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    How To Setup Your Guitar Like A Pro
    How To Setup Your Guitar Like A Pro
    How To Setup Your Guitar Like A Pro
    Ebook239 pages1 hour

    How To Setup Your Guitar Like A Pro

    By Jonny Blackwood

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    "Everything you need to start confidently working on your own guitars is right here."

     

    Recently updated to include over 260 photos covering all the aspects of a pro-level guitar setup, such as cleaning & maintenance, neck adjustments, string height adjustments (bridge saddle and nut), pickup height adjustments, intonation, and more. Learn how to dial in the perfect setup, step-by-step, on any guitar- with precision and measurability! Use the included cut-out tool templates to broaden your skills. Makes an excellent starter book or reference for budding professionals.

     

    ***Now updated and expanded with additional content including a section on restringing, neck shimming, scale length determination and new images! ***

    Included in the book:

    • An 8-step method for electric, acoustic & bass guitar setups
    • How to adjust neck relief (bow) for optimum playability
    • How to adjust string height for your playing style and guitar type
    • How to file nut slots, adjust pickup height and set the intonation accurately
    • How to adjust Fender-style tremolo's, Gibson hard-tails, Floyd Rose and other floating bridge types
    • How to adjust the saddle on your acoustic steel string or nylon string guitar
    • Manufacturer's setup specs from Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Jackson, Gretsch and others
    • Exclusive setup specifications from the author's best playing guitars & basses
    • Cut-out templates for radius gauges, under-string radius gauges & an action ruler
    • A handy measurement conversion chart & more!

    From your friends at Blackwood Guitarworks and the Guitar Setup Pro App.

     

    REVIEWS

    Praise for Jonny Blackwood:

    "I have related and referred to Jonny's guidance many times over the years and I can truly say that I wouldn't have gotten very far without it." -Daryl Chonka, guitar tech for Randy Bachman (The Guess Who & BTO), recording engineer, recording & performing artist

     

    "Everything you need to start confidently working on your own guitars is right here." -Andrew deGroot, factory certified guitar tech and luthier, Stang Guitars

     

    "The importance of a great setup can't be overstated. This is a perfect guide for those starting out in the craft, and a great general reference to keep around. Jonny lays out all the info needed to setup your guitar like a pro, without any confusing clutter. You're in great hands." -Cory Newman, Luthier, C.A. Newman Guitars

     

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBlackwood Guitarworks
    Release dateMar 12, 2013
    ISBN9781393468257
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      Book preview

      How To Setup Your Guitar Like A Pro - Jonny Blackwood

      How to Setup Your Guitar Like A Pro:

      An Easy Guide for Beginners

      Revised and Expanded Edition

      By Jonny Blackwood

      Copyright 2019 Jonny Blackwood. First edition published in 2013 by Jonny Blackwood. All rights reserved. No part of this eBook covered by copyrights hereon may be reproduced or copied in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews. For more information, please contact the publisher at info@learn-guitarsetups.com.

      Discover other books available from the author (paperback and digital editions):

      How to Setup Your Guitar Like A Pro: An Easy Guide for Beginners

      How to Build & Setup Guitar Kits Like A Pro: An Easy Guide for Bolt-on Neck Guitars

      How to Start and Run a Successful Guitar Repair Business: Practical Tips for the New Entrepreneur

      Complete Guitar Care & Maintenance: The Ultimate Owner’s Guide

      How to Do Fretwork Like A Pro: An Easy Guide for Beginners (coming soon)

      * * * * *

      Discover the "Guitar Setup Pro app, featuring the Guitar Setup Calculator" at your favourite App Store.

      * * * * *

      Disclaimer

      All trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights present in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or copyrights of their respective owners. Fender®, Strat®, Stratocaster®, Telecaster®, Tele®, P-Bass®, and J-Bass® are registered trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Floyd Rose® is a registered trademark of Floyd Rose Industries. Gibson® and Les Paul® are registered trademarks of Gibson Guitar Corp. Gretsch® is a registered trademark of Fred Gretsch® Enterprises. Learn-GuitarSetups.com, it’s agents or authors are not affiliated with Fender®, Gibson®, Gretsch®, Floyd Rose®, or any other Brand, copyright or trademark listed in this Book. No warranty of any kind applies. Information in this book is for educational purposes only, and the publisher, author, website owner, affiliates, and any other person associated with the distribution, marketing or advertising of this book publication will not be held liable for any damages of any kind as a result of action taken from the content within this book. The information contained in this book is provided in good faith by the author for general guidance on matters of interest only.

      FOR MORE TIPS, TRICKS, & TOOLS

      VISIT US AT:

      Guitar Setup & Repair Tutorials

      Guitar Setup & Repair Classes

      Check out our exclusive (and the worlds’ first)

      Guitar Setup Calculator

      • Factory Setup Settings

      • JB Custom Setup Specs for All Guitar Types

      • Electric, Acoustic & Bass Guitar

      • Mix and Match Your Own Settings

      • SIGN UP ONLINE FOR FREE ACCESS

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      INTRODUCTION

      HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

      PARTS OF THE GUITAR

      WHAT IS A SETUP?

