Learn Guitar Tabs

ok so i have my guitar set up for standard e tuning with 11-49’s does this mean i will have to get my guitar setup more often or is just the usual factors like amount of playing and temperature, environment type thing

It depends on your guitar. If the neck is like rubber, it will need more truss rod adjustments then usual. But your pretty much right in that your setup will be affected by the typical variables: humidity, playing style and frequency, humidity, and how you store the guitar (keep it in its case).

I am buying a new American Fender Strat soon and wanted to know. What is a guitar set up and do I need one? Why arent these done when the guitars are made?

Hello there,

What is a setup? A setup should include checking the string height at the nut. Checking the relief of the neck and making any truss rod adjustments necessary for proper string height through the first 12 frets. Checking the string height at the bridge and adjusting the height of the saddles for proper string height from the 12th fret down. Checking the height of the pickups to the strings. Checking the intonation and moving the saddles to adjust if necessary.

Do you need one? Yes any guitar will need to have the action adjusted before you play it.

Why not done at the factory? The factory does get the setup close. But during storage and shipping, things change on the guitar. You don’t want a guitar to sit in storage with tension on the neck (that can cause neck problems). So when the guitar gets to its destination, namely the guitar store, a setup needs to be done to get the guitar ready to play. Not all customers want the same strings on their guitar. So when they switch strings, the store switches strings to whatever brand or gauge the customer wants, that requires some adjustments to the set up. Frankly this is not all that different from buying a new car. The car manufacturers put the car in a condition to be safe for shipping. When it arrives at the dealer, they have to get in in condition to be ready to drive.

Later,

What exactly is all the equipment I need to play this kind of music? Please try to be specific. Thanks.

Probably a schecter w/blackouts (pickups.)
6505+ head amp
Mesa Boogie flat cab.
Rack gear,
Tube Screamer and other various pedals.

A lot may be personal preference…

I put guitar in for set-up and it still has fret buzz, should I send it back in?

If the buzz is considerable, you should bring the guitar back and demonstrate the buzzing. And the sooner the better.

Sometimes, it takes a little while after adjustments are made for the guitar to settle back in under tension. If you had your action lowered considerably, you may find you have to adjust your technique, but under normal circumstances it should be nearly buzz free, depending on your technique and the age and condition of the instrument.

You should always test out the guitar at the shop when you pick it up. And be as specific as possible when arranging work done. Ask lots of questions when in doubt.

Let me put this as easy i can. This is my current setup: Guitar – Pedal – Guitar Amp
I’m just trying to get louder. My current amp is a 15w.
So i was wondering… Is this possible? Guitar – Pedal – Guitar Amp – Speaker
or since the pedal has settings and effects in it could i just do: Guitar – Pedal – Speaker ?
Also…what is a good speaker i can run all of that through? Thanks

I’d say your guitar creates the sound,, your speaker plays it so those two are the two ends of the chain – no matter what. One is " Input" and the other is the " Output" for the entire chain.

The pedal will have electrical limits so you have to go by the manufactorer reccommendations on connecting to the amp. I do think, since it curves and bends or otherwise shapes the sound that is what will be amplified. I do not think, you would reshape the " amplified sound" because in the amplification process it does elliminate inherant distortion that is created in the reshaping process.

So I think, you are looking at a complete chain of :
Guitar – Pedal – Amplifier – Speaker ( remember this has to withstand max output of Amplifier )

Amp, Guitar, Pedals, All that stuff?

Any online store like American Musical Supply, Musician’s Friend, etc. I assume I am understanding your question properly. There are no "pro" starter packs like you have for beginners. All packages like that are low end equipment for beginners. So basically you would just order all of the pieces individually. If I am misunderstanding your question I apologize.

How do you set up a guitar so its easy to play?
Well, I have an old Martin DM. I dont think they make them anymore. My problem is that my fingers seem to overlap to other strings so is there a way to widen the spaces between them or do I have to find another guitar with wider spaced strings?

Hello there,

A set up deals with how the strings lay primarily. You adjust the string height at the nut. You adjust the truss rod for how far the strings lay above the frets for the first 12 frets. You adjust the string height at the saddle for how far above the frets the strings are in the lower frets.

And with an electric guitar you adjust the height of the pickups so they are not too close or too far from the strings. You adjust the spring tension on the tremolo block so it floats properly.

What strings you are playing will impact on all those adjustments. Also the tuning you play will impact.

A set up does not deal with the width of a nut. Frankly there is not a lot of difference in nut width. The closest is the Fender electrics at 1 5/8ths inch wide nut. Gibson electrics are 1 11/16ths inch wide nuts. Most acoustic run between 1 11/16h and 1 7/8ths with many having a 1 3/4 inch nut width. Classical guitars have a wider nut frequently. But most acoustics are going to be in that range. So may 1/8 of an inch wider nut is about what you could expect to find if you look around. When you spread 1/8 of an inch across the 6 strings, the difference is slight.

Frankly, I would rather have an old Martin than a newer guitar. Most good acoustics mellow with age. You may find a new guitar with a slightly wider nut, but it is unlikely to have as good a tone as what you are playing. Those older Martins are awfully nice guitars and hard to improve upon.

Later,

do i need to get my guitar re setup if i change from 9 gauge to 9.5?

I too see no reason to worry so. That little difference, unless it doesn’t ‘feel right’ to you, shouldn’t give cause for concern out of the ordinary.

Sounds more of just getting use to the time away from the previous strings as they may have worn enough to actually have been more comfortable. And now, another set may appear to be a challenge to get in tune or the actual touch of the strings has a noticeable difference.

It all happens to the sensitive, and particular players, as many of us have experienced. And it is as well, good to learn how to do a proper set up on ones own,

Right now I have a distortion petal and a pickup booster. Which one comes first after the guitar?

Hi, I’m PRINCESS,,, Yes, that’s my name, let me see… I would put the booster before the distortion. But it really just depends on what you want to be affected by the previous pedal(s)

I have just received a second hand beginners bass guitar and I beleive the bridge needs adjusting. The strings are making a fuzzing noise on the frets but i beleive this to be incorrect adjustments on the bridge. Is it best to keep the strings as high up away from the frets as possible? Is there any tips on how i can best setup my 4 string bass? Cheers. Alex

Hey Alex;
It may be very likely that you need a bridge adjustment. However, before tinkering with anything on the bridge, its important to first make sure that your neck has the correct relief on it. If you don’t, then adjusting the bass properly would be fruitless. If you are not familiar with adjusting your neck, you should probably take the guitar to a tech for a setup. Buzzes on the frets is typically a result of the neck warping backwards a little which requires truss rod relief (loosening). Once your bass has the correct neck relief, you can set your string height and then check the intonation.