"A good setup
can make ANY
guitar sound better!"
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Every guitar
should be set up about once a year. It is, after all, a
piece of wood. Wood is hygroscopic and is always
absorbing and/or repelling water which causes your setup
to change. Also, your guitar should be set up anytime
you change string gauge. My "Pro" setup includes all the
adjustments to keep your guitar in great-playing shape.
For
Electrics...
Here's what is included in a typical "Electric Pro"
setup:
- Lemon oil
treatment for the fretboard (rosewood and ebony)
- Polish frets
with special chemical
- Check the
electronics
- Lubricate the
nut and saddles
- Tighten all
the hardware
- Restring*
- Adjust
tremolo if applicable
- Set the truss
rod at .012 relief
- Set the
string action
- Check nut
action and adjust if necessary
- Set the
pickup heights
- Intonate at
the bridge
- Give a good
general polish
For Acoustics...
Acoustic guitars are even more susceptible to weather
changes than solidbody electrics and should definitely
be set up once a year.
Here's what is
included in a typical "Acoustic Pro" setup:
- Lemon oil
treatment for the fretboard
- Polish frets
with special chemical
- Check the
electronics if applicable
- Lubricate the
nut
- Tighten all
the hardware
- Check the
interior bracings
- Vacuum the
interior
- Restring*
- Set the truss
rod at .012 relief
- Set the
string action
- Check nut
action and adjust if necessary
- Give a good
general polish
By the way - I'm a
believer in guitar humidifiers. If you have a good
acoustic do yourself a favor and buy a humidifier.
Click this link to visit
the Taylor Guitar website for good information on how
the weather can affect your guitar.
* Because guitar strings are a very personal choice,
they are NOT included in the price of the setup.
You can buy high-quality
GHS strings from me, or bring your own.
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