Setups & Repairs

Discuss with the owner what their preferences are for strings, string height, action, and playing style to set up to fit the player’s needs.

Conduct a full inspection of the instrument checking for neck geometry, cracks, loose braces, bridge, finish, and any other issues that might be evident.

Adjust Neck Relief – (Truss Rod Adjustment) – Addresses issues such as fret buzz, low and high action and intonation issues.  With the use of string height gauges and feeler gauges we adjust the neck to optimum spec depending on player’s preferred string height.

Adjust Height of Strings – Addresses player-preferred comfort level and remove upper-fret buzz (beyond 12^th fret)  This includes adjusting the height of the saddle. Check saddle for correct radius.

Thoroughly clean and dress frets and fingerboard.  Treat fingerboard with lemon oil and wax once cleaned.

Inspect tuning machines and adjust and lubricate as needed.

Check nut for height and seating of strings and adjust as needed.

Restring and stretch out strings and tune guitar.

Conduct full final inspection once completed.

All of the above with the addition of below:

Adjust Intonation at Saddles – Adjusts length of string to calibrate octave tuning and tuning throughout the fretboard (i.e., is the instrument in tune with itself?)

Adjust tremolo springs – for instruments that have a sprung bridge such as a Stratocaster, based on customer’s preferences (do they use the whammy bar or more of a hard-tail? For example)

Keep in mind that all of these issues are interconnected – adjusting the truss rod will affect the action, and further change the intonation… Changing the gauge of strings will affect the neck relief, and all that follows from there.  In all, the performance of a setup is the calibration of balance between all of these issues.  Knowing what to adjust requires close attention to detail and a hand for fine-tuning (i.e., not ‘cranking’ the truss rod).  This requires a highly-specified skill set that takes years to hone and perfect!