I've Been Set-up I Tell Ya!

Hey folks, There's something about a great set-up on your guitar. You won't know this until you have one, and many players including pros have never had a really good set-up. Whether you play an acoustic, electric, resophonic, or classical guitar, every little detail adds up to the overall function and playability of the instrument and its effect on your playing.

There are many elements of a good set-up; Neck relief, saddle radius matching that of the frets and fingerboard, the same for the nut slots. The height of the nut slots over the fingerboard, saddle height, loose or poorly adjusted tuners, pickup balance, pickup height, intonation, stiffness of the neck, tremolo settings, and string gauge and type. Each of these elements will be different depending on the style and needs of each player. If the tech at your local store asks you what strings you want and then disappears, don't expect a good set-up.

I look at the player's hands, they way the play, how they hold a pick, what kind of pick they use, the hardest and softest they attack the strings. These will all impact the set-up greatly.

When done right just for you, a good guitar set-up will make the guitar play as if it was made just for you. Watch what happens to your playing next!