Electric Guitar Setup Guide

The electric guitar setup routine is as important to your sound as any component on your instrument. In addition, if you learn how to setup your guitar correctly you can save some money by not running down to the local guitar shop, and paying them to do it. I want to preface that I am not an expert on the building of guitars. I did not go to the "Fender/Gibson school of Luthier excellence". I am however someone that's built a dozen electric guitars, and have setup everyone of them. Additionally I've setup probably fifty more guitars, including acoustics, for friends, and friends of friends, who found out I've got some practical experience in the matter.

I'm going to assume that if you're reading this, you've probably been to two dozen guitar sites, all with varying, if not conflicting information on the correct way to do a setup. I've been there too, I've watched guys on youtube filing down frets with a dremel tool. Now it didn't look right to me, but maybe it works for him. The reality is there is more than one way to do something, and that's OK. If the end result is a great sounding instrument, it doesn't matter how you got there. So I'm going to show you my way of how to get to a great sounding electric guitar. And if you should choose to do something differently, and it works, great!!. Part of having some fun in life is experimenting, I encourage it.

I'm going to break the electric guitar setup guide into five parts, which are all in the links below. It's important to note that the five parts be done in the order in which they're presented. If you have a truss rod that's out of whack, it makes no sense to move on and adjust the bridge. I realize this may be painfully obvious, but for the one person who may not get it, I'm talking to you. Good luck

In Part one of this five part tutorial you'll learn about the guitar nut, and headstock, what to look for, and how to fix it if it's broke

In part two of this tutorial you'll learn about The neck, and how to make truss rod adjustments

In part three you'll learn about the electric guitar bridge, different styles, and how to adjust them

In part four you'll learn how to set Guitar Intonation

In part five you'll learn how to make Guitar Pickup height adjustments

A fresh set of Guitar Strings can make a major difference in your tone.

Before you go and spend big bucks on a new amp take a look at my section on Guitar Amplifiers

Try a can of spray silicone for Guitar Nut Lubricant

Here's some important info on setting up your Electric Guitar Tremolo Springs.

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