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Guitar Discussions -> Guitar setups
There are 18 messages in this thread.
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Re: Guitar setups - Tad Huggins - 21:01 02-12-05
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"Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message
news:wx5kf.7971$wf2.926917@news20.bellglobal.com...
> "Tad Huggins" <fresnowoodworking3@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:Tp1kf.26550$q%.4952@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
> >I have just purchased a new Gibson Les Paul Custom and am considering
> >having
> > a pro set it up for me. I have gotten pretty good at setting the neck
> > bow,
> > action and intonation and have the guitar playing really good so I'm not
> > sure if a pro setup is worth the $80 bucks that I would be charged.
What
> > is
> > typically done to a guitar with a pro setup?
>
> That, and a checkup of other components and adjustments, such as the nut
> height and pickup heights.
I have taken care of the pickup heights but have not messed around with the
nut. I had made arrangements when I purchased the guitar to have a setup
done but I think I have done most of the adjustments myself. I changed the
strings to .09 - .46's and adjusted the neck bow to .010 @ 7th fret. I set
the action @ 12th fret to 5/64 bass side and 3/64 treble side. I've got the
intonation pretty close. A pro could surely do better but it sounds good to
me. I set the neck pickup height to 3/32 and the bridge to 1/16. After
shelling out $3000 bucks on the guitar another $80 is not that big of a deal
but will I get $80 worth of benefit? The guitar plays great so I can't see
paying out the money for a setup if its not needed.
>
> > Also, is there anything that
> > can be done to extend the life of frets? I seem to wear through them
> > pretty
> > fast.
> >
> > Tad
>
> What you can do to extend the life of fretwire is to relax. If you're
> rapidly wearing through frets, it's most likely because you are using the
> strings as abrasives.
>
> Try practicing for periods using the absolute minimum pressure required to
> get a clear tone. I imagine that your current technique is the result of
> years of practice and development, and you won't change that overnight.
> You'll have to make a serious effort to relax.
Yea, I will try to relax. I play pretty hard especially when bending
strings. I purchased a new Carvin in 2002 and wore the frets out in about a
year and a half. I had it refreted with jumbo frets and they are doing much
better. I bought a new Stratocaster in 2003 and those frets are pretty much
gone. I need to refret that guitar now. I was just thinking maybe
different strings or something would help. I have been using Dean Markley
Nickelsteels and now am using the Bluesteels.
>
> HTH
> -pk
>
>
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Re: Guitar setups - thomas@yourhomestudio.com - 22:40 02-12-05
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When you say you wear through them pretty quickly, how quickly are we
talking about. I've had my guitar for several years now and I play
pretty regularly but I don't think I even close to wearing out any
frets
Thomas
www.yourhomestudio.com
Sign up for my Free newsletter - newsletter@yourhomestudio.com
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Re: Guitar setups - Patrick Keenan - 22:58 02-12-05
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"Tad Huggins" <tad5150@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:g07kf.21671$BZ5.12946@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
>
> "Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message
> news:wx5kf.7971$wf2.926917@news20.bellglobal.com...
>> "Tad Huggins" <fresnowoodworking3@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>> news:Tp1kf.26550$q%.4952@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
>> >I have just purchased a new Gibson Les Paul Custom and am considering
>> >having
>> > a pro set it up for me. I have gotten pretty good at setting the neck
>> > bow,
>> > action and intonation and have the guitar playing really good so I'm
>> > not
>> > sure if a pro setup is worth the $80 bucks that I would be charged.
> What
>> > is
>> > typically done to a guitar with a pro setup?
>>
>> That, and a checkup of other components and adjustments, such as the nut
>> height and pickup heights.
