The head of the truss rod is accessed at the top of the neck or from within the sound hole depending on the guitar. If the gap is too wide, you must "shave" the bottom of the bridge saddle or replace it with a shorter saddle. Start by installing a fresh set of Fender strings before proceeding. Using a feeler gauge, check the distance between the top of the eighth fret and the bottom of the sixth string. First, adjust the truss rod relief. For acoustic guitars: Check the height between the fret located at the neck and body joint, and the bottom of each string (Refer to the specifications chart for the proper measurement). By Rick Turner. Compensations may need to be made, if you plan to change string gauges. Bass pickup height is also measured from the pole piece to the bottom of the string on the bass and treble sides with the last fret depressed. Martin Style 18 vs Martin Style 28 -- What’s the Difference? November 09, 2020 Check the height between the seventeenth fret and the bottom of each string, Check the height between the fret located at the neck and body joint, and the bottom of each string, Pickup height is measured from the pole piece to the bottom of the string on the bass and treble sides with the last fret depressed. After an initial visual inspection of the guitar, the least expensive and most dramatic enhancement to a guitar's sound and playability is to install a fresh set of strings. AE 1.8MB - EN. Angle the string slots downward towards the headstock to relieve any pinching of the strings that may happen on that side of the nut. To check the tension on the neck, first make sure the guitar is properly tuned. Then place a … I was in one of those very large music shops with a very large guitar section and I overheard a customer ask the salesperson if a set-up (by the store) came free with the purchase of a Martin guitar. With the guitar on its … Press down the 6th string at the 14th fret with your right hand. Loosen the strings, but don't remove them from the tuners. The gap at the 1st fret should be .020" +/- .002". There should be a small gap (.006"+/- .002"); remember this gap will be one-half the thickness of the 1st string (.012"). There is only one thing about buying off-the-rack acoustic steel string guitars that really, really sucks, and that's the setup, or rather, the lack of it. Acoustic Guitar Nut Height Relief String height at 12th fret (Without “Zero” fret) (At 8th fret) (From top of fret to bottom of string) Bass side Treble side.008” Bass side Treble side.020” .018” 6/64” 5/64” … Suddenly … String height or action describes the distance between the top of your frets to the bottom of your strings. I always do setups in this order: 1) relief, 2) nut, 3) saddle because a) relief can affect the other two and b) there is essentially one correct … Depress the strings at the fret located at the neck and body joint. The Trifecta of Guitar Setup. Great Guitarists Who Built Their Reputations Playing Brilliant Rhythm Guitar, Foxgear Pedals: Sleek, Professional Quality Pedals at Affordable Prices, Five Lefty Signature Models That are Actually a Great Value, These Services Can Make Your Guitar Feel and Sound Like New (or Better), Coming Soon - The Jared Dines Artist Series Stingray Guitar from Sterling by Music Man, Set of automotive feeler gauges (.002 - .025), 6" ruler (with 1/32" and 1/64" increments). Bring the strings completely up to pitch. You could shim your existing saddle in a pinch, but shimming can dull the tone if it doesn't fit properly; so you may as well just cut a taller saddle, making sure the "radius" (side-to-side arc) on the top of the saddle matches the radius of the fingerboard. Modifications of the specifications can be made (within limited parameters) to adjust for player application (how hard the you pick or fret the guitar), or other considerations. Less than a .006" gap may cause a "buzz" or cause "fret out" if some high frets exist. Note: In either case, if you meet excessive resistance or need for adjustment, or you're not comfortable with this adjustment, take your guitar to your authorized service center or luthier. Acoustic Guitars 2014 4MB - EN. 2008-04-29T04:36. the normal string height that a martin should have when coming from the factory is 7/64ths on the low E string and 5/64ths' on the high e string. We guarantee that it will be free from defects and … Remove the capo from the 1st fret and whilst looking at the side of the fingerboard on the bass side, place your small ruler behind the 6th string directly on the 12th fret. Check all the electronic control functions, i.e., pickups, volume, tone, etc. The "Standard" truss rod can counteract concave curvature, for example, in a neck that has too much relief, by generating a force in the neck opposite to that caused by excessive string tension. Carefully cut the string slots in the nut with "nut slot files". Measured from the center of the sixth-string bridge pin to that of the first, the string spread … These are just rules of thumb, of course. Note: Medium gauge strings (.013"-.056") have higher tension, with less "string excursion", needing more truss rod tension to counteract the stronger string pull. by John Davis 5/64" 4/64", Humbuckers 4/64" 4/64", Lace Sensors As close as desired (Allowing for string vibration), Bass Guitar Bass side Treble side, Vintage style 8/64" 6/64", American/Mexican Std. A shim approximately 1/4" (6.4 mm) wide by 1 3/4" (44.5 mm) long by .010" (0.25 mm) thick will allow you to raise the action approximately 1/32" (0.8 mm). Strings. Some Fender guitars and basses have a unique Bi-Flex truss rod system. Remove the capo and retune the guitar to pitch. Measure the 1st string gap in the same fashion; with a feeler gauge between the top of the 1st fret and the bottom of the 1st string. The Yamaha A-Series