Do Your Own Setups: 8 Tools You Need
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- Опубліковано 2 тра 2024
- Learn how to setup your guitar without breaking the bank! In this video Tomo, Erick and Gene showcase 8 essential tools every guitarist needs to perform their own setup, saving you money and taking your guitar playing to the next level.
⚙️ Get to know the must-have tools for the job:
1️⃣ String Action Gauge or Rule: Achieve the perfect string height for your playing style.
2️⃣ Straightedge: Keep your neck straight and prevent fret buzzing.
3️⃣ Truss Rod Wrench: Adjust your neck as needed.
4️⃣ Capo: Zero out your nut height as you are making adjustments to your action.
5️⃣ Understring Radius Gauges: Set your string height to the fretboard radius.
6️⃣ Screwdriver Set: Fine-tune your hardware and pickups for optimal performance.
7️⃣ Gauged Nut Files: Customize your guitar's nut slot depth.
8️⃣ Tuner: Accurately intonate your guitar.
0:00 Measuring your action
4:05 Neck straightness
7:15 Neck adjustment
10:16 Action at the bridge
18:26 Action at the nut
22:42 Setting intonation
28:49 Pickup height
Tools and supplies featured in this video include:
String Action Gauge
www.stewmac.com/item/0670
6" Shop Rule
www.stewmac.com/item/4905
Precision Straightedges
www.stewmac.com/item/3849
2-in-1 Precision + Notched Straightedge
www.stewmac.com/item/4013
Truss Rod Wrench Set
www.stewmac.com/item/6100
Understring Radius Gauges
www.stewmac.com/item/0353
Gibson Tune-o-Medic Bridge and Tailpiece Tools
www.stewmac.com/item/4618
Guitar Tech Screwdriver Set
www.stewmac.com/item/3000
Gauged Nut Files
www.stewmac.com/item/0821
Peterson SC-HD Stroboclip Tuner
www.stewmac.com/item/1726
Grover Ultra Capo
www.stewmac.com/item/4564-R
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I'm 81. Been playing since I was 14. There was no one doing this stuff when I was young. Had to learn how to do all this on my own. There wasn't any thing like this and it took years. Thanks for this and other videos from Stew Mac.
I hope at 81 I’m still playing guitar, god bless you man 🎉
Imagine if we had this information at our disposal when we were young. The things we would have learned and been able to pass on to the upcoming musicians would be even more advanced.
I’m 48, playing since I was 13 - similar plot line to your experience, good sir. We truly are in a golden age of music pedagogy at this moment.
@@Grizzleback07We could have learned it before, but only the real geeks did. Stew Mac tool ads were featured in Guitar Player magazine decades ago, long before the Internet. Obviously it's easier now, but it was never impossible to become a luthier, or just learn to fix your own guitar; It just took a lot more effort in the past.
Dude, there were no electric guitars when you were young.
They actually convinced me to pay for the set up😂
Luthiers on UA-cam saved me. I'm a 70 year old self taught beginner. I play the keyboard. I bought a 350 dollar acoustic guitar from B stock for 195 dollars. It was in poor condition with high frets, fret sprout, bad strings, fretboard was dried out, saddle was leaning forward because the slot was too big, neck was over-bowed (too much relief), and the action was way too high. I spent 80 dollars on the tools (I purchased them directly from China) and did the set up myself. I crowned and polished my frets, oiled the fretboard, shimmed the saddle slot, replaced my strings, adjusted the truss rod and brought the action down to suit easier play. My guitar's sound, after 3 months is absolutely warm and beautiful and so easy to play with silk wound 11 47 strings. I just purchased a new electric and amp. I did that set up too. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU that share your knowledge for those of us without the money to spend on professional luthiers.
I love that Tomo is not afraid to ask questions. That's the right mindset there!
Agreed!
These videos are pure gold! Local repair shops are standing by, waiting for you to screw it up and give in!
