Selected Repairs
Solid body headstock repair
Semi-hollow neck reconstruction
Video: Taylor 'Easy' Neck Reset
Video: Refret on Hofner 'Jazzica'
Bridge Alignment Jig - An Essential Part Of Electric Guitar Set-up
Solid body headstock repair
Semi-hollow neck reconstruction
Video: Taylor 'Easy' Neck Reset
Video: Refret on Hofner 'Jazzica'
Bridge Alignment Jig - An Essential Part Of Electric Guitar Set-up
The guitar set-up is an often misunderstood concept, even amongst well-seasoned players. Basically, to 'set-up' means making all necessary adjustments and repairs to maxamise the playability of a particular instrument. Often, new instruments (even in the €2000 to €3000 price-range) require some level of set-up.
Often it is obvious when a repair is needed, for example when a headstock has broken off (this is almost always repairable by the way). Sometimes it is not obvious when a repair is needed. For example, I was setting-up a bass recently which was brought in with complaints of 'tuning problems. It was only apparant when the strings were off that the fingerboard had partially separated from the neck.
Some commonly used set-up terms explained:
Neck Relief
When a guitar is built the fingerboard is shaped dead straight. Flat. After the frets are installed they should be skimmed slightly to ensure the top surface is still completely flat. When the strings are installed they pull on the neck and bend the flat surface of the fretboard. Neck relief is a measure of this. An example of low relief is .05mm, while 1mm would represent very high relief.
Truss Rod
This is a long threaded bolt inside the neck running along it's entire length. Ideally, tightening the rod pulls the neck back into it's straight position and counteracts the pull of the strings.
Bridge Saddle
Typically made from bone or plastic, this is point of contact of the strings at the body. The height should be set with the neck almost completely straight. This determines the action. The top surface of the bridge should be curved to correspont with the curvature of the fingerboard.
The Nut
This is the piece of plastic or bone where the strings rest at the headstock. It represents the start of the fingerboard, or 'zero' fret position. The nut is grooved to hold the strings in place. The depth of these grooves is very important in how the guitar feels and intonates.
Often it is obvious when a repair is needed, for example when a headstock has broken off (this is almost always repairable by the way). Sometimes it is not obvious when a repair is needed. For example, I was setting-up a bass recently which was brought in with complaints of 'tuning problems. It was only apparant when the strings were off that the fingerboard had partially separated from the neck.
Some commonly used set-up terms explained:
Neck Relief
When a guitar is built the fingerboard is shaped dead straight. Flat. After the frets are installed they should be skimmed slightly to ensure the top surface is still completely flat. When the strings are installed they pull on the neck and bend the flat surface of the fretboard. Neck relief is a measure of this. An example of low relief is .05mm, while 1mm would represent very high relief.
Truss Rod
This is a long threaded bolt inside the neck running along it's entire length. Ideally, tightening the rod pulls the neck back into it's straight position and counteracts the pull of the strings.
Bridge Saddle
Typically made from bone or plastic, this is point of contact of the strings at the body. The height should be set with the neck almost completely straight. This determines the action. The top surface of the bridge should be curved to correspont with the curvature of the fingerboard.
The Nut
This is the piece of plastic or bone where the strings rest at the headstock. It represents the start of the fingerboard, or 'zero' fret position. The nut is grooved to hold the strings in place. The depth of these grooves is very important in how the guitar feels and intonates.
Repairs and Set-Ups
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