Take notice, future Eddie Van Halens: your new guitar will most likely require some repair even before you use it
If you received a new guitar for Christmas or if your father passed down his old one to you, you should get it properly set up. A correct guitar setup may make the difference between a buzzy, difficult-to-play nightmare that kills your fingers and ears and a lovely melodic instrument.
"The better a guitar is set correctly, the simpler it is to play, which speeds up your learning," says Matt Chapman, a Los Angeles-based luthier and former guitar store owner with over 20 years of expertise manufacturing and repairing guitars.
What exactly is a guitar setup?
A guitar setup is similar to routine auto maintenance or a visit to the doctor for a check-up—a once-over from a professional in which tiny changes are made to make your guitar simpler to play and sound better. Almost every guitar store will either set up your instrument for you or direct you to someone who will.
What is the purpose of a guitar setup?
A guitar is a fragile instrument. It's basically wood under tremendous stress from tightened steel strings, so there's a lot that can go wrong, even on the way from the manufacturer to your living room. Temperature and humidity changes can have a subtle effect on the wood, and frequent string tugging can bow the wood, increasing the distance the strings are from the fretboard and slightly modifying your guitar tune. A setup restores order to your guitar so that it can perform as best as it possibly can. "There's nothing more off-putting to a newbie than an ungainly instrument," Chapman explains.
You'd assume a brand-new guitar would arrive set up, but this isn't always the case. Chapman claims that when he ran a guitar shop, most factory instruments arrived unset, and that many shops would sell you a guitar without ever putting it up. Make sure to inquire if a free setup is included with the purchase price of a guitar.
If you purchased your guitar online, it is doubtful that it was properly set up. If you're familiar with guitars, you'll recognize it right away. If you aren't sure, presume it needs to be set up and take it to a store.
What effect does a setup have on the guitar?
The major things that a guitar setup will modify are the action (the distance between the strings and the fretboard) and the intonation (the fine tuning of the instrument). If your action is too high, pressing down on the strings becomes more difficult, and the tuning becomes more precise. If it's too low, buzzing noises will be produced by the string vibrating against the frets. Some notes can't be played in tune if your guitar's intonation is off, especially if you're playing higher up the fretboard.
Whether you're just beginning out, you won't be able to tell if your intonation is incorrect or if your action is too high or low, but you will notice that your notes sound sour and your fingers ache. A setup from your local luthier/Instrument Center expert may resolve these concerns, as well as identify more complex issues with your guitar. They'll also swap out your strings and even give it a fast polish.
How much does it cost to get a guitar setup?
Prices for guitar setup vary based on where you reside and the type of guitar you own, but a basic setup should cost between $50 and $70. This certainly excludes any more complex fixes that a setup may disclose.
How often should I tune my guitar?
Many internet sites recommend a yearly or twice-yearly trip to the guitar shop following your first setup, but Chapman believes this may not be necessary. It is determined by the guitar.
"I have a couple of 1960s guitars that are absolutely stable." "They're always eager to play when I pick them up, just because of their age," Chapman adds. "The wood is completely stable."
New guitars, on the other hand, are unlikely to be stable. Most new guitars aren't pre-aged, or seasoned, for as long as wood from older guitars—and the circumstances in your house will be different from the shop where it sat waiting for you to buy it, so it'll be a long time, perhaps decades, before your instrument is basically "settled."
No matter how old or stable your guitar is, there are specific situations in which you should absolutely get it adjusted. When you modify the thickness of your strings, the pressure on the wood might fluctuate dramatically, necessitating correction. And, of course, if you detect anything wrong with your guitar, such as a rattling string or an out-of-tune tone that no amount of playing with the pegs will correct, bring it in to be checked out.
Is it possible for me to set up my own guitar?
You can build your own guitar, but the question is whether you should. You probably shouldn't as a beginning. While adjusting your truss rod or correcting your intonation isn't difficult, it does require expertise, and as a novice, you're unlikely to detect what's wrong in the first place. Furthermore, if you make the incorrect sort of error, it might result in a pricey repair. However, if you've been playing for a while, there are a plethora of YouTube video lessons to get you started on your own guitar maintenance.
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SOURCE: lifehacker
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