My local shop here in Asheville charges only $50 -- well worth it, if only to avoid the sky-high cost of decent nut files and the agony of the infamous "blown nut" syndrome. I've been playing for 60+ years, know how to do this sort of work, and still do the basics -- truss rod tweaks, saddle heights, intonation, wiring mods -- but no thanks, StewMac, when it comes to a thorough pro setup on a new (or newly acquired) instrument, IMO it's better to have somebody else take responsibility for getting it done right.
@@editorjuno $50 is a great deal! You're right. It takes a lot of "blown nuts" to get it right! Actually, a good friend of mine is a guitar builder. He has a set of Hosco nut files which cost about £90 but he's paid for them many times over, A worthy investment, but he tells me cutting a nut is not for the faint of heart!
Tomo is such an icon he’s definitely a treasure in my world! Great to see him with stewmac once again you two have to play together again!
I have been playing guitar since I was 22. I’m 70 years old now. I am very grateful for videos on UA-cam. That show me how to work on my guitars without a set up man. It gets too expensive, especially when you live on a fixed income. So I truly appreciate your videos and showing people how to do things. I think UA-cam is a great tool for learning how to work on guitars and learning music. UA-cam has some really good teachers. And they also have some beautiful solo instrumental, music finger style guitar. That’s all I play because I don’t sing. So I’m very grateful for the things I learned on UA-cam. Thanks for your videos. Have a great day..👍🏼👍🏼😎😁🎸🎼🎶🎵🎸
Hi @markbrown7103, we really appreciate your comment! We agree, UA-cam is an incredible platform to learn just about anything. We used to make VHS tapes and DVDs about this stuff, but it's so much easier and accessible for folks to just tune in for free. Thanks for the support, and keep on playing!
Stewart McDonald in my opinion is the best company out there. I have purchased many items from them and they have the best customer service. 😊
I love musical instruments, I started doing repairs and set ups on lesser guitars and built up my confidence. Its a great way to develop a different level of understanding with your guitars.
I really love how mr Tomo calls it "the Berklee" 😂
When you adjust the truss rod, the neck should be supported where it joins the body not at the tuning headstock. When rest the the tuning head stock on a pillow you are putting tension on the whole length of the neck causing it bend slightly making your measurements a fraction out. This is critical for very low actions.
the holy trinity of guitar techs
I am glad you mentioned the different types of wrench needed. A few months ago I bought an FMT telecaster secondhand. I took it to the local shop because some of the frets need to be levelled and they swore blind the trussrod was broken because they couldn't adjust it. They even showed me a video of them trying.
The next weekend I went into the shop, walked into the 'workshop' part, picked up a flat head screwdriver and sure enough, one adjustable trussrod. The numpties had only tried an allen key. What made it somewhat hilarious (and worrying) was that they had a different coloured version of the same guitar hanging on the wall for sale!
Great video! The tool kit in the red case is my go-to basic for all my guitars. And nut slot files are also must have tools for me.
Thank you for this video! So much knowledge
Great Vid. Dan's Erlewine's book has been my bible for decades, but it's so nice to watch a video where you can see it done and the how's and why's demonstrated and discussed by three experts.
Love the tool box! Thanks for that insight, Gotta get one of those for sure
Take care of your instrument, and it will take care of you - even if, like me, you are never making the Hollywood Bowl. Great to hear the interaction between the techs and a master player like Tomo. Superb, educational content. Thanks, guys.
I see those shops, the tools on the background and feel so envious. Nice video.
Awesome
So much setup information. All 3 luthers are excellent. Thanks for the help ❤
Gene sounds exactly like Tom Hanks. This is the first video from this channel I have seen. I am sure I am not the first person to notice that
One of my favorite skills I've learned for guitar
I’ve been doing most of my setups because my guitar tech is 80 miles away. Also, because of that I’ve been doing it for others when I have time.
✌️😎🎸🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶
Great video. Tons of valuable information given.
