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Post subject: My mistake...
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 3:26 pm
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I bought an American standard tele a few weeks ago from Sam Ash. I also (at the time) thought it would be a good idea to buy a service contract for setups etc. this is where the story gets rocky..

I brought the guitar in last week for a setup (fret buz, one pickup much louder than the other, intonation was off).. And against my better judgement, I left it with the guitar tech that gave me a REALLY bad vibe. Today, I called to see if it was ready, I was left on hold for seventeen minutes before I hung up and called back. This time, he said he would have to look for it. I waited..

He found it, and was going to work on it today. "It will be ready for pickup today"

"What time?"

"Time?"

This conversation actually happened.. I was nice and firm.. I asked that it be ready by 5:30 today.

I got there, and he said "there were no problems"

I asked "is the fret buz gone?"

I knew better than to ask, I knew full well what the answer to that was.. I was pissed off and felt like being mean.

I popped open the case and frankly, he didn't do a thing to this guitar.. Nothing.. It was exactly as I brought it in.. The low E intonation was still off (I set it to flat on purpose to see if he actually worked on the guitar).

Summary: I got a refund on my service contract, I'm no worse for the ware, and I'm now looking for a reputable guitar tech in my area.


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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 3:28 pm
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If anyone knows of a good tech around the south NJ / Philadelphia area, please let me know?


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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 3:51 pm
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Such adjustments are not that hard. The only thing I have turned to a guitar tech for is a refret of an old 335 in the past thirty years. Dan Erlewine's HOW TO MAKE YOUR ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAY GREAT has almost anything that you need.

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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 3:53 pm
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Archtop Bill wrote:
Such adjustments are not that hard. The only thing I have turned to a guitar tech for is a refret of an old 335 in the past thirty years. Dan Erlewine's HOW TO MAKE YOUR ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAY GREAT has almost anything that you need.



Thanks for the tip! is that a book or a website? (forgive the silly question, I'm new to adjustments)


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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 4:10 pm
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JayOutsidePhilly wrote:
Archtop Bill wrote:
Such adjustments are not that hard. The only thing I have turned to a guitar tech for is a refret of an old 335 in the past thirty years. Dan Erlewine's HOW TO MAKE YOUR ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAY GREAT has almost anything that you need.



Thanks for the tip! is that a book or a website? (forgive the silly question, I'm new to adjustments)

Book. If you buy the hard copy, it includes a DVD to walk you though the basics of setup. Nook/Kindle versions are available but I do not know if you get the videos.

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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 10:56 am
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Archtop: I ordered the book.. and then I did a search on youtube LOL. There are videos posted by Fender on how to deal with fret noise (truss rod adjustment). I found the hex key that came with the guitar and in about 20 seconds, the buzz was gone.

Now that it plays correctly, this guitar is pretty awesome!


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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 3:52 pm
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JayOutsidePhilly wrote:
Archtop: I ordered the book.. and then I did a search on youtube LOL. There are videos posted by Fender on how to deal with fret noise (truss rod adjustment). I found the hex key that came with the guitar and in about 20 seconds, the buzz was gone.

Now that it plays correctly, this guitar is pretty awesome!

Glad to hear it was such an easy fix. I think you will still find the Erlewine book helpful. So much of your tone can be refined with the setup.

Enjoy your new Tele.

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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 5:04 pm
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I personally gave up on techs many years ago. Only you care enough to take the time to really dial in your piece. Once you start working on your instrument you'll find its not that hard, you just have to take your time and make small adjustments (particularly the T rod)


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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 5:32 pm
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There is so much information on line today that there is no need to buy any books to learn how to adjust your guitar.
If you want to learn how to adjust intonation, type in "adjust guitar intonation" and an enormous amount of information will be available.
Some other things will require more time and experiment, such as learning to sight down the neck of the guitar to determine how straight your neck is, and adjusting your truss rod.

It's a lot like learning to drive a clutch.
You have to learn the proper balance between setting the bridge saddle height, and then adjusting the truss rod to allow just a slight amount of relief, with the neck being almost perfectly straight.

You will learn to check each string at each fret for any buzzing and then determine the best way to make your guitar the most playable: by adjusting the bridge saddle height or the truss rod.
Normally, you start with the bridge saddle height, unless the saddle height gets to being higher than you would like it to be, then you have to attack the problem in a different manner, by adjusting the truss.
This takes time, patience, and experimentation until you get it right.
You will know when it is right by the feel of the guitar.
Reading as much as you can on the various subject.

If you must, you can follow the traditional method for adjusting the truss rod, as prescribed by Fender, by using a capo and feeler gauge.
See: http://www2.fender.com/support/articles ... tup-guide/
This is not an approach that I advocate, nor the approach that I have generally described above, but is certainly an approach that many people follow.

The bottom line is that setting-up your guitar is not rocket science.
If you have devoted a sufficient amount of time to learn how to basically play a guitar (assuming that you are now at an intermediate stage of playing, as your post would suggest), you certainly should also devote a sufficient amount of time and effort to learn how to adjust your guitar.
This can only be learned by a trial and error approach, just as is done while learning to play your guitar.

Believe me, every guitar player should learn how to replace their strings and set-up their guitar.
You don't want to be dependent on others to do this work for you.


Last edited by MickJagger on Wed Mar 30, 2016 9:05 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:34 pm
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MickJagger wrote:
Believe me, every guitar player should learn how to replace their strings and set-up their guitar.
You don't want to be dependent on others to do this work for you.


Fully agree.

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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:45 pm
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I agree.. Ive done some adjustments before on a junk guitar (its a 1990s Peavey Predator). The feeling is that if I really mess up, its not a huge deal. You can get one of these for under 200 dollars, primarily because no one wants them. I took the leap (adjusting) with the more valuable guitars and so far, its been good. I have lots to learn, but I'm well on my way.


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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 10:03 pm
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MickJagger wrote:
................The bottom line is that setting-up your guitar is not rocket science.
If you have devoted a sufficient amount of time to learn how to basically play a guitar (assuming that you are now at an intermediate stage of playing, as your post would suggest), you certainly should also devote a sufficient amount of time and effort to learn how to adjust your guitar.
This can only be learned by a trial and error approach, just as is done while learning to play your guitar.

Believe me, every guitar player should learn how to replace their strings and set-up their guitar.
You don't want to be dependent on others to do this work for you.

Agree 100% with the exception making the nut slots the proper depth. The proper files are a bit pricey for only several time useage.

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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 7:59 pm
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IM4Tone wrote:
Agree 100% with the exception making the nut slots the proper depth. The proper files are a bit pricey for only several time usage.

I never advise anyone to adjust their own nut slots.
I believe that this infrequent guitar adjustment, is the only guitar adjustment that should be left to a professional, unless you are willing to assume the risk of failure, and the risk of the need for possible replacement of the nut.


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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2016 5:38 am
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MickJagger wrote:
IM4Tone wrote:
Agree 100% with the exception making the nut slots the proper depth. The proper files are a bit pricey for only several time usage.

I never advise anyone to adjust their own nut slots.
I believe that this infrequent guitar adjustment, is the only guitar adjustment that should be left to a professional, unless you are willing to assume the risk of failure, and the risk of the need for possible replacement of the nut.


We think alike :shock:

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Post subject: Re: My mistake...
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2016 9:10 am
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musicmatty wrote:
MickJagger wrote:
Believe me, every guitar player should learn how to replace their strings and set-up their guitar.
You don't want to be dependent on others to do this work for you.


Fully agree.


I think that most serious players learn and do their own work.

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