Would you get a set-up at guitar center?

[john.w.lawson]

Just on a side note, if you learn to do it yourself then you will be able to set it up the way you like! Who knows what you like more than you?:idea: plus it is very simple......

[Grandturk]

I don't even like talking to the people in GC, let alone thinking of handing them one of my guitars.

If you must have someone else work on you axe, find a local with a recommendation.

[joelayres]

I don't even like talking to the people in GC, let alone thinking of handing them one of my guitars.

Agreed.

[j2379]

if your willing to drive out to LI i know a few really good guys.

[Jack The Riffer]

Is it a back bow or just too much relief(Forward bow)? Like people have said it's extremely easy. Counter Clockwise adds relief(Forward Bow), Clockwise will tighten it and straighten the neck or actually add back bow to an already straight neck. Just go in 1/4 turn increments.

[Joelski]

I'm not tolerant of sales drones. Been to a GC once, found a MGR across the street and never went back!

I like my small town music shop (Shout-out to CA House in Wheeling, West By-God, St. Clairsville and Zanesville, OH!!) Doug, the manager, either gets me what I want, or simply tells me he can't get it and doesn't hold a grudge because I find it somewhere else. Also, I can go in and examine anything I want without some idiotass trying to drive a pressure sale up my ass. Great place, give it a look if you're near one!

As far as teching your own gear goes, do it! Get Dan Erlewine's book, read it cover-to-cover, and start out slow and deliberate. If you proceed slowly and consider your actions, you can not damage a guitar! You get the satisfaction of being able to do the repair work yourself, and you'll save a ton of dough (to spend on setup tools, of course). The other benefit is you'll be able to better appraise guitars needing a little work and pick them up cheaper and with a small investment of your time and skill, come by a lot of instruments you'd have had to pass on d/t repair cost, or flip them for profit, allowing you to pick up things you want. If you get good at it, you'll get word of mouth business and never be short on cash, plus, you can refer to yourself as a luthier!! HAHA!!

[JacksonVHT]

A few more questions:

How long do I have to let the wood set in after the adjustment before I can check the neck again and make more adjustments if I have to?

Does my guitar have to be tuned to pitch or do I have to remove tension while making the truss rod adjustment?

Does my guitar have to be tuned to pitch while the wood sets in and should I put it in the case or on a guitar stand while I let it set in?

Is using a long straight edge ruler against my binding a good enough way to check the straightness of my neck while doing the adjustments?

Is it a back bow or just too much relief(Forward bow)? Like people have said it's extremely easy. Counter Clockwise adds relief(Forward Bow), Clockwise will tighten it and straighten the neck or actually add back bow to an already straight neck. Just go in 1/4 turn increments.

According to the image on: http://www.athensmusician.net/archiv...eimbody1.shtml - I have a back bow.

So I assume in order to straighten my neck, I would need to turn it counter-clockwise in quarter turns?

[Jack The Riffer]

Correct, 1/4 turns Counter Clockwise and you should be good to go.

[Joelski]

Minor adjustments (1/8-1/4 turn) usually take 1-4 hours to achieve their maximum movement. I set the guitar aside on a stand, tuned to pitch so it can relax into its new shape. A radical adjustment can take a week or so to stop changing. The best thing to do is to keep the guitar in its home climate for the entire time, make sure the house isn't too damp or dry; both of those will contribute to neck movement.

[jgcable]

no I wouldn't. Not a chance. Thats like bringing your Porsche to Pep-Boys for a tune up.

[metalchurch79]

A few more questions:

#1-How long do I have to let the wood set in after the adjustment before I can check the neck again and make more adjustments if I have to?

#2-Does my guitar have to be tuned to pitch or do I have to remove tension while making the truss rod adjustment?

#3-Does my guitar have to be tuned to pitch while the wood sets in and should I put it in the case or on a guitar stand while I let it set in?

#4-Is using a long straight edge ruler against my binding a good enough way to check the straightness of my neck while doing the adjustments?



According to the image on: http://www.athensmusician.net/archiv...eimbody1.shtml - I have a back bow.

#5-So I assume in order to straighten my neck, I would need to turn it counter-clockwise in quarter turns?

#1 - You can continue making adjustments immediately afterward.
#2 - I keep mine tuned to pitch, and I also recommend you do the same. Remember to re-tune before and after any adjustments, until you get better at doing it. Although after the first or second time you tune to pitch it should be ok enough to adjust the truss rod until you get it where you want, and then tune it again and play.

#3 - Unless the guitar has been sitting without strings for a long period of time it should be ok.
Also as long as the guitar has been in room temprature for a while it should have settled in already for the most part.

#4 - It could be, but the binding might not be "true." I use my Low-E string as my straight edge.
Press down on the first and last fret and eye ball the gap between the string and the 5th-7,8,9th frets and focus on that area of the neck.

#5 - (You have that backwards) To straighten your neck, you need to turn the truss rod nut clockwise.
To put a dip in the neck, you need to turn it couter-clockwise.

*remember this: Tighten = Flatten......Loosen = Slacken

You'll be fine if you make small adjustments and remember to make small (1/8 to 1/4) turns, and remember how far you turned it.

Also remember to tune to pitch befor eand after each adjustment.
Generally, you want to initially set your action where you want it first, then move onto the neck/truss rod adjustments.

Hope this helps ya?
-Joe

[thez0r]

The luthier over at guitar center has already done a bridge pickup swap for me, would you leave your Jackson USA to get a truss adjustment and a setup (which he said he would prefer to do, so that everything is right (action, intonationation, etc)) at guitar center?

Call me crazy but I wouldn't even let those clowns in there make me a cup of coffee, much less pay them a setup fee to damage a USA Jackson they can't (and won't) replace.

[JacksonVHT]

#1 - You can continue making adjustments immediately afterward.
#2 - I keep mine tuned to pitch, and I also recommend you do the same. Remember to re-tune before and after any adjustments, until you get better at doing it. Although after the first or second time you tune to pitch it should be ok enough to adjust the truss rod until you get it where you want, and then tune it again and play.

#3 - Unless the guitar has been sitting without strings for a long period of time it should be ok.
Also as long as the guitar has been in room temprature for a while it should have settled in already for the most part.

#4 - It could be, but the binding might not be "true." I use my Low-E string as my straight edge.
Press down on the first and last fret and eye ball the gap between the string and the 5th-7,8,9th frets and focus on that area of the neck.

#5 - (You have that backwards) To straighten your neck, you need to turn the truss rod nut clockwise.
To put a dip in the neck, you need to turn it couter-clockwise.

*remember this: Tighten = Flatten......Loosen = Slacken

You'll be fine if you make small adjustments and remember to make small (1/8 to 1/4) turns, and remember how far you turned it.

Also remember to tune to pitch befor eand after each adjustment.
Generally, you want to initially set your action where you want it first, then move onto the neck/truss rod adjustments.

Hope this helps ya?
-Joe

You're the man Joe, thanks.

[metalchurch79]

Hey, not a problem bro. I hope that it works out for you. Remember, everyone has to start somewhere, and knowledge comes from practice and hands on experience.
In time, you will be very god at doing your own setups, and in turn you'll save yourself alot of money.
Let us know how you make out on this.

[SEEGERMANY]

no I wouldn't. Not a chance. Thats like bringing your Porsche to Pep-Boys for a tune up.

Can't say it any better!