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    How To Setup Your Guitar Like A Pro
    How To Setup Your Guitar Like A Pro
    How To Setup Your Guitar Like A Pro
    Ebook240 pages1 hour

    How To Setup Your Guitar Like A Pro

    By Jonny Blackwood

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    "Everything you need to start confidently working on your own guitars is right here."

     

    Recently updated to include over 260 photos covering all the aspects of a pro-level guitar setup, such as cleaning & maintenance, neck adjustments, string height adjustments (bridge saddle and nut), pickup height adjustments, intonation, and more. Learn how to dial in the perfect setup, step-by-step, on any guitar- with precision and measurability! Use the included cut-out tool templates to broaden your skills. Makes an excellent starter book or reference for budding professionals.

     

    ***Now updated and expanded with additional content including a section on restringing, neck shimming, scale length determination and new images! ***

    Included in the book:

    • An 8-step method for electric, acoustic & bass guitar setups
    • How to adjust neck relief (bow) for optimum playability
    • How to adjust string height for your playing style and guitar type
    • How to file nut slots, adjust pickup height and set the intonation accurately
    • How to adjust Fender-style tremolo's, Gibson hard-tails, Floyd Rose and other floating bridge types
    • How to adjust the saddle on your acoustic steel string or nylon string guitar
    • Manufacturer's setup specs from Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Jackson, Gretsch and others
    • Exclusive setup specifications from the author's best playing guitars & basses
    • Cut-out templates for radius gauges, under-string radius gauges & an action ruler
    • A handy measurement conversion chart & more!

    From your friends at Blackwood Guitarworks and the Guitar Setup Pro App.

     

    REVIEWS

    Praise for Jonny Blackwood:

    "I have related and referred to Jonny's guidance many times over the years and I can truly say that I wouldn't have gotten very far without it." -Daryl Chonka, guitar tech for Randy Bachman (The Guess Who & BTO), recording engineer, recording & performing artist

     

    "Everything you need to start confidently working on your own guitars is right here." -Andrew deGroot, factory certified guitar tech and luthier, Stang Guitars

     

    "The importance of a great setup can't be overstated. This is a perfect guide for those starting out in the craft, and a great general reference to keep around. Jonny lays out all the info needed to setup your guitar like a pro, without any confusing clutter. You're in great hands." -Cory Newman, Luthier, C.A. Newman Guitars

     

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBlackwood Guitarworks
    Release dateMar 12, 2013
    ISBN9781393468257
    How To Setup Your Guitar Like A Pro

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      Book preview

      How To Setup Your Guitar Like A Pro - Jonny Blackwood

      INTRODUCTION

      There are many guitar setup resources online, although many are difficult to read or are lacking important information. A guitar setup is not rocket science, but it does require some understanding and technique. That is why I decided to write this book back in 2012 (later published in 2013). Although a lot has changed since then, including the sheer amount of information readily available (and for free), sifting through the clutter to find the right information can be a laborious task and one that can leave a person feeling frustrated. This book has been for those wanting a simple, solid, step-by-step manual they can come back to time and time again. It was developed over ten years while working in the field, on hundreds and hundreds of guitars, of all different types. It has been the primary curriculum for our hugely successful Group Guitar Setup Classes, which began in 2009. As I write this now, ten years later, I never imagined having a best-selling book under my belt, sold in so many countries around the world. Now in its third revision, I am really thankful you decided to pick it up, and I hope that you get everything out of it that you wanted.

      This book covers an eight-step setup process for all guitars, including details on adjusting Floyd Rose and other floating bridges, a section on acoustic guitars, and factory setup specifications from brands like Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, and many others. I have also included a few exclusive specs from some of the best playing guitars I have serviced over the last decade. It is written in an easy-to-follow manner so that you can hone your setup chops with a solid foundation. From there, you can use the supplied specifications to fine-tune your skills without any unnecessary, contradictory, or confusing information clouding the way. Be sure to check out the FURTHER RESOURCES section for more content, tools and setup tips.

      I wish you all the best in learning how to set up your guitar! Connect with me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/blackwoodguitarworks), Instagram (@blackwoodguitarworks) or through my website (www.blackwoodguitarworks.com) and let me know how it’s worked out.

      Cheers,

      -JB

      Back to top

      HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

      This book is written in a particular sequence to assist the reader through a professional guitar setup using step-by-step instructions. For those new to the subject, it is best to read the book from beginning to end, for a broad overview of the entire operation. Each step is described in detail for each guitar type that would be applicable, with subsequent sections on related topics. Thumb through the sections as needed, try different setup specifications, and when you’re ready, tackle something new, such as nut slot cutting.

