wully
Full Member
Posts: 119
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Set up
Jan 5, 2010 15:01:11 GMT -5
Post by wully on Jan 5, 2010 15:01:11 GMT -5
I am going to have to spend some time trying to set up my poor abused Epiphone SG.
Poor thing was in a terrible state when I got my paws on it a few short weeks ago. I gave her a quick dose of TLC which got her playable and have not really done anything else until today- which has made me realise I know jack about setting up a guitar...
I was trying to do a turnaround which involved hitting the 'a' and high 'e' stings at the same time but the 'e' string was really quiet so I thought I'd lift the neck pick up with the adjuster screw on the high 'e' side which made it ring just fine - until the string was fretted above about the 10th fret when it then bottomed out on the pickup...
I'll be off to Google 'Setting up a guitar for idiots' then......
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Set up
Jan 5, 2010 15:12:51 GMT -5
Post by Happy Jack on Jan 5, 2010 15:12:51 GMT -5
I am going to have to spend some time trying to set up my poor abused Epiphone SG. Poor thing was in a terrible state when I got my paws on it a few short weeks ago. I gave her a quick dose of TLC which got her playable and have not really done anything else until today- which has made me realise I know jack about setting up a guitar... I was trying to do a turnaround which involved hitting the 'a' and high 'e' stings at the same time but the 'e' string was really quiet so I thought I'd lift the neck pick up with the adjuster screw on the high 'e' side which made it ring just fine - until the string was fretted above about the 10th fret when it then bottomed out on the pickup... I'll be off to Google 'Setting up a guitar for idiots' then...... It is a worthwhile thing to learn and as long as you are careful you cant really make a mess of anything - most things can be reversed. A good set up can make a world of difference
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wully
Full Member
Posts: 119
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Set up
Jan 6, 2010 10:18:36 GMT -5
Post by wully on Jan 6, 2010 10:18:36 GMT -5
I never knew there was two ways you could fit the bridge
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Set up
Jan 6, 2010 10:51:11 GMT -5
Post by guitarnoob on Jan 6, 2010 10:51:11 GMT -5
well i just spent 2 hours shouting at my guitar tuner because it couldnt make up its mind
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Set up
Jan 6, 2010 13:56:15 GMT -5
Post by lesblues on Jan 6, 2010 13:56:15 GMT -5
well i just spent 2 hours shouting at my guitar tuner because it couldnt make up its mind I can relate to that, ;D
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Set up
Jan 6, 2010 14:02:30 GMT -5
Post by Happy Jack on Jan 6, 2010 14:02:30 GMT -5
I never knew there was two ways you could fit the bridge What exactly do you mean? I am intrigued
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wully
Full Member
Posts: 119
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Set up
Jan 6, 2010 16:14:54 GMT -5
Post by wully on Jan 6, 2010 16:14:54 GMT -5
I never knew there was two ways you could fit the bridge What exactly do you mean? I am intrigued Well, on my Epiphone SG the bridge is on a quick adjuster system that allows rapid change in height, but it isn't fixed down by anything other than string tension. The other day I thought that the high 'E' string was sounding pretty quiet and tried to adjust the pick up height which resulted in the string touching the pick up if it was fretted above the 12 fret... So then I went looking for some set up guidance via Google and found someones video on setting up an SG copy using Gibson specs. On watching this I discovered what 'intonation' was and how it's set. It was when I was watching this part of the video I could see my bridge was on backwards....meaning that the intonation was way off- not that I'm up that end of the fretboard often I'm not sure if I put in on backwards when I changed the strings when I got the guitar or if it's been like that a while..... So now I have most of the tools I'll need for a set up sesh in front of me and by tomorrow I'll have a capo and a quiet house all day and will go for it......
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Set up
Jan 7, 2010 3:43:28 GMT -5
Post by Happy Jack on Jan 7, 2010 3:43:28 GMT -5
Ah OK I see what you mean now, The bridge fits on to two posts and the bridge itself can be reversed.
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wully
Full Member
Posts: 119
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Set up
Jan 7, 2010 15:22:14 GMT -5
Post by wully on Jan 7, 2010 15:22:14 GMT -5
So, I spent some time this afternoon trying to improve the set up and wish I hadn't..
Seems the truss rod is would up as tight as it will go and the 4mm alan socket is pretty chewed up so the wrench doesn't turn it. Then the nut looks like it's badly worn and will need replaced - or shimmed. And the neck has two cracks on either side as it leaves the body.
Still, it was cheap and sounds OK and I can't play it anyway( but am having so much fun trying) and by the time I can knock a tune out of it I'll be back at work and will be able to afford another one.
