Guitarists are always talking about setups. What is it and do I need one?
No two guitarists or Luthiers will ever agree on anything, let alone something that has to do with guitar gear. With that said, I think I have compiled a list that definitively explains to anyone when you should be considering a setup.
Note: As a luthier, I tend to do much more during a typical setup than other luthiers. I always do the following:
- Polish the fret
- Clean the fretboard
- Adjust the truss rod
- Set the action
- Adjust the pickups (if applicable)
- Check the electronics
- Clean the pots, switches, and jacks if necessary
- Check and tighten your hardware
- Check nut height and adjust if necessary
- Check for high frets to reduce buzzing
- Spot level and recrown frets if necessary
- Inspect the entire instrument for sharp edges that may impede playing, or spot problems that may get worse with time.
In general I seek to provide approximately 1 hour of work on your instrument to get it playing it’s absolute best (as if it was my own instrument). If something takes me less time than expected, then I will spend more time cleaning or optimizing electronics.
My guitar will not stay in tune!
Most tuning stability issues can be solved with some attention to the way the nut is cut, or the tuning machines are loose and could use some adjustment. Even the cheapest modern tuning machines can hold an accurate tune for days! Many guitarists spend good money replacing these to resolve tuning issues unsuccessfully. Properly slotted nut, tight hardware, and reasonable actions typically result in very stable tuning. All of these items will be checked and addressed in a setup.
My guitar is not playing as effortlessly as it used to!
High, or inconsistent action (height of the strings above the fretboard) on a guitar have a large impact on the playability of the instrument. Many guitarists know what they like when they feel it, but may not know how to articulate when it feels “wrong” or “stiff.” Action is also not consistent along the length of the fretboard since the strings need room to vibrate the most in the center of the string. The truss rod often allows the Luthier to dial in the perfect amount of curve (relief) in the fretboard to keep it playing smooth and allow for the strings to vibrate without buzzing. Nut height, next relief, fret height, and bridge height all have an impact on action. A setup will make sure that all these items are checked and adjusted to get a guitar playing it’s best.
My guitar has a buzz on a certain place in the fretboard!
As discussed above, buzz happens when the string is not allowed to vibrate as it wants. This can happen because the action is too low across the entire board, or a high fret is causing the string to buzz out. These 2 items will both be checked and addressed in a setup.
In addition to those 2 items, wide or irregular nut slots, bridge defects, or other sympathetic vibrations in the instrument may cause a buzz that can be diagnosed during a setup.
My fretboard and frets are filthy and I am scared to clean and polish them myself in danger of causing damage!
Let me do it! Along with that cleaning, you will get an entire list of other stuff done to make your guitar feel new again.
My guitar sounds “lifeless” or “dead” compared to how I remember it!
Muted or dull tones are often failures for the strings to move the way it wants. Getting a setup can identify the many possible causes for this and get you rocking with your favorite guitar again. How often have we set a guitar down only to get intrigued with a newer or different guitar. By the time you come back it is not quite as good as you remember it. It is very possible that the changing of the seasons have caused things to move and cause any number of the problems above.
In Summary:
Most luthiers will tell you to get a setup twice a year to adjust your instrument for the changes in temperature and humidity, I do not fully agree with that. While it is a good black and white answer, it honestly is more frequent than most people need a setup done. Some guitars are more stable than others, and require different maintenance schedules. If you notice something isn’t right, it is possible that a repair is not necessary, and the problems will be fixed with a detailed setup.
Thank you for your time.
SWK