Should I set up my Guitar myself? (Page 1 of 2)

Tony - Quite honestly, the only adjustments I am comfortable performing myself are a bit of sanding the saddle and maybe tweaking the truss rod (but only 1/8 turn at a time). I encourage you to peruse this site, especially the link regarding lowering the saddle, here:

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musicia … ion01.html

There is a fellow chordie member "Guitarpix" who is also from Down East NC - I am sure if you could meet with him, he could advise at a quick glance and adjustments that could / should be made.

Thanks to both of you for the feedback.  I sent an email to Guitarpix and will wait for him to get back to me.  I won't touch my guitar myself until I communicate with him.

Doug, thanks for the long email...  I appreciate you taking the time to help me.

hee hee... I sent an email to Tony mentioning you too Pix!  LMAO!  I was a little less forward than Tops and Doug by doing it in secret ... alas, I did do it too!  I guess you've officially been nominated to help this new member out! 

Thanks MK I have the whole weekend free, so your vid is up for recording finally Sorry for the delay again... -Pix

Thanks Pix!  You're the best!  I will check that out today!

You know I didn't mention your name here straight away so you wouldn't feel obligated...LOL... but after the other guys did, I couldn't help but giggle it out!

A surprising number of touring guitarists, even the ones with full-time guitar techs, are pretty good at setting up their own instruments. I've seen them pull truss rod wrenches, nut or fret files out of their kit bags and go to work. Point is, if you have multiple instruments and are handy with tools, try to gradually learn these skills, for the same reason that my father-in-law made my wife change the oil in her first car, back in high school.

I just want to update everyone.  Pix has been working with me ONE on ONE with email.  Like you all said he is awesome.  It took me two evenings to get the adjustment made with the truss rod but I now have my straight edge perfect from the 1st fret to the 12th fret, there is no bow at all.  I replaced my strings with Martin light strings.  I still have 5/32 gap at the 12 fret to the 6th string.  I will wait for Chris to instruct me further on making any additional changes.   I'm ready to practice, practice, practice.

I think the next step is to practice, and quit tweaking on the guitar.

You're a new player.  You are going to have problems fretting well, especially in the beginning.   A well set up instrument is a dream, but it shouldn't be an impediment to you practicing.

So I'd play with it less, and play it more. 

Your fingers are going to hurt no matter how your rig is set up.  It's a simple fact of life.   The 1st order of business for anyone learning to play is to get rid of their monkey hands, and turn them into player's hands.  That hurts, and requires dedicated practice.   A difference of 3/32 of an inch isn't going to mean a whole lot in that regard.

I know guys that carry extra saddles in their kit and change them out with every gig in order to compensate for temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors that can effect the neck.   But these are dudes that have been playing for years, and understand what that means, and how it effects their playing.   We are not such people.   What I'm hearing you say is that "I can't practice effectively because my guitar isn't set up perfectly."  And I simply don't believe that.   You can't practice effectively because you're not practicing enough, as is common with new players.

Having a well set up instrument is nice.  But unless it's *seriously* mangled, it's going to be just fine for your needs.   The old golf adage of "It's not the arrow, it's the Indian" is just as true with guitars.   You could run out and spend $5,000 on a perfectly set up Martin or Taylor, and you are still going to have sore hands, you are still going to struggle to fret properly, and you are still going to sound like a n00b.  An experienced player could pick up your rig right now, and they'd sound like they knew what they were doing.   

I have a Tak I'm working on that had the nut come lose and rotate under the strings.  The result was an action at the nut that was more akin to a dobro than a guitar.  But it was playable, even if it wasn't the greatest feeling neck in the world.   A bad setup sucks, but it's not the end of the world, and it shouldn't stop you from practicing.

I tell new students the following when they tell me their hands hurt.

"Your hands hurt?  Your hands don't hurt enough!"

You don't have to be a masochist to play, but it helps. 

OK, everyone I get the point, but I think you missed my point.  I haven't stopped practicing because my fingers hurt.  I haven't stopped practicing because my strings are not set right.  I haven't stopped practicing because my neck had a bow in it.  I am practicing, a lot,  but in between, I am working on making my guitar set up the best it can be with the resources I have.  Pix has been kind enough to really go out of his way to help me and for that I am so grateful.  I live in a small town and the nearest music shop to me is 40 miles away.  I don't even know if they have a qualified person to set up a guitar.  That is why I am doing it myself.  I am going to learn to play the guitar.  I am going to learn how to do basic maintenance on a guitar.  And someday I'm going to "pay it forward" by helping out a noob, like Pix is helping me.

Right on Pix!

  A good setup takes one more small barrier down.... and we all know that the frustration level early in the game can be almost overwhelming at times.  I firmly believe that there is nothing wrong with learning scales, and notes, and chords, and Tabs,  just as there is nothing wrong with learning as much as you can about the hows and whys of the instrument you are learning to play.

  It may not be "necessary" to have every guitar you play "perfectly set up", but if it adds to the enjoyment..... it couldn't hurt.

  Thank You Pix for stepping up and helping Tony, which is what Chordie is all about. 

Take Care;
Doug

I just want to let the group know that my guitar setup is done.  It started with adjusting the truss rod.  It took two days for it to adjust slowly.  Today I cut the string notches in the nut and lowered the bridge.  My stings are level and at 4/32 for now. I also replaced my strings with Elixir light weight strings.  Non of this would had happened if it weren't for PIX.  He guided me all the way with detailed information.  I never once worried that I would mess it up and damage my guitar.

So now it time to practice, practice, practice. 

Thank you Chordie for this excellent forum and thank you PIX for that you have done to help me.

Tony