takes your acoustic performance to the next level with dynamic, natural amplified tone; a refined, powerful acoustic voice and outstanding playability. Because you've taken the tension off the neck by loosening the strings, you must now go back and check the neck straightness (using the preceding procedures), as the truss rod may have shifted during tension release. Even a quarter-step below pitch can relax the tension in the top (behind and in front of the bridge) and the neck, leaving the guitar sounding a little dull and lifeless. This gap should be .070" to .078" (4.5/64" to 5/64"). Acoustic guitars might all be built for a common purpose but they are as individual as the people who play them, so to make sure that your guitar is not only at its optimum when it comes to playing, but comfortable and suited to your own personal needs. If the saddle gets rounded off, you'll lose volume on the bass or treble side, or even worse, if your guitar is equipped with an electronic transducer, you'll lose response. Acoustic guitars are under a lot of stress from the tight strings. The Dunlop Action Gauge from sweetwater.com is great for this. More … Use pliers or wire snips to gently lift the saddle from the saddle slot. As always if you feel you need this adjustment to be made and you're not comfortable with the procedure, take your guitar to your authorized service center or luthier. Setting up a guitar involves working with the bridge, nut, and neck adjustments to dial in the playing action to suit the player. Now remove the capo and recheck your 12th fret measurements. Light Tung oil or lemon oil are fairly traditional sealers but Bee's wax compounds are also excellent. FACTORY SETUP - FREE With the Factory Setup, your guitar will arrive in your hands the way it was setup by Martin and Saga Music (Blueridge guitars). If truss rod adjustment is needed, refer to your Fender owner's manual for adjustment procedures, as well as, information on which type of truss rod is installed in the model of guitar or bass you are working on. Adjust the Bridge Height. Doing the steps out of order will force you to go back and recheck things over and over, so... maintain the flow, and your instrument will fall right into “spec". This guide also assumes that you know the parts of your guitar, some basic terms, and that the guitar you're adjusting has no structural damage; (i.e. 0 Comments. With a feeler gauge, measure the distance between the top of the 5th fret and the bottom of the 6th string. Use a 1/4" nut driver to turn the truss rod clockwise to straighten the neck or counter-clockwise to add some "relief". by Adirondack Guitar Loosen and remove all of the old strings and while the strings are off the guitar, it's the perfect time to clean and seal the fingerboard and bridge. Both of those … Ask questions, show off your gear, or simply chat with fellow guitar fanatics. Here are over three dozen precise setup specs collected by Dan Erlewine as he interviewed famous players and roadies. Acoustic guitars are equipped with one of two types of truss rod. worn or popped-up frets, separating bridge, loose or broken top braces, cracked nut or saddle, cracked or loose neck joint.). Just as with a 6-string guitar, bass, banjo, or mandolin, 12-string setup can be divided into playability and intonation.On the playability side, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and through experience, … This will maintain the proper angle of the string over the nut. Do you want to be driven around in a chauffeur-driven car just looking at the view whilst someone else operates the pedals or do you want to get behind the wheel, open this thing up and really see what it can do? What tubes are in my amp? If you feel you need this adjustment to be made and you're not comfortable with the procedure, take your guitar to your authorized service center or luthier. 6/64" 5/64", Lace Sensors As close as desired (Allowing for string vibration). After an initial visual inspection of the guitar, the least expensive and most … Hold the guitar in a comfortable position and press down the … Note: These are minimum specifications, meant to guide you, not to be taken as hard and fast rules. For an acoustic guitar saddle that needs to be lowered in height, use self-adhesive sandpaper. Caution: the nut must be isolated with masking tape and wipe away any excess crazy glue with a piece of tissue paper to protect the finish around the nut. It is worth bearing in mind that the more tension in the wood means the more volume and sustain you will naturally achieve. September 17, 2020 (plus: footswitch and cover info). Either way, you'll probably have to do some cutting, so it's just as easy to shave the existing one. December 19, 2017 First, sight the neck just to see what condition it's in. Neck radius Relief (at 8th fret) String height (at 14th fret), 9.5" to 12" .010" 6/64" 5/64", 15" to 17" .008" 6/64" 5/64", Neck radius Relief (at 8th fret) String height (at 17th fret), 7.25" .012" 5/64" 4/64", 9.5" to 12" .010" 4/64" 4/64", 15" to 17" .008" 4/64" 3/64", 7.25" .014" 7/64" 6/64", 9.5" to 12" .012" 6/64" 5/64", 15" to 17" .010" 6/64" 5/64", Electric Guitar Bass side Treble side, Texas Specials 8/64" 6/64", Vintage style 6/64" 5/64", American/Mexican Std. This gap should be from .085" to .093" (5.5/64" to 6/64"). Most have a standard truss rod. Retune your guitar, it should now meet factory specifications and "play like butter". If you cut too deeply, the slot can be filled with a mixture of baking soda and crazy glue, and, after it sets, the slot can be cut again. Different pickups have varying degrees of magnetic pull. If the gap is too narrow, you'll need to put in a taller saddle. So action will change over time. When installing new strings, there are a few things that can be overlooked