Hey folks, Im a old dog learning the new trick of playin guitar. Started the journey 2 years ago and i dont post here because i learn more by listening to those more experienced and most of my questions are aske by others. So let me say thanks for all the info passed around.

I would however like to contribute here because i feel very strongly that I may help. i have been reading alot of post about setting up strats and i see many refering set up to a pro. Well let me take a few minutes to explain why i respectfully disagree.

Im gonna use an analogy of another hobby or sport im involved in. Precision high power rifle shooting. I have shot competitively for years and have won many many matches at the local. state and national level. It involves postion shooting with custom made rifles that are designed with adjustable everything. My competition rifle stocks probably have ten different adjustments alone, and in combination represent hundreds of possible postion profiles.
We fit the rifles to our bodies not the other way around. I can pick up my buddies rifle - same model and put it to my shoulder and it will feel like crap. Why? cause it isnt adjsuted for my shape its adjusted for his. A strat or any other guit aint any different. its a mechanical device with adjustments (although they make music - which is heavely for sure). Take a look at your hands. We all got different length fingers, palm sizes, ect. We all have different styles and music we play. Like it or not these make huge differneces in set up.
Now if joe blo pro sets up you axe at the request of a low action for the sake of it. he is gonna set it up to a low action that suits him or what he IMAGINES with suit you. he cant with the luck of 40 irish saints possibly get it right. the guys here that urge you to set up your own guit have learned that shellin out good green for something you can do with a couple allen wrenches and a philips head is crazy.
Start slow, read and get advise. the good news is you really cant break anything more than a string unless your truss rod is frozen solid. be carefull here. i started with ony the fender manual and that alone is really all you need with a little common sense.
An instructor once told me i was wasting my time which would be better spent practicing. B.S. - you need to do both - if you really love the instrument you will devote some time to it . if you can dial it in to be an absolute extention of your body and soul it will be more pleasurable to practice with - you will practice longer and feel much better about your abilities.
A few bit of advise when setting anything up.
1- keep notes on measurment you may want to return to
2-adjust one thing at a time, if you dont you may not know which adjustment gave you the best result
3-do things in order. certain adjustments take priority like keep it in tune as you to, make truss rod adjustment first ect.
4 some adjustments will change one or more other adjustment you have already made (inotaion is change by alot of things - no big deal -readjust
5-remember things change. be aware of climate conditions and other things that will change your set up. you guit is alive! it WILL move, if feels alittle funny it probably is (i can now feel very small movements in my setup, dont believe me? my eyes are good for seeing .002 " through my rifle sights, we shoot out to 1000yds with iron sights, no scopes. i can feel small changes and im nobody special) - you dont want to rely on a set up guy to tweek your truss every season cause the neck moves.
Finally - nothing should be set in stone - life and music are fluid. keep that axe dialed in to your latest requirement. things change - keep up with them.
Now my appologies to all for my long windedness, and to the much more experienced musicians if anything i said needs correction please do.
God Bless ya all

Very well put i agree completely.

Before picking up a guitar I spent a couple years building and testing Formula 4 and formula BMW race cars, and the worst thing a driver can do is detach himself from the setup period. Because if i setup a car for how i drive, The next driver will not feel comfortable, and unfortunately a few of my cars have been lost due to this. So i am a firm believer that in anything you do make the tools for that area your own.

I hate talking to guitarist who have no idea what their setups are like, they believe what they're using is right for them because their "pro" tech set it up. I know a guitarist that played the same les paul for 5 years, it developed a buzz on the G-string due to a grooved saddle. His "pro" raised the bridge and "setup" the guitar to play better, this guitarist played for another year or so with this setup till his "pro" moved away, then he came to me for help with his setup. I replaced the notched saddle on the G and dressed the frets, then made him sit with me and go through the setup procedure now his action suits him perfectly, there is no buzz and he is happier then hes ever been, because when it came to actual setup turns out he likes a straighter neck, while his "pro" set it up with the "ideal" relief. Anyway thats my rant.