      *Click the highlighted headings at any time to return to the Table of Contents.

      NOTE:  The work described in this guide is intended for individuals with basic mechanical skills. If you do not understand the described procedures or are uncomfortable using tools, please leave this kind of work to a qualified technician.

      PARTS OF THE GUITAR

      To do a successful setup, let’s get familiar with all the working parts of a guitar.

      Body: The body of the guitar contributes to its comfort, style, and resonant tonal quality. It is often made from select tonewoods, laminates or in rarer cases, composite materials.

      Neck: The neck of the guitar also contributes to the overall comfort of playing and can vary in thickness, width, and length. Guitar necks are generally made from hard tonewoods such as maple or mahogany, or a select combination of different tonewoods.

      Fretboard: The fretboard is the main playing surface and is often made from hard tonewoods most popularly maple, rosewood, or ebony.

      Frets: Fret size and fret wear condition can play a role in the comfort of playing and ultimately affect the end-result of the setup. There are tips on this throughout the book, but we will not dive into fretwork as it is an advanced-level topic.

      Head or headstock: The headstock is the upper-end of the neck, where the tuners and strings are anchored.

      Tuners: The tuners wind up and change the pitch of the strings. One misconception is they also keep the strings in tune, but that is not entirely correct. When there is a problem with a string losing its pitch, or going out of tune, it is more often because of another issue.

      Nut: The nut keeps the strings aligned across the fretboard, up to the tuners. Like the bridge saddle, it is a crucial area for string height and playing comfort. Nuts are often made from bone, plastic, or some composite material. Occasionally you will also see them in brass or steel.

      Truss rod: A truss rod is a steel rod that runs down the interior of the guitar neck. Its purpose is to counteract the pull of the strings by applying a counterforce within the neck. It is generally accessible at the headstock or the butt-end of the neck.

      Pickups: The pickups amplify the strings of the guitar. Electric guitar pickups can be adjusted for sensitivity, which we’ll cover later.

      Bridge: The bridge anchors the strings to the guitar body. The bridge style and design will significantly vary. We will cover the most common styles and how they can be adjusted for the setup.

      Bridge saddles: The bridge saddle(s) will most often determine the string height and length. Depending on guitar design, the bridge saddle(s) may or may not be fixed to the bridge.

      Controls: General controls for volume and tone shaping.

      Pickguard: The pickguard (not pictured), if applicable, generally protects the guitar from wear but may also house electronics in some cases.

      Strap button: This is for attaching your strap.

      ––––––––

      Back to top

      WHAT IS A SETUP?

      Just like you can hot-rod your car or truck, you can fine-tune your guitar to perform its best. A setup includes adjusting, where applicable, the neck relief (neck bow), the saddle and nut slot height, the bridge angle, the neck angle, the pickup height, and the intonation. It is also a good idea to be sure that the hardware is torqued down, the controls are functioning correctly, and that any worn out parts are replaced. Since a guitar is primarily made of wood, which will expand and contract, it will need these adjustments periodically.

      WHAT INFLUENCES A GREAT GUITAR SETUP?

      Before getting started, it is essential to note that any guitar can play poorly or exceptional, depending on the setup and what your preferences are. The ideal setup is one made for you, your guitar, and your style (meaning, how you play the guitar, what tunings you use, which string gauge you prefer). All these will factor into how the guitar should be adjusted. This guide will give you the know-how to make these adjustments with measurable results.

      LEGEND

      Instructions in this book will refer to each guitar string as they are numbered below.

      IMG_6708_edit4

      #6 string – commonly the low ‘E’ string, or the lowest and thickest string

      #5 string – commonly the ‘A’ string

      #4 string – commonly the ‘D’ string

      #3 string – commonly the ‘G’ string

      #2 string – commonly the ‘B’ string

      #1 string – commonly the high ‘E’ string, or the highest or thinnest string

      WHAT YOU WILL NEED

      The following list of tools will be adequate under most circumstances. See individual chapters for additional tools or supplies that may be required.

      • Fresh guitar strings & a capo

      • Truss rod wrench

      • Steel ruler that measures in 64ths of an inch

      • Automotive feeler gauge set that measures in thousandths of an inch (.001")

      • Multi-head screwdriver / precision screwdriver set

      • Your guitar’s saddle height adjustment wrench (if applicable)

      • An accurate electronic tuner

      • String cutter /side cutters or cutting pliers

      These items can be found at your local music and hardware stores, or online, such as at Amazon.

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