Now the dreaming starts..... ;D
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Set up
Jan 7, 2010 15:43:16 GMT -5
Post by Happy Jack on Jan 7, 2010 15:43:16 GMT -5
Oh dear!
What are you trying to achieve exactly?
Will your truss rod turn at all? or is the socket just ruined?
Increasing the pick up height may make the strings sound louder
If you over do it the magnetic pull can reduce sustain and sometimes cause weird sounds
Are the cracks just cracks in the lacquer or cracks in the neck itself?
A new nut is pretty inexpensive less then £10 I think a fender roller nut is less then £30
A good pro set up will be around £30-£40
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wully
Full Member
Posts: 119
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Set up
Jan 7, 2010 16:54:47 GMT -5
Post by wully on Jan 7, 2010 16:54:47 GMT -5
Well, what I'm trying to achieve is a decent action without buzz on the low strings which I have a lot of just now up at the first few frets with the strings are pretty high off the fretboard down around the 12th fret. (And the bridge is adjusted all the way down.)
The cracks look like they are in the lacquer- if they were in the wood I'd know about that for sure... ( I think) I could turn the truss rod to 'unwind' it if I am very careful but don't want to make it any worse than it is. I can get a nut for around £6 so might get one- at the least it will be interesting changing it.
I doubt there is anywhere local to me that will do a set-up so any and all advice gratefully received.
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Set up
Jan 8, 2010 14:31:55 GMT -5
Post by Happy Jack on Jan 8, 2010 14:31:55 GMT -5
Well, what I'm trying to achieve is a decent action without buzz on the low strings which I have a lot of just now up at the first few frets with the strings are pretty high off the fretboard down around the 12th fret. (And the bridge is adjusted all the way down.) The cracks look like they are in the lacquer- if they were in the wood I'd know about that for sure... ( I think) I could turn the truss rod to 'unwind' it if I am very careful but don't want to make it any worse than it is. I can get a nut for around £6 so might get one- at the least it will be interesting changing it. I doubt there is anywhere local to me that will do a set-up so any and all advice gratefully received. First off all apologies if you know all this I wouldn't rush in and adjust your truss rod just yet Buzzing has a number of causes As a general rule / very rough guide Buzz on 1st to 5th Frets: Nut problem / nut height Buzz on 5th to 12th Frets: Neck Relief - not enough relief Buzz on Higher than 12th Frets: String Action at bridge Also have you checked your frets an uneven fret can also cause buzzing - for instance if you fret at the first fret and the second fret is high it will buzz A really simple check put a straight edge (Stanley knife blade, credit card) across 3 frets - if the frets are uneven it will rock. Start at the top and do fret 1-2-3 then 2-3-4 etc Your neck should either be straight or have some relief or forward bow - you can check this with a long straight edge or by by Holding down 1st and 14th fret of each string and look at the 7th fret side on. The gap should be around 1 mm any more and you have to much forward bow any less and you have back bow. I suspect that from what you have said it is your nut and once that is right you will be able to get a decent action If you do adjust your truss rod do a 1/4 of a turn and leave it to settle and see what happens - slowly slowly catchee monkey Have you recently changed string gauge perchance? Nuts here www.axesrus.com/www.axetec.co.uk/index.htmI hope this helps you and if it doesn't I hope it helps someone else ;D
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wully
Full Member
Posts: 119
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Set up
Jan 8, 2010 15:11:35 GMT -5
Post by wully on Jan 8, 2010 15:11:35 GMT -5
Thanks for that- from what you say I think the problem might well be the nut.
Both the one on the guitar neck and the one trying to set it up...
I was probably over adjusting the truss rod- not that there is a lot I can do with it..so I'll see if I can get a nut as the buzz is coming form the first few frets
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Set up
Jan 8, 2010 15:28:45 GMT -5
Post by Happy Jack on Jan 8, 2010 15:28:45 GMT -5
Thanks for that- from what you say I think the problem might well be the nut. Both the one on the guitar neck and the one trying to set it up... I was probably over adjusting the truss rod- not that there is a lot I can do with it..so I'll see if I can get a nut as the buzz is coming form the first few frets Before getting a new nut just try shimming it up a little if that works you know the problem Check for fret level to it takes minutes and dead obvious if there are high or low frets
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wully
Full Member
Posts: 119
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Set up
Jan 8, 2010 15:48:41 GMT -5
Post by wully on Jan 8, 2010 15:48:41 GMT -5
What should I use as a shim?
I'm thinking of a strip of thin plastic from a drinks bottle?
I've got some paper glue that should be easy enough to remove if/when I mess it up ;D
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