Please excuse me for the long post....

I've been having some problems with my guitar from time to time that requires setup, but every time I take it to a local tech I end up feeling like the money were wasted and not getting the result I wanted. I've been searching for too long and wasted too much money, I'm almost giving up finding a "decent" tech who really knows what he/she is doing here in Bangkok. Now it seems like my only option, and as some other guitarists around here suggested, is to learn to do the guitar setup by myself. And that's exactly what I've been thinking too, I mean, to be able to do a decent guitar setup by myself. That's quite awesome, not only it will save myself a lot of money to buy other guitar stuffs like effects or etc, I can actually set it up step by step and try it out at the same time and make sure it fits my needs however I like (I think this is one huge advantage that you might not get if you take it to a tech). And I've seem lots and lots of video tutorials on Youtube, step-by-step instructions on Google, and of course I can even ask here on the forum if I get stuck.

BUT my only concern is, as a total beginner, sad to say... but the easiest, most simple setup like changing strings, I can't even do it myself to be honest. I guess I've been relying on others too much in the past. AND I certainly don't have the money to purchase another cheap guitar for myself to mess around with. Besides, cheap guitars may not be the same setup like my Fender Stratocaster.

Long story short, my point is, I don't have the confidence to get into my expensive "Fender 57 Reissue Stratocaster Maple Neck Made In Japan Since 1993" right away with no setup experience at all, well at least to me it's really expensive, and it's my best buddy. I can't afford to make any mistakes on it. Because first of all, like I said, I'm almost giving up finding a good tech here in Bangkok. So basically no one will be able to fix the damage I have done. And second of all, I'll not have enough money to buy another one, that's for sure. So what do you guys think? Should I just go for it and risk the chance of either making my guitar worst or better? (I'm talking about stuffs like getting into the guitar and adjusting the truss rod and some major adjustments here that could really damage the guitar if it goes wrong.) Extremely tough decision for me, because if I do it right by luck it will be great, problem solved, but if I do it wrong, I'm total a dead man. LOL

BTW. If you guys have a good site that explains about guitar setup (any knowledge about guitar setup) really clearly for total beginner like me, and it worked out well for you, please share so I can take a look and try to decide if it's too complicated for me or not. Cheers : )

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This is just a short answer,not to be rude but honest.....if you can't even change strings you have no business messing with the setup,learn to change strings right and learn the other stuff along the way.
Simple adjustments at first,pickup height or string height adjustments to stop buzzing...minor things,don't even think about adjusting the truss rod.

I am also not trying to be rude....

but anyone with the iq of a monkey can learn how to change strings, adjust string height, and adjust the truss rod...

it really is NOT rocket science...

Im not the sharpest knife in the drawer... and I know how to do all aspects of guitar setup... and that goes for fenders, gibsons, acoustics... etc...

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In Reference to Blues Legend RL Burnside:
After a heart attack in 2001, Burnside's doctor advised him to stop drinking; Burnside did, but he reported that change left him unable to play.

Yes learn how to . There's are some very good book of How to set up guitar. This a money well spend

+1 And if you have difficulty finding books on the subject, go to youtube, they have videos showing you how to change strings, do set ups...You can learn this and need to know how to do this if you are ever going to play a gig, because string breaks happen!

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

+1 T2Stratman

Buy this book. Full of great and useful info.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Fender-Stratocaster-Handbook-Troubleshoot/dp/0760329834

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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

Yes, you should learn to do it yourself. I came to that conclusion many years ago, and taught myself. Youtube is one of the best ways to learn what to do.

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You should learn to do this yourself, but take it slowly and get good information.

Youtube is useful, but there can also be a lot of misinformation and if you are just starting out be careful of what youtube advice you follow.

Get an instruction guide made by someone who is a guitar tech.

I bought a DVD set that covers basic setups for acoustics, fender and gibson type guitars.