>
> I have taken care of the pickup heights but have not messed around with
> the
> nut. I had made arrangements when I purchased the guitar to have a setup
> done but I think I have done most of the adjustments myself. I changed
> the
> strings to .09 - .46's and adjusted the neck bow to .010 @ 7th fret. I
> set
> the action @ 12th fret to 5/64 bass side and 3/64 treble side. I've got
> the
> intonation pretty close. A pro could surely do better but it sounds good
> to
> me. I set the neck pickup height to 3/32 and the bridge to 1/16. After
> shelling out $3000 bucks on the guitar another $80 is not that big of a
> deal
> but will I get $80 worth of benefit? The guitar plays great so I can't
> see
> paying out the money for a setup if its not needed.
Nut adjustments are *the* part of a setup that require the most skill, as
well as some specialised tools.
If you don't have the tools, don't even consider doing it yourself. If
you do have the tools, practice a lot on other guitars first. It's *very*
easy to screw up, requiring removal of the nut. And as LP's often have
finish over the nut, this raises other issues.
If you're wondering if the guitar remotely needs nut adjustments, play a
barred F. Put a capo on the 1st fret, and do it again (though now at the
2nd fret). If there isn't a large difference in the effort required, the
nut is fine.
>>
>> > Also, is there anything that
>> > can be done to extend the life of frets? I seem to wear through them
>> > pretty
>> > fast.
>> >
>> > Tad
>>
>> What you can do to extend the life of fretwire is to relax. If you're
>> rapidly wearing through frets, it's most likely because you are using the
>> strings as abrasives.
>>
>> Try practicing for periods using the absolute minimum pressure required
>> to
>> get a clear tone. I imagine that your current technique is the result
>> of
>> years of practice and development, and you won't change that overnight.
>> You'll have to make a serious effort to relax.
>
> Yea, I will try to relax. I play pretty hard especially when bending
> strings. I purchased a new Carvin in 2002 and wore the frets out in about
> a
> year and a half. I had it refreted with jumbo frets and they are doing
> much
> better. I bought a new Stratocaster in 2003 and those frets are pretty
> much
> gone. I need to refret that guitar now. I was just thinking maybe
> different strings or something would help. I have been using Dean Markley
> Nickelsteels and now am using the Bluesteels.
From your descriptions, I would say that the issue is your technique,
specifically that you are using far more muscular effort than necessary.
IIRC, bluesteels are harder than nickel steels; so given the same muscular
context, frets will wear *faster*, though the strings may last marginally
longer. The three key parts to this particular equation are the hardness
of the fret, the hardness of the strings, and the force bringing them
together.
It is *possible* that there is a fourth element, but you'll clearly see its
effects elsewhere and you didn't mention it. That element is the acidity of
your perspiration. If you are noticing rapid deterioration (pitting and
bubbling) of the plating where your picking hand rests and on the tuning
gear buttons, it's possible that your sweat is acid enough to contribute to
the problem.
I won't pretend to offer any sort of medical advice, but might suggest that
more relaxed playing may show up in other areas, such as improved
flexibility and less physical strain on your wrists.
Relaxing as you would need to reduce fret wear will require quite a lot of
conscious effort on your part, and probably not just in your playing.
HTH
-pk
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Re: Guitar setups - Keith Adams - 00:46 03-12-05
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I'm about half way teasing here but go ahead and practice on the nut.
It aint nothing but a 5 cent piece of plastic on a $3000 guitar. Thing
about it is its one of the most important sustain and tone producing
components on the guitar. Instead of using a bone nut Gibson would
rather forget how it sounds and dazzle you with its finish.
"Tad Huggins" <fresnowoodworking3@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:Tp1kf.26550$q%.4952@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
I have just purchased a new Gibson Les Paul Custom and am considering
having
a pro set it up for me. I have gotten pretty good at setting the neck
bow,
action and intonation and have the guitar playing really good so I'm
not
sure if a pro setup is worth the $80 bucks that I would be charged.
What is
typically done to a guitar with a pro setup? Also, is there anything
that
can be done to extend the life of frets? I seem to wear through them
pretty
fast.
