1) What exactly are we checking for when it comes to "guitar set-up", is it just adjusting the truss rod, action, intonation, and pick up height. Or there's more than that? In other words, what are all the things a good professional guitar technician would check for when doing a guitar set-up?

2) I often hear people say "why pay lots of money to keep your guitar set-up when you can do it yourself?" and I was thinking if I could do the set-up myself, I could actually save-up the money to buy other guitar gears later on. However, I have absolutely no experience at all, which I'm afraid there's a chance I might only make it worst, but I mean, if we never learn to do something, we'll never be able to do it ourselves, and would always have to bring the guitar to the tech for a set-up.. point is, do you guys think I should just take it to the tech or try it out myself?

3) How can I tell if my truss rod, action, intonation, pick up height, and etc are good or bad? how do I know my guitar needs a set-up or not? how do I make sure I don't waste the money for a set-up and getting the same result which playability didn't get better but stays the same?

4) If you think I should try it out myself, then is there a website/video that explains very clearly and correctly on "how to do a guitar set-up" for an absolute beginner? just so I won't break my guitar or anything...

btw. it's my 1993 second-handed Fender 57' reissue maple neck Stratocaster I just bought that needs a set-up.

_________________
Check out my Youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Destinaxe
And don't forget to Subscribe!

Ha! it's not as simple as that Jimmy that's the problem. Ask yourself how many times have you looked at something and said "that doesn't look hard! i'll do it myself" only to find that you've got in way over your head and done something that's messed a guitar up and then you have to take it to a repairman to do it. This is true of most things that are quite complicated and need to be studied.

Am i saying don't learn how to do it? No, i say learn how to do it, if you want to, but do it slowly and gradually learning a bit at a time.

There are a lot of guys on this site who are incredible guitar builders like Xhefri and Ceri and a lot more too, guys like that have built up to where they are by learning things gradually over the years.

Things like fretwork, dressing the frets, refretting, cutting nuts and the like are advanced jobs that a beginner shouldn't do IMO as they'll mess up badly and make things worse.

I'd like Xhef or ceri to come on and give you advice on this as they are the best people to ask.

One of the best ways to learn is if you have an old crap guitar that you can work on and if you make mistakes it doesn't matter. It's not a thing you want to be experimenting with on a good instrument when you don't know what you're doing.

That being said; basic things like adjusting the bridge saddles and the truss rod and things should be well within your reach but the biggies like frets and nut work would need to be built up to.

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

I agree with Gorgon's post. I find basic setup really simple and within the reach for most players. If you follow the manufacturers guidelines for the basic set up and your guitar has no problems with fret height or nut depth this will get you to a place where you can fine tune it with string height, pickup height etc.. After one plays for a few years it really becomes a pleasure to be able to make your own adjustments and diagnose problems as they occur.

_________________
OK, I'll hum a little bit, got it now?

Read this article all the way through before you start doing anything. If anything looks unfamiliar or you don't have the right tools or don't understand then don't do it yourself. If you clearly understand all the concepts, have all the required tools and nothing they talk about seems very hard then go ahead and give it a try. Some of the variables, like pickup height, are just guidelines and there is room for you to play with it a little. Just don't stray too far from recommended.

Remember there is one aspect of setup most people don't tell you and that is string selection. The very first step in setting up any guitar is to choose your gauge and your tuning and stick with it. Don't deviate from it. There is absolutely no point whatsoever in setting up a guitar using 10's at standard pitch if you're going to use the guitar with 9's tuned down a half step to Eb.

http://www.fender.com/en-CA/support/articles/stratocaster-setup-guide

_________________

Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

hi jimmy , as ktm-bmw has said check out the fender setup guide for strats , and take your time , if you get stuck with anything you can always ask here , and as i remember yours is a 50's reissue so set it up for a 7.25 inch fretboard , and just remember that the sizes are guidelines , i have my strings a good bit higher on my 50's reissue , mainly to get a good clean sound with no notes choking out . Another handy thing to have for doing setups is an under string fretboard radius gauge , not to expensive but they make life a lot easier , cheers
Alan

_________________

As mentioned this website does have set up guides. It is an skill that I believe every guitarist should know. However these are just guidelines and your guitar may need some fine adjustments from there.

I generally set up my own guitars but every couple years I do take it to have a professional do it. For me I do not touch the truss rod. I did mess up one of my guitars in the past so I am leery of doing that myself.

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head