I gotta get me a set of all these tools. Doing things by eye ain’t cutting it anymore. Thanks for showing us what happens when you use the right tools!
Very helpful and conclusive overview!
When I set up my own guita's action (assuming fretwork is done and aiming for a fairly low action) - I go by: Step 1 > filing nut slots relative to fret 1, this is the point least affected by other setup steps so it sets the starting pint best; Step 2 > neck curve AND bridge - this simply is a back and forth thing to me, I set the bridge to the radius and then action to 1.25mm on high e with truss rod adjusting - check for buzzing and adjust accordingly then check the highest frets for buzz, if necessary raise the bridge (or saddles individually whil roughly retaining the radius) - back and forth until you're happy.
Very glad to see Erick back!
Great video, as someone who is learning this trade my biggest frustration is the use of different measurements i.e. fraction, thousandths, millimeters etc. I have conversion charts but I guess it is preference. Thanks for the great content!!!
This is awesome. My Dad worked with Glenn Quan here in SF way back in the Jurassic and was training to be an Electric "Luthier."
That long straight edge and some feeler gauges are what got my setups on point. My guitars have never played so well! Even my $50 Epiphone Les Paul plays like a champ now that it is properly set up.
Best video of this kind that I’ve seen. Thanks guys
We’ll done. The Gibson tailpiece screwdriver is great especially if you want to preserve the screw slots AND the maple top!!
Lee Valley (Canada) tools sell one that looks a doorknob (used for plate glass screws) that fits the Gibson perfectly.
My favorite straight edge is my string and first & last fret ;)
Same here, I don't use any of this nonsense they sell, it's all common sense and how it feels to play for me, I know when I'm at the lowest action I can get, I know when their is too much relief in the neck, you don't need any of this stuff
Great video and really useful info! Thank you!
Thank you SO, so much for posting this. Not only has it reminded me how I need to add to my set-up tools kit, but this will be the video that I'll share with all of my guitar students! :)
Right on! Great to hear it was helpful to you. Best of luck with your teaching 🎸
Thank you for sharing, great to learn something new every time!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
Kudos very nice video, down to Earth. Wish I was there but this is the next best
Great video! I have a Stewmac box coming in the mail today.....you guys do a great job in giving adverage players the confidence to do a lot of their own work. I will NEVER forget the nightmare of having the Guitar Center tech doing a set-up for me on a re-issue 61 Epiphone SG Special.....TOTAL DISASTER!!!! On the third time coming back to get it; I told them I wanted to exchange the guitar since he couldn't make it right.
Yikes - sounds horrible. Hopefully you can do most of that work on your own now, and avoid more bad experiences!
A big hello to Gene & Eric! Hope to one day see you two again.
🙂🎸🤘🏻
Great video! Thanks
Very well presented
Super good, Thank You so much. Very informative... 👍👍 🇺🇸.
Thankyou so much gentlemen!! This is excellent info for those of us who just cannot afford the assistance of a luthier/technician. Using picks as a string height gauge stunned me....NEVER THOUGHT OF IT...I was using a credit card at one stage...no wonder my house was overrun with bees...all the string buzzing attracted them 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Seriously - thankyou so much GBU all 🙏🙏
Ok, thank you, this is a very good video with much needed information for guitar owners to maintain their setups. I have been doing these adjustments for many years now and I am actually an expert in doing fret jobs, all sorts. The one step I respectfully take issue with is setting the nut, this should be done after the relief is set, and its done in this way; fret each individual string at the third fret and measure the string gap at the first fret wire - the gap should be very little. As a reference I usually go from .020" to .012" incrementally from the bottom E to the top e. Then your bridge can be set up for a proper gap at the 12th fret. Just my honest opinion, and I have been getting excellent results doing it this way for years. I think I learned this from Dan Erlewine and Frank Ford, its been a while tho. I primarily play a Maton acoustic guitar with an action of .058"(1.47mm) for low E, and .052" (1.32mm) for high e. I hope this also helps someone to get the action they want.
