crust Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 I've been "fine tuning" several of my instruments, adjusting the pickup as well as the pole piece heights and tweaking the truss rod and string heights (by raising the bridge saddles, and then re-intonating). All of this "fiddling around": takes time to get the guitar set up "just right". Do you leave everything "as is" and not adjust anything, or, do you tinker with some of the items that can be "adjusted" to try and get a better sounding and "performing" instrument ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 I always do a full setup, unless i've gotten it from Sweetwater, and play w/p'up heights, "clean up" the nuts, dress any rough fret ends, some i've replaced the p'ups &/or electronics in, etc. my favorite hobby is making Asian/Mexican guitars play & sound like top shelf American guitars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 I have a number of tools...small screw drivers, "hex keys", pliers, small adjustable wrenches, small files of varying shapes and sizes, wire cutters and and other items I've found useful for adjusting and tightening and un-tightening things. Also a polishing cloth and surface cleaning solution and "fretboard oil". I need a small tool box to keep the stuff in (I have it all in several plastic bags now) lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spamonkis Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Truss rod, bridge height, check/ clean up nut, intonate, level and polish frets; That' just a basic minimum on any guitar I own. Life's too short to play average guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitmore Willy Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Life's too short to play average guitars. +1 on that. Especially when it takes no more than a good setup to take many guitars from average to excellent. Making sure the setup is proper is also an opportunity to make any modifications that customize the setup to your own particular tastes. (specific pickup and string height...etc.) I live in a place where the weather changes constantly and we have four distinct seasons. Even though the adjustments are usually minimal, I do a complete check on all specs twice a year. If I payed someone else to do it then it would cost me a fortune! As to initial setup.....What ever is called for, up to and including fret leveling to parts replacement. One last advantage to doing your own "Adjustments/Setups/Mods": Nothing worse than leaving a guitar with a stranger for 3 days to get 10 minutes work done, only to get it back with the statement: "That scratch must have been there when you brought it in!!!" Willy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Vonnegut Fan Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 For me, these adjustments are an ongoing process, to some extent. Over the years, I've tried different types and gauges of strings, slightly different bridge heights, slightly different pickup heights, etc.. Never was the guitar unplayable, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteWilson Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 My "adjustments" have been pretty much limited to adjusting pole pieces on P90s and adjusting pickup height on humbuckers. I have rewired and replaced pots and caps on two of my guitars and replaced the pickups. And, adjusting action and intonation. Anything more serious than that gets to go to a qualified tech. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vomer Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Truss rod, bridge height, check/ clean up nut, intonate, level and polish frets; That' just a basic minimum on any guitar I own. Life's too short to play average guitars. +1. Also on my Sheraton I've 'rolled' the fretboard edges, actually just a little sanding of the binding and fret ends so the binding isn't so 'sharp'. I wouldn't recommend doing this unless you are clear about string to fret end distance. It's only a minor change and could come under the 'just shut up and play the thing' category, but I like the difference in feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad1 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Just as some like to tinker with cars, I like to tinker with guitars. It's fun, frustrating, and keeps me learning new stuff all the time (which I am fond of). One of the first things I always do is replace the nut with one to my liking (unless it already has one I like; but none ever have). Like others, I mess around with intonation, string action, pole pieces, pup height, fret work, truss rod adjustment. I will replace tuners if I think they need to be upgraded. I even have had fun adjusting the springs and such on my Stat tremolo and Floyd Rose. It's a great feeling to be able to make your guitar feel better, play better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyphre Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 On my Dot, I've replaced the nut with a tusq nut, replaced the pickups with Harpmaster classic PAFs (which are excellent, btw), replaced the tom bridge with a Wilkinson roller bridge, put in a Switchcraft toggle switch and jack, replaced the tuners with Grovers and had it professionally set up by a guy I trust. I make only little adjustments here and there. I darkened and oiled the fretboard too, and polish the frets as needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
79cb750f Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Just send them to Mike,for a set-up job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayyj Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 My Sheraton was bought as a husk, so has pretty much every part changed - pickups and rings, all electronics, bridge, Bigsby added etc. The Casino has the fingerboard edges rolled, new nut with wider string spacing, and added Bigsby. My Mandobird has a Pelham blue refinish. And my old Blackstone archtop has a Fishman piezo built into a replica of the original bridge. So yeh, I'm a tinkerer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lengle1981 Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 I'm pretty lazy when it comes to this and any set up has been done by a guitar tech. I can honestly say that in 16 years playing I've never set up my own guitar but I want to learn. There's a book that was mentioned on here that some swore by, what's a good book for setup a etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Every guitar gets the following upgrades: replace plastic nut (phenolic or bone); Switchcraft jack; black knobs, switch tip and pick guard; Schaller strap locks; foil "E" and I can't seem to leave the pickups alone. All (even the Ric and the Strat) have new pickups. The only one, so far that hasn't, is the Texan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Adjustments, on my Epiphones? Same as any other guitar I own. Only "as needed." And, those are due to personal preferences, or "weather related" (truss rod adjustments, and subsequent (slight) action and intonation ajustments). Everything else, is only personal preference, or "cosmetic" in nature. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vomer Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 I'm pretty lazy when it comes to this and any set up has been done by a guitar tech. I can honestly say that in 16 years playing I've never set up my own guitar but I want to learn. There's a book that was mentioned on here that some swore by, what's a good book for setup a etc? Lengle, Dan Elewine's 'How to make your electric guitar play great' and if you want to get into more detail and repairs, 'Guitar player repair guide.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar God Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 I've swapped out the pickups in my Honeyburst Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plain Top and that's it for now. Considering swapping out the pickups in my Epiphone SG and Epiphone Dot Deluxe, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spamonkis Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 I can't seem to leave the pickups alone. All (even the Ric and the Strat) have new pickups. Not the Ric? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrvond Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 <snip> Nothing worse than leaving a guitar with a stranger for 3 days to get 10 minutes work done, only to get it back with the statement: "That scratch must have been there when you brought it in!!!" Willy This, more than anything else has caused me to become as self-sufficient as I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Not the Ric? Ya, it came with hi-gains. I swapped them out for toasters, back when you could get them for $130 each. Had to powder coat the shells, but man, does it sound sweet now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 cool looking cat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 Looks like I'm needing a new pickup selector switch on my LP pro plus. That didn't take long (to stop working properly)...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lengle1981 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Lengle, Dan Elewine's 'How to make your electric guitar play great' and if you want to get into more detail and repairs, 'Guitar player repair guide.' Thank u I'll look into it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomse Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Ya, it came with hi-gains. I swapped them out for toasters, back when you could get them for $130 each. Had to powder coat the shells, but man, does it sound sweet now! Dam nice guitars Tweed2 . like the Ric. I think as far as playing guitar working on them and setting them up is part of playing . if we don't try we don't learn . I have been playing for 50 years and i do set some of mine up different then others . Hey i have been into Gibsons most of my playing years but i do like the epiphones a lot . I think all guitars need the adjustment factor to all of them . that's why they have so much adjustment . But what do i know , but i know i like that Ric. Cats not bad ether Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 My only Epi electrics (ain't counting the AEs here) are late-model Dots. Changed strings. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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