Tad
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Re: Guitar setups - The Repair Guy - 11:32 03-12-05
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"Tad Huggins" <fresnowoodworking3@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>I have just purchased a new Gibson Les Paul Custom
>and am considering having a pro set it up for me. I have
>gotten pretty good at setting the neck bow, action and
>intonation and have the guitar playing really good so
>I'm not sure if a pro setup is worth the $80 bucks that
>I would be charged. What is typically done to a guitar
>with a pro setup?
The simplest definition is setting neck relief, action, etc.,
to factory specs. The problem is, it's a one-size-fits-all
solution. Everybody doesn't like their guitar set up the
same way, and every instrument won't be at its best (or
even playable, sometimes) set up this way. A guitar
setup IMO is usually a series of compromises - e.g.,
low action, but not so low the strings buzz -> when the
owner plays it. <-
Years ago, I replaced a neck for a bass player. Just
for kicks, I set it up for my playing style. The action was
like 1/8" at the 19th fret. It played _very_ easily :-) The
owner picked it up, tried it out, and got nothing but
clatter, so I set it up for him.
Same with intonation. If the owner plays with a heavy
hand, you have to intonate the instrument a little flat.
If you've set up guitars yourself, I'd do your own
adjusting on the Les Paul. 1.) you'll save $$, and
2.) you'll get it exactly how you want it.
>Also, is there anything that can be done to extend
>the life of frets? I seem to wear through them pretty
>fast.
No. Stainless strings seem to chew up frets faster,
but short of refretting with stainless frets there's not
much you can do. You can get quite a few level/
recrowns out of a set of frets, unless it's one of the
"fretless wonder" POS's.
The Repair Guy
http://repairguy1993.netfirms.com/
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Re: Guitar setups - The Repair Guy - 11:37 03-12-05
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"Keith Adams" <keithadams@socal.rr.com> wrote:
>I'm about half way teasing here but go ahead and
>practice on the nut. It aint nothing but a 5 cent piece
>of plastic on a $3000 guitar.
It's true that nut material is cheap, but on a Les Paul
(and Fenders) the nut will be lacquered in. The nut
is on the guitar before the finish goes on.
If you screw up the nut and have to remove it, you're
looking at possible finish chips & cracks.
The Repair Guy
http://repairguy1993.netfirms.com/
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Re: Guitar setups - crow - 13:02 03-12-05
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"Hippy" <jacks4sale@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:cX5kf.1624$lh.670@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com...
>> What you can do to extend the life of fretwire is to relax. If you're
>> rapidly wearing through frets, it's most likely because you are using the
>> strings as abrasives.
>>
>> Try practicing for periods using the absolute minimum pressure required
>> to
>> get a clear tone. I imagine that your current technique is the result
>> of
>> years of practice and development, and you won't change that overnight.
>> You'll have to make a serious effort to relax.
>>
>> HTH
>> -pk
>>
> Now that makes alot of sense. With that new LP, maybe it plays easier than
> what he has and that should make it easier to adjust his technique
> good post
> ~Hippy
Seriously, A set of (regular) nickel - silver frets should last 15 - 20
years with a couple / few levelings. If you're wearing them out faster than
that something is amiss...
jepp
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Re: Guitar setups - Larry - 11:51 07-12-05
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So, you're saying Nickle is not softer than stainless.
Is there _anything_ you agree with _anyone_ about?
I mean really.
-Larry
"Guncho" <cgunter@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1133563787.185925.60800@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> Larry wrote:
>> Other than having Stainless Steel frets. I'm about to give them a try.
>>
>> -Larry
>>
>> "Guncho" <cgunter@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1133552596.077836.38850@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> > I'm not aware of anything special that can be done to frets to make
>> > them last longer.
>> >
>> > Chris
>> >
>
> That's not going to make the frets he already has last longer.
>
> The only way way you can make those last longer is by not playing the
> guitar. And what's the point in that??
>
> Chris
>
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