Godo stuff, guys. I ALWAYS enjoy your videos!
Great to see Eric!
Thank you! I'm still kicking around the place!
Very helpful. Thanks.
Subscribed. I have your Kits, I laughed thinking I know most of this and learned a ton.
Great video guys.
Very good overview, especially with the order of doing things.
This also allows people to know where to do research on each category.
And a note to everyone, only do what you’re comfortable with and also, while thinking about it, don’t start filing or sanding frets or anything like that until you make sure they’re actually seated properly in the fretboard.. also, if a guitar is ever fallen over or things like that, you may have dents in your frets and don’t let this totally throw off everything you’re doing. There a ways to go about adjusting for this if you don’t want to re-free your guitar..
if you have a Floyd Rose, there is a tool that allows you to hold each saddle in place, you don’t have to have this, kind of nice to not have to have the sliding all over the place if you’ve not done it before.
Great video!
Thank you for the comment!
I will always remember discovering my Squire's fretwire had ridges all over from me playing 6 to 8 hours collectively about every single day, and a couple lines from falling over and the stainless steel cutting into them in a few spots. This was discovered after my E was fretting out on the 3rd fret through the crevice. After I sanded it level using a planed aluminum plate, it played better than before!
*To this day, I will buy a guitar, play it stock with the rounded fretwire insisting I shouldn't plane it because I have so many guitars, and I always end up planing it.* The same with cheapo Brand-X guitars having necks as thick as a railroad tie. *I eventually end up sanding the neck down to shredding acceptable and reseal it.* I just finished the final coat of triple thick glaze enamel on one 10 minutes ago.
*Those were the days when Stewmac was one of maybe 3 reputable sources for parts and tools, and 90% of shops couldn't do any real work, or they charged you as much as the junker guitar cost to buy.* I still remember buying "Parts is Parts" hardware for 5x what I buy it for today. 😮💨
I learned fretwork on my own because it's very expensive to have done by a pro, and few know how to do it well. Dents in frets, or if they're worn down wait until they're fairly significant, then level and crown them out, and of course polish at the end.
It's also nice if you do 'rolled edges' which is a fancy term for making the ends of the frets round and smooth. It really feels great. But it does take quite a lot of effort.
*I remember doing this work in the mid 90's when our budget end guitars were made from plywood they called "laminate" lol.* Using guitar picks to measure action and one day discovering my Squire Bullet neck's fretwire was extremely pitted and lined from playing sometimes 6 to 8 hours every single day.
*I was lucky to have a small aluminum plate to check the fretwires, sand them and a vintage Cort acoustic that after milling over a quarter inch off the bridge and bone saddle, had action as low as an electric that didn't buzz or fret out in any position on the neck.* I would play acoustic for about 4 hours in the morning/afternoon, and average 2 to sometimes 4 hours of electric at night.
I must also confess, between those 2 guitars and an amp I built out of a hacked and screwed particleboard entertainment stand, 2 x 8"s from JC Whitney and a 60Khz peizo tweeter with a 15 watt 2-channel Crate practice amp mounted in the top, I was able to rocket passed every other player I knew in about a year. *A zoom 505, no namer humbucker and a few pedals including the Dallas Arbiter were cascaded together and gave me serious tones and response like Van Halen, Hendrix and even Pantera and Megadeth.*
These days you can spend $300 bucks on a beginner's guitar and rig, and be shredding and sweeping in under a year there's so many resources
The truss rod wrench, of course you can use a hex key, but a lot of people strip the truss rod bolt by using the wrong size wrench, especially because their using imperial unit on metric or vice versa. Make sure you're using the right size rather than just whatever works.
Don't be afraid to take the neck off. It's easy. Just take it off, adjust it, and put it back on. It's just bolts.
Excellent points!
Appreciate the video. Could you do an acoustic specific setup video?