and may cause some problems later on. A guitar’s action can also be adjust at the bridge. There are a basic set of tools that every guitar player should have in his bag, whether you are just starting out in your bedroom or about to step onto a stage in front of 300 people, keeping your guitar in the best working order is vital to getting the best sound out of it and having the most fun playing it. Measure the distance from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the 6th string. I would recommend finding a good repair person to see your guitar and possibly adjust the … 120 – 200 grit is recommended unless you have a lot to take off and make sure … Acoustic Guitars 2010 2.9MB - EN. Drop the saddle back into the saddle slot and draw another pencil line across the saddle at the base of the bridge. For acoustic guitars, our recommendation bumps up to 7/64th of an inch (2.78mm) on the bass side and 5/64th of an inch (1.98mm) on the treble side. Few things make an acoustic guitarist’s day quite like playing a freshly set up guitar. Always refer to your Fender owner's manual for additional information and/or instruction. It should be noted that you should never use standard guitar polish on unfinished fingerboards or bridges as they can actually dry out the wood. 0 Comments, by Adirondack Guitar Make sure the ball end of the string is seated snugly against the bridge pin at the bridge plate; this will insure that no pitch slipping occurs; (this is usually the cause of what a lot of people think is "string stretch”). Check the curve of the neck. Acoustic Guitars 2007 4.5MB - EN. S L November 15, 2012. Remove the truss rod cover, if so equipped, and apply a capo at the 1st fret. On an electric guitar, this … Draw a light pencil line across the base of the saddle along the top of the bridge. This distance plays a key role in your setup because it determines the ease in which your guitar … And to take that analogy to breaking point. Acoustic Guitar Instruction Manual 714KB - EN. Caution: The following procedure should only be made with the proper files and a certain amount of experience. Again, using the feeler gauge, measure the gap between the top of the 1st fret and the bottom of the 6th string; the gap should be .022" +/- .002". Each string must be measured and adjusted separately because you shouldn't remove the nut to shave the bottom as you would with the bridge saddle. Using a flat file, remove an amount of material from the bottom of the saddle double the amount of the 12th fret overage, i.e. Because of the various models of acoustic and electric guitars, and basses, we have included with these procedures, specifications charts to assist you. Setting Up An Instrument String Height At 12th Fret. What are the factory specifications for my PRS guitar setup? When a string is plucked, it vibrates in an elliptical … This fine tuning of the hardware is known as “setting up.” New guitars will come with a factory set up but as this is done from a “one size fits all” ethic, you will still need to make your own adjustments. All of the following specifications are for guitars/basses with the standard gauges of Fender strings that the guitar or bass is equipped with from the factory. 0 Comments, The History and Importance of the Martin 18 Style, Adirondack Guitar Lefty Profiles: Promise Ring’s Davey von Bohlen, The Best Bands From the First Two Waves of Emo (90‘s and 2000‘s). How do I set up my Telecaster® guitar properly? Acoustic Guitar Saddles Only. This set-up guide will give some basic, measurable parameters needed to keep your acoustic guitar in optimum playing condition. This will determine the "neck relief" necessary to prevent string "buzz" caused by the normal vibration pattern (string excursion) of the strings. Since every guitar neck, saddle height, nut height, neck angle, fret, and top condition may be slightly different, using some average measurements can give any guitar a basic, comfortable "feel". Think of it as having bought a car, yes the major work is done for you but even if brand new you still need to adjust the seat and find the perfect angle for the wing mirror. There are two different style truss rods found on Fender guitars and basses. Personal preferences in string gauge, playing style and technical ability will determine how closely to "spec" you'll want to set your own instrument; there is not one set of parameters that is perfect for everyone. All of these came from Dan's hands-on measurements of the actual guitars. String Height At The Nut. Repeat the shaving procedure if necessary. For guitars with the Micro-Tilt adjustment, loosen the … Acoustic Guitars … A word of warning, don't try to pry it up or you may chip wood away from the bridge slot. Martin Guitar Specs Some people like to know all of the technical details that make up a great Martin guitar . … Place your capo back on the 1st fret, you can now pull and remove the bridge pins from the bridge with no damage to the tuning post windings. Check out all our Acoustic Guitars and Basses here! String height at the nut should be as low as possible without causing open string … Measure the distance from top of fret to bottom of string while depressing the string at the 1st and last fret: Relief … The critical aspect here is to keep the bottom of the saddle flat and level so it sits flat in the saddle slot. The top of an acoustic guitar may rise or fall to some degree, depending on the climatic conditions in your part of the country. Newsletter Sign up here to get product announcements, artist news, and more delivered straight to your inbox. Setting up one of these instruments requires checking and adjusting the neck, nut and saddles. Saddle height directly affects how high the strings sit above the frets.
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