I'm taking it in to guitar center for a free setup, and I asked about whether or not I need strings that have been properly stretched out for more accurate intonation adjustments. They said they will provide new strings for that part, and I was wondering if doing this with new strings will indeed affect the intonation when the strings stretch and adjust?
Thanks!!

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- Fender USA Select Stratocaster
- Marshall JVM 410H
- Marshall 4x12 cab
- Macbook; Snow Leopard
- MOTU Traveler Audio Interface

If the guitar tech stretches the new strings when he puts them on (like he should). It won't be a problem. IMO, I'd be more concerned about letting anyone from a Guitar Center set my guitars up.

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"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

Kiss of Death............... Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

ok...now I'm worried, as they offered to set it up for free........

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- Fender USA Select Stratocaster
- Marshall JVM 410H
- Marshall 4x12 cab
- Macbook; Snow Leopard
- MOTU Traveler Audio Interface

You may be fine. It is just that most of the "techs" at guitar centers aren't really known for possessing the craftsmanship of a skilled luthier. Again this is just IMO.

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"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

Well said...

I have bought plenty of guitars and musical equipment from Guitar Center over the years, but have never used their guitar techs to work on my guitars. Mostly because I have been building, modifying, and repairing electric guitars since the early 80's.

However, I can tell you this much though. I have seen these so called guitar techs at the local Guitar Center in action on many occasions. At the GC store in my area, they have an area set up for their guitar techs in the front of the store. First of all, they do not even have the proper luthier tools such as the required setup adjustment gauges, neck straight edges, torsion rod wrenches and adjustment gauges, just to name but a few. I have even seen one of their so called guitar techs attempting to adjust a torsion rod by just trying to eyeball it. A real experienced luthier would do the same task by utilizing a neck adjustment gauge that zeros out when the torsion rod is correctly adjusted and the neck is straight and true.

Therefore, I would highly recommend that you find a competent Fender authorized guitar luthier in your area to properly setup your guitar the right way. I also believe that you are much better off learning how to do the intonation and setup procedure for your guitar yourself. Their are also so many online resources available such as the Stewart-MacDonald website or even the Fender Owner's Manual is a good resource. If you no longer have your Fender Owner's Manual, you can access it online on the Fender website.
After all, guitar intonation and setup isn't exactly rocket science. It didn't take me long to figure it out myself in the early 80's, when there weren't nearly as many resources available like there are today. So just give it a shot.
Good Luck!

Uuugh, I'm reading these replies a day too late, as I got it setup yesterday, and it doesn't nearly feel as good as the day I bought it. *sigh*
I literally lost sleep over how different it felt.
I'm going to get it setup properly at a place called Guitar Doctor in Fountain Valley. I checked out their shop, and and looks like they know exactly what they are doing. So hopefully second times the carm

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- Fender USA Select Stratocaster
- Marshall JVM 410H
- Marshall 4x12 cab
- Macbook; Snow Leopard
- MOTU Traveler Audio Interface

Now you're talkin'. Let us know how you make out. Br sure to provide whoever is going to setup the guitar any info you can give them as far as your preferences on things like string height and such. It will make his job easier and you happier.

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"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

This is yet another fine iteration of the best piece of guitar-related advice I ever received. Playing guitar is merely half the fun; endless tinkering, string changes, neck adjustments, shimming, and bridge peg replacement -- as well as plenty of other technical chores -- comprise the second half.

I taught myself how to set up guitars with nothing more than an old book on the subject and a few helpful pieces of advice from my father. Aside from major woodwork, there is nothing on an electric guitar I cannot do. It's a wonderful feeling, becoming a successful autodidact, and I encourage everyone I encounter to do the same.

Regarding GC, I would consider it nothing more than an inexpensive lesson. Unless you can locate a truly qualified technician working at a big box store, avoidance is critical. As ddaniewicz explained, there are literally thousands of tremendous resources available, either at your library or online. Be careful, go slowly, and you'll be fine. If you can't hack it, make sure you find a competent technician. I've found, however, that a professional setup never seems to replicate my own.

My second purchase after buying my strat was new strings and Dan Erlewine's fantastic book "How to make your electric guitar play great". He covers everything in this book from proper cleaning and maintenence to doing a complete set up. He also shows how to do different upgrades and mods and even has a section on set up specs for several famous artists guitars. Considering the average cost of a set up is going to run anywhere from $50 and up, its well worth the price of the book.

Dont stress. If they screw it up, I'll put it right next time your over here.

Really all these places cant be that bad. I know I'm a bit of a corksniffer when it comes to how my guitar plays.
How many of us will admit the same?

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No no and no

Well, got it back from the Guitar Doctor, and it plays great.
The action is nice and low, and the neck and bridge have been properly adjusted to compensate.
It definitely gets me turned on to doing this kind of thing myself down the line before we hit the road, just need a little practice and patience.
Thanks for the resources guys/gals.

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- Fender USA Select Stratocaster
- Marshall JVM 410H
- Marshall 4x12 cab
- Macbook; Snow Leopard
- MOTU Traveler Audio Interface

You did say they gave you a free setup... One of those deals where you get what you pay for! Seriously though, they don't hire people based on how well they can work on guitars - they hire people who can play an impressive solo to demo the model and convince customers that with a little practice they can too. I go to GC for one thing - straps. Strings, picks, everything else I get from the local shop but they don't have room for much of strap selection. I wouldn't let GC change my strings.

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Stagemaster
Roadhouse Strat
Epi Traditional Pro Les Paul
Ovation Celeb
Esteban Celestial Night(nicely tweeked)
Blackheart tube amp

Take the advice from others and learn how to do the work yourself,there are great books on the subject and doing it yourself saves money and adds to your knowledge of the instrument.
After you have learned and progressed you'll find like so many others here that just because someone works in a guitar store doesn't give them credibility as a guitar tech,or amp tech,or luthier,or even roadie.
Some people really are great at what they do,most of the best work in their own shops....because the pros who depend on their guitars to make a living give them lots of work and money.