rsources for learning how to do setups

[mrhiwatt]

Can anyone recommend resource for learning how to do your own setups. Mine seem to need minor setup with each season change and I would like to be able to learn to do it myself.

MrHiwatt

[DonP]

Look for books from Dan Erlewine. How to make your guitar play great should be your first.

[Amerturk]

The best lessons you can learn are by getting a beater guitar, stripping it down to the paint and put it back together. Along the way take notes of where things go and how the action was, among other things and adjust things to your liking. It's not difficult at all and it's a fun process to learn. There are numerous videos on youtube concerning truss rod adjustments, shims, action, etc...

[Cygnus X1]

+1 on Dan's books and vids.

[AdRock]

I bought a super cheapo strat copy off Craigslist for $25. Bought book and went to town on it. I figured that if I could make that pos play well and sound decent I was doing pretty well.

I striped it down completely. Put a spray paint job on it, cleaned all the parts, and then put it back together. Cleaned the fret board, polished the frets and started to set it up. After a set of used pickups, paint, strings, new pots, and a set of used tuners I was into the thing for about $125. It played well and sounded good. I ended up selling it for $220. So I figure I got paid to learn. Now if I could figure out how to do that with some college classes I'd be golden, lol.

[dannyr]

Tons of videos and info on Youtube.

[warlok]

I started with Dan's book too. How to make your guitar play great is the one I got and have still. I still use the radius gauges that came with the book too. That, youtube vids, practice, and asking questions here will get you pretty damn far..

[mrhiwatt]

Thanks for the info. I think a copy of Dan's book will be purchased and I like the idea of buying a beater to practice on before I do my RR1"s

MrHiwatt

[DalyTek]

buying a beater to practice on before I do my RR1"sMrHiwatt

Oh God, yes, please practice first!

[Newc]

??? ....setups have nothing to do with stripping paint....??

I mean, yeah a beater is a nice place to start learning how to do refins, but adjusting the truss rod for seasonal/environmental fluctuations is far removed from the paint. You guys make it sound like he should refinish his guitar whenever he adjusts the neck. What's next, swap the pickups when he adjusts the bridge height?