Great video. And that's an awesome shirt. My grandfather gave me one very similar to that many years ago and it was a very cool shirt.
Great video, thank you for posting!
Thank you!
For string height I always use feeler gauges, it's not a specialized thing so when you get one you can use it for different projects too if you're into that... It's super accurate and repeatable
Absolutely. Only a lunatic would measure thousandths with a ruler.
Excellent comprehensive overview of the process. Especially helpful were the "starting point" numbers. My only cringe was trying to draw a distinction between the open string vs the 12th fret harmonic when setting the intonation. The harmonic is by definition exactly one octave higher than the open string; it's pitch will be exactly twice that of the open string, and will in fact match the fretted pitch that you're going for. It's just physics. High E is E4, 1st harmonic is E5, the fretted note is E5. A decent tuner will get the same result but the idea that using the open string being somehow "better" is unfounded.
Great video!
Now that I'm aware thanks to you all i have got to learn to do these things.
Eric !!! Good to see you back !!
Thank you!
There’s a great 5 or so minute clip with John Suhr on tone talk that goes through his recommendations. Super helpful. Also Tom Webber, EVHs old tech has a video. It’s based on Floyd Rose guitars but the first 5 and last 5 minutes are very very good.
Tomo is awesome.
I found feeler gauges with a magnifying glass the most precise method to measure string height above fret. Ohterwise great video.
After 51 years of playing, I've gone to 9s. :)
These guys know the real deal. That said, once StewMac tells me what I need, I go find it for half the price elsewhere, and free shipping to boot. Buying a $20 part with $20 added for shipping never sits well with me. ;)
always avoided Strats until I finally learned how to setup one properly, and that the factory nut is cut for 10s, and needs to be recut/changed for different size strings, also a floating bridge needs extra setup work
This is just what I've been looking for. Wealth of information on guitar setup. Tnx. Will invest in those tools from you website. When adjusting nut the sides or width of the groove taken in account too?
I do my own setups for over 50 years I have a system, nut, level, action, relief near straight. I get 1mm action barely any buzz all my guitars. Jackson PRS AND Fender the best necks.
great stuff and good to know if you don't have a shop that does good setups. It is so rare I need to take one in I don't mind paying the $ (and supporting local shop) and I typically DIY a LOT of more difficult stuff.
Great video. Makes it clear that I need to have a pro do my set up!
On my cross-hair adjustment necks (I have two of them, bass and Tele), I’ve taken a small piece of wood out so the angled tool fits without taking the neck off. I just take the pickguard off. Much simpler and the pickguard covers it up.
I really think you should recommend feeler gauges. It makes adjusting the neck way less scary and you can reference the specs of the manufacturer for neck relief as a first guide
‘Thank you for telling people to stop paying for setups.’ Love, professional guitar techs and luthiers everywhere.
"if you can't get a clean shot at the rod, you gotta take off the neck." words to live by.
Tomo! 🙏❤️
Once I understood that almost no luthier was insured to protect the value of priceless instruments on their property I had to learn how to do it myself.
My guitars have never been better.
Do you have any videos on doing a setup on a vintage Rickenbacker? I have a 63 with two truss rods and can't seem to figure it out but don't want to damage it.
I have a top notch guy and he’s worked for some pretty big names. Getting a guitar back from him doing a setup is like going to a 5 star restaurant and worth it. I could always get my stuff playable and what I thought was good but it don’t compare to his
I just set the neck on my friend’s guitar neck. Shimmed the neck, set the saddle radius, straightened the neck, restrung, ect… I don’t charge any $$. Hoping a car guy will show me the same kindness to change brakes and rotors on my cars lol
Wish I had Tomo as my guitar instructor.
Awesome stuff! I will be referencing this video for sure. Just got some products from StewMac for my telecaster refinish project 🥳
Killer! Best of luck with your tele!
Thanks guys. I would do all adjustments on my epiphone sg but I'm chicken to do my PRS S2 24-08.
