How to Setup Your Electric Guitar

Having your guitar properly setup is an important prerequisite in order to get the most out of your instrument. It not only gives you a great feel of the instrument but it also keeps you in tune when pressing strings anywhere on the fretboard. A standard guitar setup generally includes adjustments for action, intonation, and string buzzing.

Performing a guitar setup might be a trial and error skill, but it is not very hard to learn and it only requires a few basic tools. Once you get the hang of it, you will be rewarded with a noticeable difference in the playability of the instrument.

Step One - Neck Adjustment
Tools required:
       Truss-rod Wrench (or sometimes a screwdriver, nut driver, or Allen Key)

First, check whether the neck of your guitar is straight or not. If it is not, adjust it via the truss rod. Most of the neck of guitars has what is known as a truss rod. It is either a one- or two-piece adjustable metal rod running through the center of the neck.

You can access the truss rod through a nut located at one end. The location of the nut depends on what type of guitar it is. Usually, you can adjust it from the top of the neck (i.e., where the headstock meets the neck). However, some guitar models can be adjusted from the base of the neck (i.e., you have to remove the neck in order to make your adjustments).

To adjust the truss rod, you will need a truss-rod wrench or Allen key. Most guitars come with their own particular truss-rod wrench. If you don’t have one for your guitar, you may find a replacement at a local guitar store first or you can get in touch with the manufacturer.

Your adjustment of the truss rod depends on which way the neck bows. Please be reminded that twisting your truss rod too much can damage the neck and/or body of your guitar. So, to be safe, just turn the nut a quarter turn at a time and constantly check your progress. This also enables the neck to adjust after each turn.

If the neck bows outward between the 7th and 12th frets, tighten the truss rod by turning the nut in a clockwise direction (as you are facing the nut). An outward bow of the neck may create a large gap that makes pressing down the strings difficult.

On the other hand, if the neck bows inward between the 7th and 12th frets, loosen the truss rod by turning it counterclockwise. An inward bow may cause the strings to buzz and fret out (i.e., come in contact with frets as they’re not supposed to when you press down the strings).

The result should give you a straight neck as opposed to a banana shape. But this doesn’t always mean dead straight as some guitars play at their best with some relief (i.e., a slight dip). So, try to experiment a little bit and find that sweet spot where the action feels just right for you.

After doing all the steps above and still you can’t correct the problem with your guitar, then, stop. You may need a qualified repairperson to do it.

Here’s a video on how to adjust the truss rod of a guitar:

Step Two – Adjusting the String Height
Tools required:
       Capo
       Ruler
       Screwdrivers
       Allen Key

After adjusting your guitar’s neck, the next step is to check the action of the guitar strings. The ‘action of a guitar’ refers to the height of the strings off the fretboard. A lower action is recommended for players with a light touch. Meanwhile, heavy players may need more height in order to prevent rattling strings. What’s important here is that the string height is comfortable for you without having any fret buzz.

To setup the string height, place a Capo on the 1st fret. Then, use a ruler to measure the gap between the strings and the frets at 12th fret. While the string height may depend on the preference of the player, the widely accepted measurement is 1.2mm - 1.6mm gap from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string.

The string height can be adjusted via the saddles on a Fender style bridge while for a Gibson style bridge, you have to adjust the entire bridge itself.

     

Here's a video tutorial on how to adjust the string height of a guitar:

Step Three – Fine Tune for Intonation
Tools required:
       Screwdriver
       Guitar Tuner

The final step is to fine tune for intonation. What actually you’re going to do here is to adjust the length of each string by moving the saddles on the guitar bridge backwards or forwards. This will ensure that your guitar will play in tune all the way up the neck. So, you’ll need a tuner and some small screwdrivers (i.e., flat tip or Phillips depending on the bridge of your guitar) for this job.

With a tuner, tune your guitar accurately. This is important to get the correct pitch when played open. You can start with the low E string. Play the open E string with a pick and make sure it is in tune. Then, fret the string at the 12th fret. Pick the string and check the tuning. It should also show an E in tune.

If the note that you played at the 12th fret is in tune with that of the open string, then the string is properly intonated. However, if the note you played at the 12th fret is flat (below E), take your screwdriver and move the saddle toward the pickups (shortening the string). If it was sharp (above E), move the saddle away from the pickups (lengthening the string).

Continue the process by adjusting the saddles until the open string and that same string fretted at the 12th fret are in perfect tune with each other. Then, do all of the above-mentioned process for all the strings, and keep going back and check the settings for each one.

See the vid below on how to adjust for guitar intonation:

Once you have successfully completed all the steps required for a basic guitar setup, you will now notice that your instrument is a hundred times better than its previous state. A good guitar setup will increase comfort for the player by decreasing pressure on his finger tips, eliminate or decrease buzzing, improve sustain and tone, and improve intonation.

If you have some other questions, this video might help.