Tips On How To Setup An Electric Guitar

If you've ever questioned how one can setup your electric guitar, or your 4, five or six string bass guitar yourself, you've arrived to the right place. Read on.

It's recommended to replace your strings before you start, and install them correctly though this isn't absolutely vital.

*In all the illistrations below, the head-stock is pointing to your left.

In case your electric guitar has a Floyd Rose or a tremolo bridge, you will need to block it before proceeding. The most practical way if you do not have many tools at your disposal is: remove the plastic cover in the back of your guitar; next put thin coins or picks between the part of the bridge system that protrudes downward and the body till the distance between the flat part of the bridge (just under the bridge pickup) and the body is 3/32-inch. Loosen the springs and tune to standard ‘A’ 440.

If your guitar has a Floyd Rose, add coins or picks till the bridge is level to the body, then remove the springs and tune to standard 'A' 440.

Electric guitar Setup Step 1: Adjust the truss rod

We do this to prevent the strings from hitting the frets- and buzzing- as they vibrate. Put a capo on the first fret, and press the fifth string on the seventeenth fret with your finger (I use the middle) while lifting the 6th string so it presses against your fingernail.

Use a spark plug calibrator to measure the distance between the top of the twelfth fret and the bottom of the fifth string.

Fender Telecaster: 0.012
Fender American standard, vintage 0.012
Gibson: 0.004 - 0.006
Floyd Rose: 0.012
Bass guitars: 0.014

Adjust the truss rod with an Allen wrench. Turn clockwise (towards the 1st string) to loosen and counterclockwise (towards the sixth string) to tighten.

Notice: if in case you have access to the truss rod just below 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 first fret, measure the distance between the bottom of the strings and the top of the 17th fret utilizing a 6-inch ruler in 64ths. Use the table below only as a basic guideline: explore different possibilities till you discover the height that fits you best.

Fender Telecaster 4/64th-inch
Fender American standard, vintage 4/64th-inch
Gibson 3/64" or 4/64"
Floyd Rose4/64th-inch
Bass guitars 3/32nd-inch

Remove the capo and tune to standard ‘A’ 440

Electric 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- 6th: 3/32nd-inch, 1st: 5/64"
Fender American standard, vintage 6th: 1/8", 1st: 3/32"
Gibson- 3/64" or 4/64"
Floyd Rose- 6th: 1/8", 1st: 3/32". If it has humbuckers 3/32" on each side
Ultra, Plus- 1/16th-inch on each side
four string bass guitars- 4th: 1/8", 1st 3/32". Or, 1/16th-inch on both sides.
5 and 6 string bass guitars- 6th/5th: 7/64th-inch, 1st: 5/64th-inch

The general idea is that pickups ought to give similar signal depth no matter pickup or string.

Check to determine if the strings buzz and tweak as needed. Removing fret buzz entirely is not possible nor necessary. Set to ensure your electric guitar is comfortable to play, and the buzz can't be heard through the amp.

Electric guitar Setup Step 3: Setting the intonation

Tune your guitar with an digital tuner, utilizing the pure harmonics at the 12th fret. When pressing the string on the 12th fret, you will have the same pitch.

If the tuner says it is too flat, then shorten the vibrating part of the string by tweaking the saddle. If it's too sharp, elongate the vibrating portion.

After elongating or shortening, tune to the pure harmonic again and repeat till you get it the way that you like.

However, if your guitar has a tremolo bridge system or a Floyd Rose, place the springs back in position and tighten them slowly till the picks or coins fall out. Place the plastic covering back-plate in its location, and you're finished!

By: toddmastersmd

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Todd Masters is a guitar tech for a local music store. Here are some tips on how to guitar setup tips and tune your guitar by hear. Hope this helps you!