Setups...what order?

[usrname]

I'm getting ready to setup my own guitar for the first time. I've read alot of info on here and other sites and got some good measurements, etc., but I'm not sure which step to perform 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.

Also, I've just switched from the 10s that came with the guitar to 9s as they feel better to me with the jumbo frets, so it definitely needs adjusting. I'm planning on doing these adjustments:

Neck relief

Bridge height (action)

Intonation

Again, just not clear on what order to perform these steps. It seems like the neck relief and action have more of an impact on each other. Thanks for the help!

[Nazgul]

1. Bridge height (action)
2. Intonation
3. Neck relief

then repeat them in that order until it gets to how I like.

That's how I do it.

[rjohnstone]

1. Bridge height (action)
2. Intonation
3. Neck relief

then repeat them in that order until it gets to how I like.

That's how I do it.

+1

[GodWentPUNK]

Neck adjustment really shouldn't effect your intonation, should it? Also, how much adjustment of the bridge height would call for an intonation?

joe...

[rjohnstone]

It shouldn't. I've never had to repeat step 2.
1 and 3 on the other hand, is a different story.

[toejam]

Depends. If the action is too high, your intonation will be sharp.

[MountainDog]

Depends. If the action is too high, your intonation will be sharp.

True...which is why I:
Change strings, stretch them, tune to pitch, adjust spring claw to get bridge 'angle/level' where I want it, then:
1. relief
2. bridge height
3. intonation

[hippietim]

Changing neck relief can change intonation as well.

[Kii]

I've always heard intonation should be the very last thing you adjust during a setup.

[Twisteramps]

Set your relief first. It WILL change the string action.
Set Action height next. It WILL change the intonation, but will not change the relief.
Set Intonation last. It Will not change action height or relief.

Pete

[zeegler]

+1

relief
saddle height
intonate

[delt]

> Depends. If the action is too high, your intonation will be sharp.

+1 ... that's because the higher the strings are above the frets, the more "bent" the string's trajectory becomes at the point where you fret a note, therefore slightly more distance to travel for same string length == higher pitch.

[rjohnstone]

I guess I've been lucky so far.
Never had to do more than a quarter turn either way on any truss rod.

Of course most of the guitars I have were pretty much good to go from the beginning.

[DonP]

Buy Dan Erlewine's book. 'nuf said

[usrname]

Buy Dan Erlewine's book. 'nuf said

I was waiting for that - it's on order.

But maybe in the meantime you can tell me what order Dan prefers.