      WHAT YOU WILL NEED

      GETTING STARTED: INSPECT THE GUITAR

      REMOVE THE STRINGS

      Removing Strings on a Tremolo Bridge

      Removing Strings on a Floyd Rose-style Bridge

      Removing Strings on an Archtop Floating Bridge

      Removing Strings on an Acoustic Guitar Bridge

      STEP 1: CLEAN THE GUITAR

      STEP 2: CHECK THE HARDWARE AND ELECTRONICS

      How to Clean Dirty Potentiometers & Controls

      STEP 3: RESTRING AND TUNE TO PITCH

      Slot-head tuners

      Locking Tuners

      Floyd Rose or Other Double-locking Bridge Systems

      Acoustic Guitars

      Nylon String Guitars

      Bass Guitars

      Tuning Tips

      STEP 4: ADJUST THE NECK RELIEF (TRUSS ROD)

      a) What is a Truss Rod?

      b) Why Set the Relief?

      c) Measuring Relief

      d) How Much Relief is Enough?

      e) Adjusting the Truss Rod

      How to Remove the Neck for a Truss Rod Adjustment

      Adjusting the Neck Alignment

      STEP 5: ADJUST THE STRING HEIGHT AT THE BRIDGE

      a) Gibson-style Hard-tail Bridges (Tune-o-matic)

      b) Fender-style Hard-tail Bridges

      Individual Saddle Height Adjustments

      Under-String Radius Gauge Procedure

      c) Vintage-Style Tremolo Bridges

      d) Modern Tremolo Bridges

      Bridge Angle Adjustments

      e) Floyd Rose Bridges

      Neck Angle Adjustments / Shimming

      f) Acoustic Guitars

      STEP 6: ADJUST THE STRING HEIGHT AT THE NUT

      Nut Removal & Replacement

      STEP 7: ADJUST THE PICKUP HEIGHT

      Pole Piece Staggering

      STEP 8: ADJUST THE INTONATION

      Scale Length and How to Measure It

      TROUBLESHOOTING

      String Buzz, Rattle, & Noise

      Tuning Issues

      Bridge & Saddle Problems

      Truss Rod Issues

      Electronics Issues

      Other Problems

      TOOL TEMPLATES

      SETUP SPEC SHEETS

      MANUFACTURER PICKUP HEIGHT SPECS

      MEASUREMENT CONVERSION CHART

      FURTHER RESOURCES

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      ONE LAST THING

      INTRODUCTION

      There are many guitar setup resources online, although many are difficult to read or are lacking important information. A guitar setup is not rocket science, but it does require some understanding and technique. That is why I decided to write this book back in 2012 (later published in 2013). Although a lot has changed since then, including the sheer amount of information readily available (and for free), sifting through the clutter to find the right information can be a laborious task and one that can leave a person feeling frustrated. This book has been for those wanting a simple, solid, step-by-step manual they can come back to time and time again. It was developed over ten years while working in the field, on hundreds and hundreds of guitars, of all different types. It has been the primary curriculum for our hugely successful Group Guitar Setup Classes, which began in 2009. As I write this now, ten years later, I never imagined having a best-selling book under my belt, sold in so many countries around the world. Now in its third revision, I am really thankful you decided to pick it up, and I hope that you get everything out of it that you wanted.

      This book covers an eight-step setup process for all guitars, including details on adjusting Floyd Rose and other floating bridges, a section on acoustic guitars, and factory setup specifications from brands like Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, and many others. I have also included a few exclusive specs from some of the best playing guitars I have serviced over the last decade. It is written in an easy-to-follow manner so that you can hone your setup chops with a solid foundation. From there, you can use the supplied specifications to fine-tune your skills without any unnecessary, contradictory, or confusing information clouding the way. Be sure to check out the FURTHER RESOURCES section for more content, tools and setup tips.

      I wish you all the best in learning how to set up your guitar! Connect with me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/blackwoodguitarworks), Instagram (@blackwoodguitarworks) or through my website (www.learn-guitarsetups.com) and let me know how it’s worked out.

      Cheers,

      -JB

      Back to top

      HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

      This book is written in a particular sequence to assist the reader through a professional guitar setup using step-by-step instructions. For those new to the subject, it is best to read the book from beginning to end, for a broad overview of the entire operation. Each step is described in detail for each guitar type that would be applicable, with subsequent sections on related topics. Thumb through the sections as needed, try different setup specifications, and when you’re ready, tackle something new, such as nut slot cutting.

      *Click the highlighted headings at any time to return to the Table of Contents.

      NOTE:  The work described in this guide is intended for individuals with basic mechanical skills. If you do not understand the described procedures or are uncomfortable using tools, please leave this kind of work to a qualified technician.

      PARTS OF THE GUITAR

      To do a successful setup, let’s get familiar with all the working parts of a guitar.

      Body: The body of the guitar contributes to its comfort, style, and resonant tonal quality. It is often made from select tonewoods, laminates or in rarer cases, composite materials.

      Neck: The neck of the guitar also contributes to the overall comfort of playing and can vary in thickness, width, and length. Guitar necks are generally made from hard tonewoods such as maple or mahogany, or a select combination of different tonewoods.

      Fretboard: The fretboard is the main playing surface and is often made from hard tonewoods most popularly maple, rosewood, or ebony.

      Frets: Fret size and fret wear condition can play a role in the comfort of playing and ultimately affect the end-result of the setup. There are tips on this throughout

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