. A final price will be submitted prior to actual work and price may need to be adjusted in the case of repairs that get more involved as the work progresses. The synchronized tremolo system works thanks to its integrated bridge and tailpiece. Ultimate To Guitar Intonation With Diagrams Gear Finder. Adjusting The Nut. Another guitar setup option is to file down the frets so they are evener. Locking-tremolo bridge (Floyd-Rose style) $45 + Setup Floating Bridge (Archtop) Sanded to match top contour $65 + Setup Acoustic Instruments A setup is required for saddle replacement. According to my Taylor rep, factory specs is 5/64"-3/32" from the bottom of the big E string to the top of the 12th fret. This guitar's serial number is #1111091127. If you can determine what area the buzz is coming from, you can often isolate it by pressing on various parts of the guitar to see if the buzz stops when the right . Plug the guitar in. DL tremolo bridge 952KB - EN. On pretty much every guitar the bridge should be located so that the break point of the string will be exactly at the distance of the scale length, from the nut. . Action determines how much pressure and distance is required for the string to make full contact with each fret. It gets its name from the fact that it isn't actually attached to the top of the guitar but is held in place by the strings' pressure on the saddles. Labor Policies. This particular guitar weighs 4 pounds 0.4 ounces. We will inspect key components and, based on what we find, make necessary adjustments. ELECTRIC GUITAR CARE AND MAINTENANCE. Most I've seen lately are are about 7/64". Checking the fretboard radius. 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. Get the Professional Setup You Need Our guitar setup includes both making your guitar play well and have it looking its best - for a much better price and turnaround time than a big-box guitar center or guitar store. Shop Hourly Rate is $60.00 per hour. In order to keep it simple, we provide general setup specifications. Acoustic 12 string Setup: $75. Tune to Pitch. . This slope of 1/8-inch difference from strings 1 to 6 is likely to yield . A good set up can: Increase comfort by decreasing pressure on the players finger tips. This neck has a modified V shape and is available with a 1 11/16", 1 23/32", or 1 3/4" nut width. Since FRETS.COM is an acoustic place, I'll ignore the electronic part, and concentrate on the acoustic elements of the jazz guitar. As a consequence a lot of acoustic guitars are left with the wrong action. Acoustic Guitars 2010 2.9MB - EN. The "money spot" for acoustic guitar recording. Make an Appointment. The neck angle is built into the guitar, and there is not much the average owner can do about it. Step 2: Time To Strip Off. We can customize your guitar setup to match your style and preferences. Electric and acoustic guitars have longer necks. Therefore, this guide should be considered a supplement to your owner's manual. For instruments in need of extra fine tuning the shape of the compensated crown may need to be filed by hand, adjusting the length for each string individually. None of this is rocket science and in short, most is just common sense. 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. Test the Output Jack by inserting and removing the 1/4 cable a few times, then using a little pressure on the side of the male jack whilst wiggling and turning it around. Merely straightening your guitar's neck does not always solve the issue, which is why checking the action in the nut is essential as well. The radius should be adjusted at the factory, but a good setup tech will check this to make sure that it is correct. You raise or lower the saddle by turning the hex screws with a tine hex wrench. Using a feeler gauge, check the distance between the top of the eighth fret and the bottom of the sixth string (Refer to the specifications chart for the proper measurement). Eliminate or decrease buzzing. TOOLS A machinist rule, a screwdriver or hex-key (electric guitar), calipers, a shim stock or stationary belt sander (acoustic guitar) You want to be able to press the note and have it sound nice and clear, and to not hit one of the frets higher up. 2. 