[ragser]

I've noticed that most of you advices pretty much everyone who's buying a guitar to give it to someone who can check the setup of the guitar. I've been wondering, HOW excactly do you check a complete setup? The only things I can think of is ti check the string height, tune it and maybe do something with the pickups but I don't know what. Also, what does it mean to "dress the frets".

Could someone shred some light into this cloud of questions?

[knight46]

Intonating your electric guitar or bass
Buzzz! strings too low? Too high? READ THIS!!
Here are two excellent threads about guitar setup, one talking about truss rod adjustment and the other intonation.
Dressing the fret I think would apply to taking any sharp edges off of the frets and making sure that they are all the same height.

[Stratrat]

Knight46 gave you some good links which should get you started. Fender also has a setup guide on their website, including how to measure the height of your action (string height above the frets).

Fret dressing is what Knight said - but that's not a job you'd want to attempt unless you have the right tools and know what you're doing. You could pretty quickly ruin the neck of your guitar.

[Music Lover]

Hi there, Just a quick note. It was stated that "taking any sharp edges off of the frets and making sure that they are all the same height" and that is usually true. I used to set up guitars and one quick note about the frets being the same height.

A true set up may require actually filing down the height of a fret or two or actually, in rare cases, increasing the height of a fret or two. It's one of the final steps after adjusting bridge, saddle, truss rod, nut groove height (and depth for each string), checking the placement of wiring inside an acoustic/electric, checking to see if the bracing might need to be filed (that's right...inside the guitar...though most set up guides don't go in to that much detail but done properly it should be addressed because it can change the intonation of the instrument paired with the right gauge strings).

And I agree with everybody here that other than a simple truss rod adjustment or string change you really shouldn't attempt to set up your own guitar without the proper tools. Just my $.26 cents-inflation you know

The good news is that with a good guitar it will really only take one professional setup ever if done right. The only thing you might have to do are strings (which should be changed on a more regular basis than most people do), minor neck (truss rod) adjustments to the neck. If you move the guitar from one location to another or don't keep it in a climate controlled environment tuning may seem to go out frequently but that's usually due to changes in climate and humidity. So it's worth having someone due one good setup on a new guitar. It can be the difference between it lasting half your lifetime and making it a family heirloom to pass on to the kids you have or may have some day.

Have a great day.

ROCK ON or play quietly...whatever makes music touch your heart.

[Noodler]

I got an old guitar fixed up recently - new pots, etc. And I gotta say, the guy did some really nice things to my guitar. The frets feel different (smoother to bend), the intonation is absolutely perfect. It plays far better than it ever did, and it'd been set up before.

How important is it to get the guitar set up again if you change string gauge? Also, is it a periodic thing? Something you should get checked every now and again on an acoustic guitar?

A funny story: "Beware the whalebone nut!" Whenever I put in an old guitar of mine to get anything done to it (it was a Fender 6 string acoustic), the tech wherever I went used to say, I'll change your nut for you, put on a nice one made of whale bone, rather than this plastic one. I'd say, "but they told me last time that this one was whale bone." That nut got changed about 5 times!

[ragser]

The problem is though, that I don't know anyone that can set up my guitars. Few people plays guitar around here. Also, the closest guitar shop is like 30 miles from here and that shop is completely not serious. The old man who owns the shop is grudgy and has been trying to sell the shop for 10 years so he doesn't give a s**t about anything. So handing in my guitar there wouldn't feel good at all, I even doubt that they do checkups of the guitars. So I have no idea how I'm gonna find someone to check my guitars.

[SprayTech]

Originally Posted by ragser

The problem is though, that I don't know anyone that can set up my guitars. Few people plays guitar around here. Also, the closest guitar shop is like 30 miles from here and that shop is completely not serious. The old man who owns the shop is grudgy and has been trying to sell the shop for 10 years so he doesn't give a s**t about anything. So handing in my guitar there wouldn't feel good at all, I even doubt that they do checkups of the guitars. So I have no idea how I'm gonna find someone to check my guitars.

I dont know where in Sweden you live , but I googled these guitar luthiers in sweden . Maybe one will be close to you .
http://www.cybozone.com/fg/luthier.html#sweden

[Stratrat]

Originally Posted by ragser

The problem is though, that I don't know anyone that can set up my guitars....

Read the threads that Knight46 linked you to and read Fender's setup guide that I told you about. If you want more info, do a Google search for "guitar setup". Between those, you'll find plenty enough information that you should be able to do a basic setup yourself (adjust the action/string height, adjust pickup height, change strings, adjust intonation). You also might want to look at the Stew-Mac website - besides a lot of free tips and information, they sell books, videos, tools, etc. for guitar building and repair.

[KGrob]

Wow, great thread. I was just thinking about posting up this very question.

Great answers.