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Post subject: Strat Set-up
Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 10:51 am
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I just purchased my first electric guitar. I got a Mexican 60th Anniversary model. I have only played acoustic (Taylor) and I'm a novice at electric guitars. The guitar is new eventhough it was made in 2006 and it needs set up. I would rather not spend more $ so I'm considering doing it myself and this would be my first attempt.

I get a lot of buzzing on most frets on the G and B strings. The buzzing is greatest on roughly frets 1-8. The neck has a radius of 9.5" which is fairly curved so I was thinking that may be why certain strings buzz while others don't.

I've pulled a lot of info. off the internet for performing setups but I'm hoping for some watch-out's for those with experience at this sort of thing.

Thanks in advance


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Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 11:02 am
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Welcome to the Forum!

Sounds like the neck relief and string height need to be adjusted.

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Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 11:43 am
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Welcome to forum :wink:


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Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 11:56 am
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jeffo46 wrote:
If you're from the R.I. area, I could set it up for you.If you're not sure what you're doing,then don't try it,rather have a pro set it up.You won't regret it.


That is a very cool offer. Ain't this place great?

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Chet Feathers

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


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Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 12:25 pm
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CAFEATHERS knows what he is talking about . You can depend on his advise. Just set back and listen to post on this forum and you will learn who knows and who don't


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Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 12:51 pm
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I would invest in this book:

http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/product/5199

Then you should be able to do it yourself from now on.

Sounds like you might need a tad more relief in the neck just from the description, but it could be that the action is too low on those strings. The strings should follow the radius of the fretboard, but typically the high strings can be a tad closer.

-Eddie


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Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 12:58 pm
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That was a cool offer, unfortunately I live in North Carolina.

Thanks for all the feedback.


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Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 3:56 pm
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Yes - I have that book too - excellent advice - many great tips - I just wish it was pure Fender. I really like his advice on setting the bridge plate screws. Although I don't do it exactly as he does, Dans' book has taught me the principals and objectives. Some may think that adding or removing a trem spring is nothing.... after reading the book you'll realize how huge it can be!

I got it from Amazon for a few bucks less and free freight.


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Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 5:27 pm
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Just an interesting side note about set-ups, especially if you are very accustomed to your Taylor. Typically, Taylors have a 'board radius of 15 inches, but they set the strings to a 12 inch curve. They also tilt the arc of the strings so that top e is closer to the frets than bottom E. So: you have a tighter curve above a wider one, the top one tilted off centre.

The outcome is that you have most air beneath the middle strings, lowest action on the treble side, in between action on the bass side.

Far as I know they do most, perhaps all, of their set-ups this way. You've never heard anyone complaining about Taylor's playability: those boys know a thing or two! In practice, many of us end up with something roughly similar, but achieved in a less systematic way.

Just something to feed into the old noggin while you're working at your set-up. There may be a very specific way to achieve a feel you are already used to.

I'm a mine of banal information... - C


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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 7:52 am
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Ceri, that certainly wasn't banal info. Thanks.


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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 8:05 am
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cgadave wrote:
Ceri, that certainly wasn't banal info. Thanks.


Isn't it nice when someone says thank you? ...Thank you!

By the way, someone said something to me regarding my previous post in this thread that made my heart nearly stop in horror. So may take the opportunity to point out that the British-English word "noggin" is well-known slang for "head". For example, a bump on the head = bang on the noggin. It comes from a medieval word for a wooden drinking cup. That word has no other meaning or connotation.

If you don't know what I'm getting at, then that's fine. If you do and took some other meaning from what I wrote - then my most sincere apologies for any offence unitentionally given. I shall be watching my own slang extremely carefully, here on in...

Phew! Back to work...


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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 8:05 am
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I know you said you weren't looking to spend too much more money on this thing, but might I suggest taking it to a local shop, having them set it up, but see if they'll do it with you watching, so you can learn how they're doing it, so maybe in the future you can do it yourself?


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 8:19 am
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ThatGuitarGuyAL,

Watching someone set it up was my preference but the local guitar center outsources set-up's to someone else in town.

This weekend I changed the pickguard and put fresh strings on. I enjoy doing this sort of stuff but have no experience. My major worry with the set-up is the buzz on the first few frets which, to my limited knowledge, means I may need shims. My second concern is correctly adjusting pickup height. When you raise the string height at the saddle do the strings essentially tilt which would make fret buzz on the first few frets worse?

BTW I went to undergrad in Tuscaloosa.

Cheers


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