2. Using a fret rocker, our repairer checks for any points . Merely straightening your guitar's neck does not always solve the issue, which is why checking the action in the nut is essential as well. Before jumping into the setup process, a few general notes are in order: While all guitar and bass makes are fundamentally similar, any given brand or model will have its own nuances. It's got an Adi top and is one of the guitars the set that became the "TV" line a few months later. Std. At this point, you will want to make sure that the guitar is in tune. Posted November 21, 2019. This tension is great for rhythm guitarists, as it gives enough tension to allow extra attack on the strings without them feeling flimsy. The top of the frets should project about into the middle of the bridge height. Body and neck cleaned and hand polished. The definition of "setup" can encompass everything from a change of strings and action adjustment to a much more comprehensive job that corrects intonation, neck angle, saddle height, and more. For more information, or to arrange for a setup, repair or restoration with archtop.com, please email info@archtop.com or call 206.325.3737. My guitar is a 2008 J-45. 1 When and Why you Need to Change your Strings. 1. The design includes a pivot edge on the top metal plate that allows the string tension to change. Thread the tool onto the post until it is flush against the thumbwheel. I tried to lower the action. For acoustic guitars: Capo the first fret. Complete Guitar Setup - File Down The Frets. This moves the air inside the body and that moving air shoots out the sound-hole. Here are a couple of topics unique to the archtop instrument . For the decision on the height of the saddle see the following two paragraphs. 2 The Guitar String Change Process. Parts of the guitar: body, bridge, bridge pins, strings, fretboard, headstock, tuners. . Measure the distance from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the 6th string. Place your feeler gauges right on top of the first fret so you can determine how much the nut needs to be filed down to lower the action. At around the 7th fret, peer between the bottom of the 6th-string pair and the top of the frets. 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. But instead of playing an open string and tuning it, strike the 12th-fret harmonic and tune it to pitch. Acoustic and Electric Guitar and Bass Guitar Set-up Specifications All of the following specifications are for guitars/basses with the standard gauges of Gretsch strings that the guitar or bass is equipped with from the factory. Premade saddles must be hand fit and adjusted to perform properly, custom saddles are hand-made from a blank. The neck depth (including the fingerboard) is typically .855" at the 1st fret and .945" at the 9th fret. Premade saddles must be hand fit and adjusted to perform properly, custom saddles are hand-made from a blank. There is a considerable amount of leeway in choosing the right action height, depending on your instrument and playing style. That measurement might vary depending on my picking style, strumming style, and . Contents hide. Then, check the tuning of each string at the 12th fret. Acoustic Guitar Tone and String Break Angle. Turn the screw clockwise to raise the saddle; turn it counter-clockwise to lower the saddle. basically they are set up similar to an acoustic guitar. These bridges are most often found on hollow or semihollow electric guitars, where drilling into the top to mount a fixed bridge could weaken the structure of the guitar or impede . To complete a more precise guitar setup our shop utilizes a Korg strobe digital tuner. Some luthiers say it is essential to loosen tension off the strings . . Doing this will allow you to see whether there is a gap between the strings and the neck of the guitar. Depending the abilities of the instrument and the needs of the player adjustments can be made to improve the instruments action and increase the comfort of playing. Improve sustain and tone. Acoustic Guitar Instruction Manual 714KB - EN. The low E string has an 8mm diameter. You can check the fretboard radius using an undersaddle radius gauge. Cut a small rectangular piece of plastic or use the string packaging from the new strings and some low tack tape to protect the top of your instrument right behind the bridge. If you are raising or lowering the saddle, make sure the screws are evenly aligned on each side. Neck Adjustment and Frets. 2.5 Step 5: Tuning. Electric Guitars are sensitive to the environment, so it is important to make sure the instrument is periodically checked out, usually whenever the seasons change as this is when humidity and weather changes occur and a musical instrument is most sensitive to these conditions. The high E string has a length of 0mm and a width of 7/64 (2. The high 'e' treble string should measure between 1.59 mm (1/16) and 1.98 mm (5/64) at the maximum. Check for high frets. 2.2 Step 2: Remove the existing strings. Acoustic Guitar premade saddle $20 + Setup . how far off the fretboard the strings sit), in cooperation with the nut at the other end of the guitar.. One of the bridge's other important jobs is to transfer . The truss rod is used to provide counter tension against the strings to keep the neck in the proper position.
