Setup
- Thread starter Session 5
- Start date
Post some measurements?
Medium is a very subjective term...I have never seen adjustments posted by Low, Medium and High.
IMHO, action will have no effect on note sustain until you either experience uneven frets and/or action too close to a fret, or pickup, which interferes with the string's vibration.
Here's the settings I use most frequietly. Use it as a guide only.
Neck Relief: Set at .015" to .020"
Low E Action @ 12th fret unfretted: .050" to .060"
High e action @12th fret unfretted: .035" to .040"
1st fret string height unfretted: .020"
Then, when fretted at first fret, I like to see a minimum of .010" at the second fret, as shown:
Also, on humbuckers, I set the pole pieces to 4/32" from the strings, fretted at the last fret.
On single coils, you need a lot more distance to avoid Wolftones.
Also, I walk up every string, in 4 fret movements, listening for any anomalies. I also bend every string, at every fret, listening for choked-off notes, buzzing, etc.
RVA is a much more competent Luthier and I am in hopes he will chime in as well...
Last edited:
Let's evaluate this. If the frets are level, you can do your own setup easily.
That's what its all about.
jtcnj
Ambassador of the Crossroad
The Biddlin' setup method is what I adopted and it works great for me and no measurements.
But knowing about where you are measurements wise is good too if you document things.
Be sure to retune between.
I think this is what JohnnyGoo is referring to.
Biddlin's foolproof setup method
But knowing about where you are measurements wise is good too if you document things.
Be sure to retune between.
I think this is what JohnnyGoo is referring to.
Biddlin's foolproof setup method
Last edited:
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
Right. On a properly set up guitar there will be no loss of sustain.
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
I use a slight variant of this: I adjust until everything feels right under my fingers. If there is buzz (rare) I then cure it. No way to measure a correct setup, you have to feel and hear it.
Again, setup is very subjective. I measure everything and I setup every guitar I have exactly the same. However, I also level and crown every guitar by hand - and cut nut slots to yield a .020" unfretted first fret height - which ensures that every fret is precisely the same height as the others, and for this reason, I can set up that guitar to my exact specifications rapidly and with complete repeatability.
Unless a guitar has been leveled and crowned, the frets will NOT be the same height and it will be impossible to set it up to a particular measurement, and in that case, you will find the methods listed by others to be more appropriate.
Unless a guitar has been leveled and crowned, the frets will NOT be the same height and it will be impossible to set it up to a particular measurement, and in that case, you will find the methods listed by others to be more appropriate.
Last edited:
Ive set my guitars up how i like them then i used a Stadium nylon pick and i used the letters on the pick as a gauge. i turn the pick side ways and use the Stadium lettering as a gauge.No fancy gauges and documentation and all the stuff i just remember what letter on the pick my string height is at.There ya go.