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Free shipping offer is valid only within the United States. Costs associated with shipping and handling calculated during checkout will be waived for a limited time. Applicable taxes and fees will apply.
Offer is subject to change, some exclusions may apply.
Offer ends February 28, 2025 at 11:59pm ET.
Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.
I haven't had a project guitar in 15 years… but this is the place that starts it. I don't know if gfs is still a thing, but vintage ebay guitars are fun to mod too. Always keep parts and a soldering iron.
I've been playing guitar for over a decade and now own almost a dozen guitars. Sadly, none of them have ever had a proper setup. I've been wanting to learn how to do it myself and know this site must have all the tools I'd ever need, but I don't know where to start. Can anyone who knows how to setup guitars recommended some things (hopefully not too expensive) that I should buy?
None of the guitars are in need of repairs, but just need the action lowered/whatever else is done in a typical "setup".
Also, I'm not sure if there are different tools for different types of guitars, but if it matters I currently own a Strat, a Tele, a Les Paul, a SG, a Gretsch and several acoustics and classical guitars.
I've been playing guitar for over a decade and now own almost a dozen guitars. Sadly, none of them have ever had a proper setup. I've been wanting to learn how to do it myself and know this site must have all the tools I'd ever need, but I don't know where to start. Can anyone who knows how to setup guitars recommended some things (hopefully not too expensive) that I should buy?None of the guitars are in need of repairs, but just need the action lowered/whatever else is done in a typical "setup".Also, I'm not sure if there are different tools for different types of guitars, but if it matters I currently own a Strat, a Tele, a Les Paul, a SG, a Gretsch and several acoustics and classical guitars.
Phillip's head screwdrivers: at least one small and one medium
Allen wrenches: a full set of metric and SAE ball-end wrenches - lot of diff sizes in use out there
A 6-inch ruler: increments of 1/64 in and 0.5 mm
Optional: Stainless steel feeler gauge set - I have a set, but I've also used post-it notes
The Guitar Player Repair Guide by Dan Erlewine is a great reference, but you can also just search for info online. If you find you need nut slot filing, you can buy nut files, but they are a bit pricey. Wait and see if you need them for more than one guitar before buying. For a one-off, you're probably better getting it done at a shop.
A very tacky move on Stew-Mac's part. They get people to pay for their "club" membership for a year of free shipping, and then pull this garbage. This is why I will never purchase from them again. It's just dirty.
I've been playing guitar for over a decade and now own almost a dozen guitars. Sadly, none of them have ever had a proper setup. I've been wanting to learn how to do it myself and know this site must have all the tools I'd ever need, but I don't know where to start. Can anyone who knows how to setup guitars recommended some things (hopefully not too expensive) that I should buy?
None of the guitars are in need of repairs, but just need the action lowered/whatever else is done in a typical "setup".
Also, I'm not sure if there are different tools for different types of guitars, but if it matters I currently own a Strat, a Tele, a Les Paul, a SG, a Gretsch and several acoustics and classical guitars.
Phillip McKnight has a great YouTube channel for info on this.
I've been playing guitar for over a decade and now own almost a dozen guitars. Sadly, none of them have ever had a proper setup. I've been wanting to learn how to do it myself and know this site must have all the tools I'd ever need, but I don't know where to start. Can anyone who knows how to setup guitars recommended some things (hopefully not too expensive) that I should buy?
None of the guitars are in need of repairs, but just need the action lowered/whatever else is done in a typical "setup".
Also, I'm not sure if there are different tools for different types of guitars, but if it matters I currently own a Strat, a Tele, a Les Paul, a SG, a Gretsch and several acoustics and classical guitars.
I got back into guitar 1.5 years ago. I have a Stratocaster, Les Paul, and a Yamaha acoustic. I've setup all of those myself with no issues.
I HIGHLY recommend the MusicNomad 6 pc. guitar setup kit. It costs $60 and has everything you'll need (besides basic tools), including instructions, to check and adjust your guitars. You'll still need some basic screwdrivers and allen wrenches to adjust the truss rod, adjust pickup height, and adjust action. I assume you probably already have those, but if not, then you should get those as well. MusicNomad also has small kits that have those items as well but I never purchased one of those as I just use the allen wrenches that came with my guitars and I just use the screwdrivers I already have in my garage. Oh yea, you'll also need a high precision tuner if you want to set the inotation to be the best it can be. I bought a TC Electronic UniTune clip-on strobe tuner for that. That tuner is awesome.
It's a great way to really understand how guitars work, it ensures your guitars will be setup to play the best they can, and it is much cheaper than taking it to someone and paying them ~$100 to setup each of your guitars.
Edit: I also want to explain what I've found on my 3 guitars when performing initial setups:
Stratocaster: neck needed to be straightened, low E string nut wasn't cut deep enough, intonation needed to be adjusted, action needed to be adjusted, string radius needed to be adjusted (saddles also weren't balanced correctly).
Les Paul: action needed to be lowered, intonation needed to be adjusted, stop bar tail piece too low and needed to be raised, pickups needed to be adjusted (neck pickup was so bad that it wasn't usable, everything sounded muddy and had too much bass).
