New electric guitars

CapeGuitarman · #1 July 8th, 2007

After reading several posts about set up and what not....my question on this thread is simple. When one buys a NEW guitar (as in never been played before...fresh off the assembly line), does that electric guitar need to go right to set up? I tuned mine (pitch pipe) as soon as I unpacked it, not realizing it may need set up (mostly cause I didn't know what "set up" even was, much less having heard about it) and it sounded fine per pitch pipe. I've noticed tho, that via electronic tuner, the strings were out of "perfect" pitch, altho not by much. How can I tell if my current, self inflicted set up is right? Is there any wierd or painful feelings I should have in my fingers, hands, etc..? Anything I should be watching for?

capeguitarman

allthumbs · #2 July 8th, 2007

Cheapy guitars are often not setup if they come right out of the box. The factory sets the strings high and uses really cheap strings which should be changed.. On the other hand, if you buy a guitar from a music store it should have a basic setup. Intonation and truss rod adjustment. You may need to ask them to do it.
If you switch to heavier strings then a truss rod adjustment may also be needed. it depends on your comfort zone with string height.

Sometimes a setup can be perfect right out of the box but, that is usually the more expensive guitars.

CapeGuitarman · #3 July 8th, 2007

not sure what u mean by "cheapy" guitars....I spent about $2oo.oo on mine. It's a Silvertone which I understand is a LesPaul Jr. knockoff. Have u heard of this brand?

allthumbs · #4 July 8th, 2007

200 bucks is very inexpensive for a guitar. Is this the one you mean.
Silvertone Les Paul Copy: Harmony Central User Reviews

Stratrat · #5 July 8th, 2007

At a basic level, a "setup" usually means changing the strings, setting the string height (action), and setting the intonation (making sure it plays in tune all the way up the fretboard). Read THIS thread for more information about intonation.

CapeGuitarman · #6 July 8th, 2007

no picture on that link, but the descript sounds like it. Are u telling me that I got a good deal? It's a VERY comfortable guitar, easy to play, feels solid. I just think I have the wrong amp with it. My nephew, who's been playing steadily for 15 yrs has tried it and he actually offered to buy it from me. Said it felt "nature valley" natural to him both holding it and playing it. His amp made it sound TERRIFIC and he plays Eddie Van Halen style. Guess that's a good thing

CapeGuitarman · #7 July 8th, 2007

hey StratRat........just for the record.....the guitar you have in that pic that is next to ur name......THAT is an identical twin to mine...what kind of guitar is that??

Stratrat · #8 July 9th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapeGuitarman

hey StratRat........just for the record.....the guitar you have in that pic that is next to ur name......THAT is an identical twin to mine...what kind of guitar is that??

It's a Fender Stratocaster.

What kind of amp are you playing through? Probably one of the biggest sources of dissatisfaction/disappointment amongst new guitarists is when they buy a "package" which includes a cheesy little beginner amp and discover that it doesn't make the "rock and roll" sounds they want. Most amps that come with beginner packages are manufactured as cheaply as possible - the cheapest components and the fewest possible extras/options....no distortion, no effects, etc. They'll amplify your guitar, but that's about it. There are a ton of threads here about amps, but to make a long story short - to get good sound on a budget, go with something like a Roland Micro Cube, Roland Cube 15X / 20X, or a Vox AD15VT / AD30VT. All of those amps get consistently good reviews and at prices from $99 - $240, they won't break the bank.

karcey · #9 July 9th, 2007

Hey CG, you've been asking a few questions here, and I wouldn't be surprised if you were starting to have second thoughts about your new guitar. Well don't despair. You've got a lot of crawling and walking to do before you begin running, and the gear you have at home now will probably get you off to a fine start. Read the information in this site, and any others you can find, talk to your friends, whatever. But don't stop practicing. Practice, practice, practice. When your fingers are too sore to push the strings, then pretend. In a short time you'll be making music. The best guitar in the world won't make any better music in your hands than the one you have now. But after you play for a while you'll be in a position to make a good choice and get yourself a really top quality guitar. (Try to get one that knows a few tunes already ... always a good start.)