By: Steve Miller
Submitted: 2010-06-20 02:40:14 | Word Count: 814
If you've ever wondered how one can set-up your electric guitar, or your four, 5 or six string bass guitar your self, you've arrived to the right place. Read on.
It is recommended to replace your strings before you start, and install them properly although this is not absolutely crucial.
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*In all the explanations below, the headstock is pointing to your left.
Whether your electric guitar has a Floyd Rose or a tremolo bridge, you will want to block it before continuing . One of the most practical technique if you do not have many tools at your disposal is: detach the plastic covering in the back of your guitar; next put skinny coins or picks between the part of the bridge that expands downward and the body till the space between the flat part of the bridge (slightly below the bridge pickup) and the body is 3/32". Loosen the springs and tune to standard ‘A’ 440.
If your guitar has a Floyd Rose, add picks or coins till the bridge system is parallel to the body, then take off the springs and tune to standard 'A' 440.
Guitar Set-up Step 1: Adjust the truss rod
We do this to avoid the strings from touching the frets- and buzzing- as they vibrate. Put a capo on the first fret, and press the 5th string at the 17th fret with your finger (I use the middle finger) while lifting the 6th string so it presses against your finger-nail.
Use a spark plug calibrator to measure the space between the top of the 12th fret and the bottom of the 5th string.
Adjust the truss rod with an Allen wrench. Turn clock-wise (toward the 1st string) to loosen and counterclockwise (towards the 6th string) to tighten.
Notice: if in case you have access to the truss-rod just under the last fret instead of by the nut, invert directions.
Set action:
This means adjusting the height of the strings.
With the capo still on the 1st fret, measure the gap between the bottom of the strings and the top of the seventeenth fret utilizing a 6 inch ruler in 64ths. Use the bench below only as a general guideline: explore several possibilities till you discover the height that fits you best.
Fender Telecaster 4/64th-inch
Fender American standard, vintage 4/64th-inch
Gibson 3/64th-inch or 4/64th-inch
Floyd Rose4/64th-inch
Bass guitars 3/32nd-inch
Remove the capo and tune to standard ‘A’ 440
Guitar Setup Step 2:Setting the height of the pickups
Gauge the distance between the top of your pickups and the bottom of your strings (1st and 6th) while pressing on the last fret. Adjust as desired.
Fender Telecaster- sixth: 3/32nd-inch, 1st: 5/64"
Fender American standard, vintage 6th: 1/8", 1st: 3/32"
Gibson- 3/64" or 4/64nd-inch
Floyd Rose tremolo system- sixth: 1/8", 1st: 3/32". If it has humbuckers 3/32" on both sides
Ultra, Plus- 1/16" on either side
4 string bass guitars- 4th: 1/8th-inch, 1st 3/32nd-inch. Or, 1/16" on both sides.
5 and 6 string bass guitars- 6th/5th: 7/64", 1st: 5/64th-inch
The overall concept is that pickups should give the same signal intensity no matter pickup or string.
Test to determine if the strings buzz and adjust as needed. Removing fret buzz entirely is neither possible nor necessary. Set so that your guitar is comfortable to play, and the buzz cannot be heard through the amp.
Guitar Set-up Step three: Setting the intonation
Tune your guitar with an digital tuner, using the pure harmonics at the 12th fret. When pressing the string on the twelfth fret, you should notice a similar pitch.
If the tuner says it's too flat, then shorten the vibrating part of the string by tweaking the saddle. If it's too sharp, elongate the vibrating portion.
After extending or shortening, tune to the pure harmonic once more and repeat till you get it the way that you like.
However, if your electric guitar has a whammy bridge or a Floyd Rose, place the springs back in place and tighten them slowly until the coins or picks tumble out. Place the plastic covering back-plate in its location, and you are done!
Author Resource:-
Todd Masters is a guitar tech for a local music store. Here are some tips on how to guitar setup tips and tun your guitar by hear. Hope this helps you!