When I adjust the neck pickup, with dome shaped adjustment screws, I start at putting it at same height as the top of dome of the screw…that’s usually my Sweetness with pickups that are at or around 6k ohms
You can fill the nut slots with pencil led and use that as a guide line to see where you're taking off the material, also grind the square corners of the nut files'round/smooth' to keep from gouging into the headstock in case you slip.
I replaced my nut and bridge saddles with graphite, so this isn't even an issue, but for a certain tone of course a lot of people want different materials.
There is so much to learn. And the tools do matter. I am about 12 guitars strong...depending on state of build or fix. Most of my guitars come to me broken and super cheap or even free. I am about $500 into luthier tools. Probably more after I got the nut files. Ouch, $$$...but they are the only tools to use for string slots. To be honest, I think I spend more envy on tools than on guitars these days. But I love working on guitars. Making broken guitars play again, making cheepos play better, etc. I only have one expensive 'new' guitar. They all play like expensive guitars when I finish them. Except for one with a broken truss rod. My error. Now it's got sky-high action and it's dedicated to open tunings and slide. Fortunately it wasn't an expensive instrument and it was used. And it's nice to have a dedicated slide guitar in the quiver.
I adjust the pickup height same as Montys guitars! Use a really clean amp. Than go as high as possible with the PUs until you hear a wolf tone when pressing on the last fret low and high e-string. Then lower the PU your at until wolf tone is gone. Once gone that's your highest point you can go. Now go down to your liking of sound. Switch to the other pickup (bridge PU for example) and play in de area of the neck pickup. Then compare with the neck pickup and play here in the area where your bridge pickup is located. Set up the bass side to be pretty even with loudness and bass response. Then the treble side for same. Than adjust to your liking. I found that especially on strats and guitars with a middle position the middle position sounds the best way doing this.
With all the tools available (and I have many) I have yet-to-find a Useful and Professional "Neck rest or Neck cradle" - I've been using a yoga-mat or towel, but I do like the one you are using here. Is it available for purchase??? Great information guys. Love Tomo - so humble and great player. oNe LovE from NYC
I feel that if you don't use the capo on top of the fret then the string will have an arc to it skewing the true height of the string over the fret but most people fret just past the fret when playing
This is a great explainer, although I think it would be great to see a guitar in desperate need of a complete setup get that treatment on camera. Like the intonation section, but for each step
A video just like that is on our "to do" list. 😎
I'm watching this on a tab off to the side without video and every now and then plaid shirt man is sounding like Tom Hanks. Pretty funny. Thanks for the informative vid.
Any tips for setting up a floating style PRS trem/bridge system?
I really love your channel. I am a guitar player but you have inspired me to start learning to play bass as well. Thanks for creating a great community
I’m going to use this info to start building my tool set to at least keep my guitars in proper working order.
And just like that, the rest of the band bowed down! Nice job!
I love the action gauge for string height over frets, (sometimes for measuring sure, but always the 6” rule), and especially for the measurements on the back!
@TomoFujitaMusic is the King
Love Tomo!
We do too! Legendary player and teacher.
Thank you StewMac for sending more business my way.
I use my Stewmac tech wrench set every time I work on an instrument. Indispensable.
Hi guys! Thanks a lot for such a reveling video!!. I am a guitarist and I was a client of a luthier who boasts that he was (and claims to still be) a piano tuner. One of the things he told me was that he used that knowledge of aural tuning, that in short words, he told me that is tuning some notes a little higher than others, to intonate the guitars. The reality is that he usually did very good work for me (sometimes not) and I don't know if he was simply laughing at me or trying to justify his prices by adding some magic to his work. Can someone tell me if this could be true?
Got my files in yesterday, going to finish a setup tonight.
That's awesome! If you need help going any deeper on these topics, we have dozens of videos about specific areas of setup work. Good luck!
Tomo’s a treasure.
Agreed! We love Tomo!