Guitar set up

Robert Herndon said:
Nothing wrong with that, but I measure and record everything. I have clients bring me a new guitar and say "set it up exactly like you did my ------" and I have all their specs on file... :)

It's just easier for OCD types...
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I can see that working for an initial setup, it's why the manufacturers publish factory setup specs. But...guitars change over time, and what works today may not work next week (or tomorrow). Too many variables: you have to account for humidity changes, frets wearing, the guitar just getting older and the wood dryer, etc, ad nauseum. It's why I maintain that every player should learn to do a setup and adjust for their own preferences and feel, even if its on a day to day basis. Plus, I will go one big step further and say that I have never, ever, not once gotten one of my guitars back from a luthier and not had to tweak something. There is just no way another person can dial in a feel for a player, except maybe the guys who are full-time techs working with the same musicians day-in and day-out. I'll bet my bottom dollar it takes those guys a while to learn what a specific player needs on a day to day basis too, and every time you watch an interview with those guys they talk about tweaking the guitars constantly.
 
gball said:
I can see that working for an initial setup, it's why the manufacturers publish factory setup specs. But...guitars change over time, and what works today may not work next week (or tomorrow). Too many variables: you have to account for humidity changes, frets wearing, the guitar just getting older and the wood dryer, etc, ad nauseum. It's why I maintain that every player should learn to do a setup and adjust for their own preferences and feel, even if its on a day to day basis. Plus, I will go one big step further and say that I have never, ever, not once gotten one of my guitars back from a luthier and not had to tweak something. There is just no way another person can dial in a feel for a player, except maybe the guys who are full-time techs working with the same musicians day-in and day-out. I'll bet my bottom dollar it takes those guys a while to learn what a specific player needs on a day to day basis too, and every time you watch an interview with those guys they talk about tweaking the guitars constantly.
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Agreed....Before I learned to do the work myself, I think I was supporting two Luthiers full time...:)

I'm an odd duck, I suppose. For years, I had my guitars setup with bass side at .060" (unfretted @ 12th) and my treble side at .040" respectively. I got to where I had all my guitars up that way because it just felt right, regardless of the brand of guitar in question.

I refer to this as 60/40 setup and it is used with .008" to .010" neck relief.

Now I do all my own stunts... :-)

One day, I was asked to setup a new Gibson Les Paul Standard that the customer had messed with. They had dropped the bridge as far down as it would go, rendering it unplayable. For fun, I just checked the relief and then adjusted the TOM until it felt "good" to my hands.

When I measured it at the 12th it was .060" X .040" almost exactly.
 
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My big pet peeve with Floyd's is the way-to-high first fret action. I literally sanded one Floyd nut down so far, I had to shorten the mounting screws. After that, I just started working the nut slots with a 3.5mm tapered diamond burr and set each string's height proportionate to the fretboard radius. It's time consuming, but it plays great.... :-)


Ibanez Floyd Rose Nut.jpg



Destroyer First Fret Height.jpg


Destroyer Nut.jpg
 
gball said:
I've realized that what feels best to me is almost zero relief. I mean I keep them absolutely as straight as possible. Means the action is a bit higher but that's just what works for me, and not a lot of people enjoy playing my guitars.
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Once you figure out that all these adjustments are not black magic, you can do just about anything.
 
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