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Post subject: Re: Setup -newbie
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 10:59 pm
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I've talked to a local musician that is a friend of mine, he's going to walk me through the setup and suggested video recording it for future reference.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions, I definitely don't want to take the risk of doing damage to my guitar, and I would feel much more comfortable having someone walk me through it for the first time.

Sean


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Post subject: Re: Setup -newbie
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:03 pm
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A most excellent decision, Sean. Pay close attention. Learn. It's a great skill to possess.

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Post subject: Re: Setup -newbie
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 4:40 pm
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I bought a used MIM strat a few weeks ago that was in serious need of a good setup. It had fret buzz and the neck had quite a bit of a bow to it. I took it to a local shop and had them adjust it, they adjusted the truss rod and the saddles, but it still just didnt feel right, and I didn't enjoy playing it. This morning I had my friend who is a local musician teach me how to do a proper setup. I can't believe how much better it is now, the neck feels great, the action is perfect and there's absolutely no fret buzz anymore. I can't believe how badly the local shop had it set up, won't be taking my stuff to them anymore.


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Post subject: Re: Setup -newbie
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 5:44 pm
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I recommend a good written reference you can grab and refer to any time you need it, too. Guitar Player Repair Guide by Dan Erlewine is my bible for stringing, setups, and almost anything else.

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Post subject: Re: Setup -newbie
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:36 pm
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and dont forget to set the Strat up to how YOU like it sound/feel...use the fender recommendations and go from there, they arent set in stone they are just a guide. :)


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Post subject: Re: Setup -newbie
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 12:15 am
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Seanboy wrote:
I've been thinking it could probably use a good setup.


That sounds a bit uncertain to me. Let someone who has been playing a while check it out first. I don't set-up a guitar thinking it could probably use one. I play it to find out if it needs one due to being adjusted improperly or if it is not set-up to my liking.

A properly set-up guitar will likely need fine-tune adjustments at some point later down the road, though I've one bolt-on CS strat that has never needed anything but trem and spring adjustments.

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I've also got a cheap squier strat, should I learn on that one first?


Yes, that's basically the best way to start. It's really not difficult to set-up a guitar that doesn't have major issues (badly worn or lifting frets, neck warpage, or whatever). Just be slow, make sure you make small adjustments paying careful attention to what your adjustments actually do.

The truss can be damaged by over tightening. I'm not sure about Fenders, but many guitars have two way trusses, so if you can't find that perfect setting, you might be tightening the wrong direction...

I think the most important thing is having the neck relief set properly (which is a preference thing) and is probably the most important thing to get right. Once that's set, adjusting the neck angle via micro-adjustment, adjusting the bridge for string height, adjusting the springs for getting the base plate level to the strings or body to preference, and then adjusting saddle height if necessary, and then adjusting pickup height to preference is all mostly trial and error. Two people can set up a guitar completely differently, so there aren't always hard rules to follow.

It's not hard to learn, but it does take a bit of trial and error, and practicing on a cheaper guitar to start with definitely makes sense.


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Post subject: Re: Setup -newbie
Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 5:29 pm
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I have a 2013 American Standard SSS strat and it has been "set up" by the music store 3(count them) 3 times for 10-46 strings and STILL BUZZES LIKE HELL!!!! I think what they believe is a set up is re-stringing a guitar. How much fret buzz is normal? My Squier with 10-46s set up by me who has been playing for a year and a half has none. What's wrong with my strat, should I cut my losses and get my money back?


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Post subject: Re: Setup -newbie
Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 8:45 pm
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I took my MIM strat to the local shop 2 times because I wasn't happy with their setup, each time it still had bad fret buzz, they told me that was the best it was going to get. I wasn't happy with that answer to I took it to a local musician who's a good friend of mine. He walked me through the set up, and taught me how. The guitar is perfect now, absolutely no fret buzz. It now plays as good as my MIA Stat. Basically what I'm saying is, if it doesn't play like you think it should, take it somewhere else.

Sean


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Post subject: Re: Setup -newbie
Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 2:57 am
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Thanks for the help. The store is now sending my Strat to accoustic guitar builder for set up because their "guy" did a worse job than the sales rep and myself. Are maple necks more susepatble to fret buzz? Would 11s give it more relief, thus eliminating fret buzz?


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Post subject: Re: Setup -newbie
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 9:56 am
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So......Fret buzz still present to the point that the store did a return and traded me for 3 tone burst with a rosewood board to replace the maple. Set up with 10-46s and plays like a dream....so good it may get a set of 11s! How common are lemons? That's what the store called my maple neck.


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