Complete Guitar Setup: Easy Step-By-Step Guide

Here's everything I use in this video (affiliate link, not sponsored!): amzn.to/48e1Q6Q Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:29 How often to set up your guitar 00:59 Tools required 01:51 Step 1: Change your strings 02:33 Step 2: Neck relief 05:17 Step 3: String height 07:16 Step 4: Pickup height 08:45 Step 5: Intonation 10:41 Final thoughts Update I've misplaced the decimal point in the neck relief tables! They should read: 7.25": 0.012" 9.5" to 12": 0.010" 15" to 17": 0.008"

I bought a new fender strat in 1987 -- played in bands and clubs for a long time -- finally someone offered to set it up for me - in 2015! I had never had it set up - things were different back then if you did not know someone or no one told you (the shop I bought it at should have said something) you did not know.....I was amazed when the action was lowered how much better it played!

One of the best quick in details explanation on the entire youtube library 👍

I've always been a bit nervous of playing with the setup of my guitars, but your guide is really user-friendly and easy to follow, so it's time to give it a try. Thanks for sharing.

Bought my first electric guitar last week from someone who never played it. Your guide really helped me to set up my guitar as a guy who only had experience with acoustic guitars only. Thanks a lot Conor you Rock 🤘.

The blanked numbers at 3:50 are NECK RADIUS 7.25" 9.5"-12" 15"-17" RELIEF .012” (0.3 mm) .010” (0.25 mm) .008” (0.2 mm)

Thank you a very thorough lesson. I,m glad you shared you didn’t use the capo when setting the strings height. I just got done setting up my Fender Stratocaster. I just followed your advice. Thanks again for sharing.

Great step-by-step guide. Thanks for making this a simple exercise.

Great guide. I used it to set up my electric guitar and it plays really well. Thank you .

Ive got a new one coming in the mail shortly and def saving this to use! You made it very approachable and not as intimidating as I thought it would be. Thank you!

Thank you for making this video it really helped me out. This is the most in depth set up video in youtube.

It's so cool to get back into this. I've been a guitar player for 14 years now and i just got back into playing seriously again, and bought a new guitar. Refreshing myself on my setup always feels good.

Very kindness and fabulous guiter maintenance move I ever see. Thank-you sir.

I check set up every time I change strings (and check it again a couple of days later after playing on them) and every seasonal change and every time I take a guitar travelling with me when I get to a new location. I definitely agree with the order you recommend (relief, action, intonation). And good tip about keeping fender style saddles level - so many people think tilting the saddles is part of matching the fretboard radius, and that is just wrong. A titled saddle can rob you of tone, sustain, and tuning stability. I never bothered with feeler gauges for adjusting relief - I just hold a string down at the 1st fret and where the neck joins the body and tap at about the 7th fret to see how much movement there is. IMO there is no "right or wrong" - it depends on how hard you play, the string gauges you use and the type of music you play (a little fret buzz will never be noticed with high gain playing but might be bothersome for a rich clean tone). I adjust PU height for sound. Some folks might prefer balanced volume when changing from neck to bridge - some may prefer more output. As long as they are not too close to the strings, I feel it is a matter of taste and sound (for example, on strat style guitars I tend to keep the middle PU a lot lower - I just prefer the sound I get in positions 4 and 2 that way). I would suggest never to adjust the truss rod more than 1/4 turn without checking, and if it is not good enough after two adjustments, wait a day or two before going further. I agree completely that anyone serious about guitar should learn to do this. And I would add that, a lot of nubes seem to think getting a "pro set up" is good for life. Wrong. Guitars change. And setting up to "factory specs" is a compromise. Playable by anyone but optimal for no one. The only person who can dial in the perfect set up for your style, sound, and choice of string is you.

Best video on this that I've seen on YT out of quite a few. I've alway been too afraid to take this on but your explanations and the way you shot the video were excellent. I'm going get hold of a cheapo guitar to practice on! Big thank you for this - I feel veritably inspired to have a crack at this now. I've subscribed to your channel as it looks great. Cheers and good luck - PT x

I’m coming back to this video when I buy my first electric😌👌 Thanks for this great video😌🙃

Thank you for sharing this information. Will give it a go! 😊

I check intonation and any new fret buzz about every 3 or 4 weeks. Good information, helpful reminders. Thx

This is a wonderful and clear guide. Thank you 🙏🏻 I will sure use it i my next strings change.

Very well explained.... excellent and very useful video.