Actually he can get it right. A good technician will work with you and ask you questions about what you want. After all he is working for you. He's setting up your guitar not his. And if you're there on the day that you are picking up the guitar all you gotta do is play it for a few minutes and if you want something altered simply tell him and he will comply.

Pretty simple.

There are a lot of people that play guitar that should not pick up any type of tool whatsoever, Let alone try to set up a guitar.

Setting up a guitar is not hard, getting it right can be a challenge for some.

A good guitar tech will ask you how you want your guitar set up, then have you check it before it leaves his shop.

If you are one of those people who is good at using tools and learning how to set up a guitar I highly recommend it.

If not, take it to a guitar tech.

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Hi jimmyb, I totally agree with your post..... we should encourage people to learn to do setups by themselves I think its good and in the end is for their benefit

Chet's point is ultimately valid. How many caggy handed people have ruined a perfectly good instrument through tinkering. I do advise people to set their own guitars up. I'll even show em how to do it, thats pretty much how i learnt. I dont advise anyone should go in blind. Would you hand a rifle to someone with no experience at all of guns and say 'go on fill your boots'? I really hope not.

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No no and no

Ah, but a guitar is a different beast than a rifle. Rifles are dangerous to learn, while guitar is relatively harmless. When I first got a guitar, I taught myself to set it up because I was poor and, more importantly, loved the instrument. Taking care of my guitars is fun and rewarding, particularly when I can help others by passing that knowledge around. Learning how to set up a guitar is just as important as learning to play it because, as was said above, it's your instrument. No one else can understand all of its unique nuances, nor can a professional guitar tech know exactly how you like it.

Nicely said. If you haven't learned enough about your instrument to set it up yourself you probably aren't going to notice the difference if you pay someone else to do it.

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Custom Shop '59 Strat with John Cruz Master Design Pickups
Vibro King
Fulltone Clyde>Deja-Vibe>TS-808>TS-9>Boss Tuner

Hey Fellow StratHeads-

Last year I started doing my own setup. I got a book ("How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great") and just started with the small stuff. It really makes a difference. You train your ear to hear the subtile differences the adjustment make and your fingers learn to feel what is right and wrong with your neck or strings.

There are a few tools they have out now that make things easier. My advise would be to get a book and start slow and easy- even if that is learning how to put on strings correctly.

The Freeze

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There's Always Room For MELLOW !!!!

2000 MIM Stratocaster, Midnight Wine W/Texas Specials
2000 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
1969 Fender Vibro Champ

I agree. The set-up is part of the experience. For years I shyed away from that. A little instruction is all you need

hey guys, thanks for all the great responses to my post. i read each one and have great respect for all your opinions and replys. after all diversity of opinion is what makes us free. Take care everone.

I hope it's not too late to add that I agree with this. Eventually, a beginner becomes an advanced player and he/she will figure out how he/she likes to have his/her guitars set up.

How can you expect someone else to set up a guitar exactly the way you like it? Especially with little or no input from you. If you can tell the guy exact specs you want - 3/64 at the 15th fret please - I think you can and should probably do it yourself!

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

That was the best advice I have heard all day! Great advice!....here is some more........... There is a book called The Fender Stratocaster Handbook that gives you everything on how to maintain, set-up, troubleshoot, and mod your strat...by Paul Balmer....great book, I HIGHLY advise if you wish NOT to pay the guitar tech lots of $$$.

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

Great advice. Anyone live in the Detroit metro area willing to teach me this? I've looked at books on it but I'm too chicken to fiddle with it on my own.

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MrJinx......get the book and fiddle.....A LITTLE....I was a little nervous as well but these things were built for you to tinker with. Now I have a GENERAL idea on what to do. I can adjust my pups but I have not touched the tremolo springs in the back or messed with the bridge VERY curious BUT with that being said I am still going to a tech to restring my strat I want my wife to look and feel great but that does not mean I am going to do her hair or give her a manicure/pedicure and I would not change my own transmission either.....some things are better left for professionals

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252