Here is an excerpt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ3Tqz4- ... 870360E220

Looks like it is on sale right now, I paid $50 for it a year or so ago, which is about the price of one setup on my area.

http://www.learnandmaster.com/spotlight ... order-now/

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'09 Am Deluxe Ash Strat
'09 Mex Standard Strat
'10 Mex Standard Tele
Champ 600
Blues jr.
'65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue

TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS I HAVE AT THE MOMENT

Abnormal Super Loud Buzzing Problem
I have no problem with the 60 cycle single coil hum, because when I play on a decent amp that has a ground wire. The hum would be barely noticeable while playing. However, something wrong about my Stratocaster that once in a while the buzz would go extremely loud in "All five switch positions". Even positions 2 and 4 that should act something like a humbucker has the exact same amount of extremely loud annoying buzz comparing to positions 1, 3 and 5. I even changed to a new set of Lindy Fralin Blues Special pickup recently that has what they call the "reverse wound". And this super loud buzzing noise problem still continues to occur very often. It's like, I plug my guitar into the amp, any amp, I'll hear these 60 cycle hum that seems absolutely normal and doesn't bother me much, but a few minutes later, the super loud buzzing noise would just suddenly come out of nowhere that I can't even hear my playing clearly. Even if I try to point the guitar in different directions the amount of super loud buzzing noise is still exactly the same. It wouldn't decrease at all. I've been experiencing this problem continuously since I bought the guitar second-handed. It's getting really annoying. What do you guys think? Is it loosen wire inside that should be solder again? (BTW. what are some ways to decrease buzzing other than changing to humbucker pickup / changing the plate? Is shielding going to help much in reducing hum?)

Abnormal Super Tight Strings Tension
"I used to be able to bend in tune", and the .10 gauge strings on my Stratocaster were a bit loosen that I can bend comfortably in tune for hours of playing. However, after I change to a new set of Lindy Fralin Blues Special Pickup recently, the tech changed the strings to new ones and might have done something with the setup as well, the strings tension becomes extremely tight now that I can barely bend in tune and my fingers get killed very fast. Even when I go back down to .9 gauge strings which should be relatively easy to bend. I really don't think it's my lack of practice problem, because I've been playing for a pretty long time already, and I practice very often. Point is, I used to be able to bend in tune, I still can now, with other guitars, except mine... something is wrong with the setup...

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hi ,the buzzing sound sounds like a bad ground , possibly a cold joint which needs to be resoldered , again this isn't hard , check out you tube vids for how to solder , buy a solder iron (always handy for swapping pups or doing repairs) open up the guitar and resonder the ground wires on the back of the pots and just check the other conections as well , any probs just take a pic and ask

as i said in your other post , check out this
http://www.fender.com/en-GB/support/art ... etup-guide
it tells you all you need to know and what tools you need , also try a set of fender bullets , i got a set for the first time the other day cos the shop never had elixers (again) a much looser feel fer bending than the fender pure nickels (which i got the other week) just follow the steps in the setup and you should have a very playable strat , and it'll save you a fortune in the long run , also you will be able to sort out any problems down the line , and if you get stuck just shout , cheers
Alan

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That buzzing sounds like a minor problem which any half decent tech could resolve easily. If you've been paying tons of money for pups etc. to fix this, you're just throwing it away. It could just be a bad input or a loose ground or something like that. If you can't fix it yourself, don't bring it back to same tech you're using. If you can't find somebody else, I don't know what to tell you. As far as the basic setup, i.e. action, intonation, pup adjustment, etc, there's really nothing that can't be reversed. Just read up, & do small adjustments at a time. Practice makes perfect.

The above references are very good to get you started.
Dan Erlewine makes a nice book too for different levels of experience.
"Guitar Player Repair Guide 3rd Edition"

Unless you really see a need to, don't touch the truss rod until you have more confidence. This is where you can do damage if you try to go too quickly.
Intonation can be troublesome the first couple of times you try it but don't give up.

Start small and gain confidence in your abilities. The guitar is pretty forgiving in most instances. Any thing you change is reversible.

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

+2

You are going to have to do it yourself at some point.

So there's no better time to start than now ...

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Any half good repair person would let you watch them set your guitar up. Ask questions and help you understand things.
It really does not impede on business. In fact it ensures repeat custom and works out better for the repair person as you won't trouble them for trifling affairs but will more than likely use their services for good stuff for years to come.
So first off, take the guitar to someone else. You're not happy with who you use now, that is blatantly clear.

Then if you want to set the guitar up heres the order to do it in.
(lower the pickups right down before doing anything)
1 change strings.
2 adjust truss rod.
3 set string height
4 set intonation
5 set pickup height.

Not rocket science at all. That is about the minimum you should know as a guitarist. There are other things to learn, like how to set your tremolo but those are the basics. The stuff that ought be taught with guitar lessons.
All of those aspects of set up have been tossed back and forth across the internet seemingly since it's inception.
You can do it, you can research these things yourself. And you can always ask for advice here.
There is absolutely no reason to waste your money buying books on the subject. It's all available for free on the internet.

Don't listen to those saying "No". You'll never learn to swim if you don't get your feet wet.

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No no and no