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Does My Guitar Need a Setup?
Although a bit confusing, and the subject of many debates, here’s the skinny on guitar setups.
Yes, your guitar needs a proper setup. When you are buying a new instrument, regardless of the brand, there are factory specs and tolerances that the guitar should meet before the consumer receives the instrument. That said, a high-end guitar will have more stringent specs than an economy priced instrument. As an example, more time is spent on details when building a Bourgeois as opposed to a Recording King. Both instruments should at the very least meet factory specs, but standards for the Bourgeois will be much higher. Handcrafted guitars are simply better instruments than lower priced, mass-produced guitars.
No, you really don’t need a special setup on a new instrument. In theory, you shouldn’t need to pay extra for a “professional setup” unless you want something different than the standard factory spec. When the instrument leaves the factory, it is setup to the standard specs and will be playable when you buy it. Many players will be happy with the factory setup.
Maybe? Yes, you may need a professional setup, but only if the guitar isn’t playable for your style. If you spend a lot of time playing up past the fifth fret, you’re probably going to be wanting lower action. Most serious guitar players are always looking for the lowest action possible while maintaining the playability of the instrument. It’s very important to adjust the instrument to your style of playing. Working with a professional luthier/guitar tech to tweak your setup to meet your individual needs may be worth the investment.
Any shop you buy a new guitar from should at the very least check the guitar to make sure it falls within factory specs. With used instruments the goal will be to make sure the instrument is playable and as close to factory specs as possible.
What Is a Guitar Setup?
A typical setup will consist of a series of adjustments that achieve a balance between the neck, the nut, and the saddle. When these adjustments are performed in the correct order, they will ensure that the guitar is maximized for sound and playability.
A setup normally starts with the neck. The frets and fingerboard are inspected, and special attention is given to the truss rod. The truss rod counters the pull of the strings which exert force at the bridge, nut, and saddle. This can cause your neck to bow, and a truss rod adjustment may be needed.
The saddle is separate from the bridge. On acoustic guitars, it’s the material in the slot of the bridge.
The nut is the piece at the end of your neck that spaces the strings coming from the headstock.
If the instrument is used there may be additional items that need addressed such as fret work (leveling and dressing), bridge work, bracing, filing the nut, and repairing damage.
If My Guitar is Shipped to Me, Should the Setup Be Done Before or After Shipping?
Yes… and yes.
In General, guitars are stable, and happy, at a temperature of 70 degrees with a humidity level of 50 percent. When guitars (and other stringed instruments made with wood) are boxed and shipped there is a chance that temperature and humidity levels can change the dynamics of the guitar.
On a new instrument, it may have been setup at the factory, but chances are it will be months before you have it in your hands. A quick check at the professional workbench will ensure the instruments playability. Again, this should be done by the guitar shop before it goes out the door. At no extra cost to you.
On a used instrument, it may have been setup perfectly for the previous owner, but not to maximize your playing.
Same holds true for an instrument you currently own. If you have never taken a critical look at setup variables with a professional, you may be surprised at what you can do to improve your mojo.
Here at the Acoustic Shoppe, we do a basic setup to make sure the instrument meets the factory specs along with a general inspection of the instrument. There is no cost to the customer. If you want a custom setup, we will do that as well.
The bottom line is this. There is no universal setup that is going to be best for individual players. Intricate details make big differences and having a professional help you determine your optimum setup will pay dividends in developing your sound.
With 25+ years of experience in the acoustic music industry as The Chapmans, our goal is to provide you with the best customer experience possible so we can be your music store for life. Voted NAMM Top 100 Dealer for 7 years in a row (2015-2021) & Top 3 Emerging Dealer in 2017, 2018 & 2019.
For more information, give us a call at 417-720-1223, shoot us an email at info@theacousticshoppe.com, or stop by our showroom at 1913 E Seminole St. in Springfield, Missouri.