Acoustic: action needed to be lowered, nut wasn't cut correctly at all and I had to lower the entire thing to make the guitar playable.
Last edited by everica1 February 28, 2025 at 06:37 AM.
I've been playing guitar for over a decade and now own almost a dozen guitars. Sadly, none of them have ever had a proper setup. I've been wanting to learn how to do it myself and know this site must have all the tools I'd ever need, but I don't know where to start. Can anyone who knows how to setup guitars recommended some things (hopefully not too expensive) that I should buy?None of the guitars are in need of repairs, but just need the action lowered/whatever else is done in a typical "setup".Also, I'm not sure if there are different tools for different types of guitars, but if it matters I currently own a Strat, a Tele, a Les Paul, a SG, a Gretsch and several acoustics and classical guitars.
The main tools that you can't steal from some other part of your tool box are the fret leveling/dressing files. Having the correct size and shape is important, and the Stew Mac quality makes a huge difference, especially if you have Stainless Steel frets.
The nut files are also worth getting if you and going to do this type of work. The less expensive versions create ridges that ruin everything they touch. Like, when you bend a string, it clinks and goes out of tune.
Just in case you've never bought from stew mac let me tell you how it goes. You find stuff...you cry about the price. You look at your cart with 400 in it. At the moment, you'll be spared 50 or so in shipping, so that's nice. You place the order. A few days later, a small box will come. You'll think, hmm...seems small for the 400 I paid. You open it and...mostly paper. But in the corner is a little paper bag. Inside will be a few ounces of metal tools. Maybe a plastic bag with another ounce of metal tools. You keep looking. Nope that's it. Your 4 hundo gets you a few ounces of tools. Great tools, and worth it if you need them. Just saying...be prepared lol...
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Wish they'd do this over at NothingButAnvils.com
None of the guitars are in need of repairs, but just need the action lowered/whatever else is done in a typical "setup".
Also, I'm not sure if there are different tools for different types of guitars, but if it matters I currently own a Strat, a Tele, a Les Paul, a SG, a Gretsch and several acoustics and classical guitars.
- Phillip's head screwdrivers: at least one small and one medium
- Allen wrenches: a full set of metric and SAE ball-end wrenches - lot of diff sizes in use out there
- A 6-inch ruler: increments of 1/64 in and 0.5 mm
- Optional: Stainless steel feeler gauge set - I have a set, but I've also used post-it notes
The Guitar Player Repair Guide by Dan Erlewine is a great reference, but you can also just search for info online. If you find you need nut slot filing, you can buy nut files, but they are a bit pricey. Wait and see if you need them for more than one guitar before buying. For a one-off, you're probably better getting it done at a shop.Wish they'd do this over at NothingButAnvils.com
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None of the guitars are in need of repairs, but just need the action lowered/whatever else is done in a typical "setup".
Also, I'm not sure if there are different tools for different types of guitars, but if it matters I currently own a Strat, a Tele, a Les Paul, a SG, a Gretsch and several acoustics and classical guitars.
None of the guitars are in need of repairs, but just need the action lowered/whatever else is done in a typical "setup".
Also, I'm not sure if there are different tools for different types of guitars, but if it matters I currently own a Strat, a Tele, a Les Paul, a SG, a Gretsch and several acoustics and classical guitars.
I got back into guitar 1.5 years ago. I have a Stratocaster, Les Paul, and a Yamaha acoustic. I've setup all of those myself with no issues.
I HIGHLY recommend the MusicNomad 6 pc. guitar setup kit. It costs $60 and has everything you'll need (besides basic tools), including instructions, to check and adjust your guitars. You'll still need some basic screwdrivers and allen wrenches to adjust the truss rod, adjust pickup height, and adjust action. I assume you probably already have those, but if not, then you should get those as well. MusicNomad also has small kits that have those items as well but I never purchased one of those as I just use the allen wrenches that came with my guitars and I just use the screwdrivers I already have in my garage. Oh yea, you'll also need a high precision tuner if you want to set the inotation to be the best it can be. I bought a TC Electronic UniTune clip-on strobe tuner for that. That tuner is awesome.
It's a great way to really understand how guitars work, it ensures your guitars will be setup to play the best they can, and it is much cheaper than taking it to someone and paying them ~$100 to setup each of your guitars.
Edit: I also want to explain what I've found on my 3 guitars when performing initial setups:
Stratocaster: neck needed to be straightened, low E string nut wasn't cut deep enough, intonation needed to be adjusted, action needed to be adjusted, string radius needed to be adjusted (saddles also weren't balanced correctly).
Les Paul: action needed to be lowered, intonation needed to be adjusted, stop bar tail piece too low and needed to be raised, pickups needed to be adjusted (neck pickup was so bad that it wasn't usable, everything sounded muddy and had too much bass).
Acoustic: action needed to be lowered, nut wasn't cut correctly at all and I had to lower the entire thing to make the guitar playable.
The nut files are also worth getting if you and going to do this type of work. The less expensive versions create ridges that ruin everything they touch. Like, when you bend a string, it clinks and goes out of tune.
Thanks OP for posting this deal!
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