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  • Learning to do a guitar setup

    Posted by Alisa on May 8, 2021 at 8:18 am

    I’ve recently changed strings on my acoustic guitar (I was so proud) and now I can’t get it in tune properly: if I tune the loose strings, they are out of tune on the 5th fret and it gets worse higher up the neck. Never had that issue with my classic guitar, but I’m discovering every day they are different instruments, in many ways. I’ve been told it just needs a setup. I could go to a guitar repair shop, pay the $80 and probably wait a week for them to do it, but I’d hate doing that 4 times a year. Any tips on how to learn to do this myself? Are there good tutorials out there? Or will I risk doing more harm than good?

    What are you all doing?

    Alisa replied 3 years, 9 months ago 8 Members · 13 Replies
  • 13 Replies
  • JeffM.22

    Member
    May 8, 2021 at 11:18 am

    @Theorose , that does not add up. It should tune the same after new strings. Try loosening the problem string just enough to pull it out of the nut and over to the next bigger string and put some pencil graphite in the offending nut slot, and check that the bridge pin is seated correctly. Use a capo on the strings to control the string tension if adjusting the pin.

    As to setup, I think YouTube will provide you more than enough information that you will need. A string action gage will help in the setup process. No more than 1/4 turn at a time for any truss rod adjustments. Make sure your instrument is properly humidified in case that has changed lately.

  • Alisa

    Member
    May 8, 2021 at 12:13 pm

    Thanks, @JeffM.22 I bought the strings on stringjoy and this is what they wrote to me:

    “It sounds like your instrument’s bridge intonation was set up with .012 gauge strings in mind. The lighter tension would also change the neck’s pull, these two factors combined lead to a guitar that need to be set up by a tech.”

    I’ll try the pencil lead trick you told me about. Thanks for the tip!

  • dr_dave

    Member
    May 8, 2021 at 9:33 pm

    I was going to ask if you changed string gauge. That can make a big difference. Heavier strings require more tension, and that will bend the neck more unless the truss rod is adjusted to balance the additional tension. That will make the strings seem like they have higher action (but that’s a misnomer – truss rods adjust neck relief, not action). When the strings are too far above the frets, it has an adverse effect on intonation of fretted strings.

    I don’t think a change in string gauge should effect the other aspects of setup (saddle and nut height). If you go to heavier strings than what were on the guitar, it is possible some of them don’t fully seat in the nut slot. This would make those strings sit further from the frets, again possibly causing intonation problems.

    I recommend the site frets.com to learn about various aspects of guitar setup. The information is well-organized, clear and authoritative.

    • Alisa

      Member
      May 10, 2021 at 2:40 pm

      Thanks, @dr_dave, for the tip; I’ll check it out! The new strings are extra light gauge, so I probably went to a lighter gauge. Previous strings were the original strings, and I have no idea what they were. Old and rusty, that’s for sure. I’m sorry to say I neglected this guitar for several years. After the previous comment, I tested the tuning again and concluded the problem was mostly with the lower E string. I applied pencil lead as recommended, and it miraculously helped!

  • Loraine

    Member
    May 10, 2021 at 3:18 pm

    Hi @Alisa I wonder if you stretched the strings multiple times after changing them. Stretching them will change the tuning, but you should do it a few times after changing strings, and then retune after each one. I would then put the guitar in its case for a day and then restretch and tune again. Hopefully this would solve the problem.

    • Alisa

      Member
      May 10, 2021 at 3:46 pm

      Hi @Loraine, thanks for the tip, I did. The strings are a couple of weeks old by now and remain stable during a playing session, though I still tune them every time before playing. Sometimes I think one of them is off during playing, but it’s usually just me messing up a chord transition 😂

  • BLun

    Member
    May 10, 2021 at 4:01 pm

    You can tune your guitar to itself. I have a tuning fork for A. So tap the tuning fork on your knee and place the base on the on your bridge and then tune your A string to that sound. Once you have that, then tune the low E 5th free to your A string. Similarly, finger the 5th fret on A and tune it to your D string. Fret the 5th fret of D to the G string. Fret the G string to 4th fret and tune your B string. Fret the B string on the 5th fret and tune the high E string. Hope that helps. Or just get an electronic chromatic tuner and use that. They are only about $25.

    • SoCal_Ian

      Member
      May 11, 2021 at 12:33 pm

      That’s the way I learned it back in the day @Barry2021 but here we’re talking about intonation rather than straight up tuning. As mentioned, a change in string diameter can have an effect. The reality is that if a guitar is set up for certain string gauge then a change to a different one can throw everything off. Solution is a setup but that does not need to be done at every string change, just the ones where you change gauge @Alisa.

      • This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by  SoCal_Ian.
      • Alisa

        Member
        May 11, 2021 at 12:49 pm

        Thanks, @SoCal_Ian that makes a lot of sense. I think I’ll treat myself to a setup next time I change the strings (I might go up a gauge, not in love with the extra light ones) and make it my one-year goal to learn to do this by myself.

  • JohnV

    Member
    May 12, 2021 at 6:01 pm

    Did you remove the saddle and put it back in reversed? Most saddles are compensated where the b string goes across. If the compensation is where the a string is, then it’s reveresed. Loosen your strings almost to the point of fIling off so you can remove and re-insert the saddle in the correct position.

    • This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by  JohnV.
  • n6xrf

    Member
    May 13, 2021 at 10:15 am


    Roberto-Venn: Home

    <cite>https://roberto-venn.com</cite&gt;

    has a setup and maintenance class that runs once or twice a year.

    • Alisa

      Member
      May 13, 2021 at 12:47 pm

      Ha! How to take it from noob to ninja level in only 6 months and $7000😂

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