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"Can I teach myself to set the action and
intonation, or should I find a guitar tech ..."
...this is a really tricky question. I think that it is a
good idea to learn how to set up your own equipment,
however, as with any learning adventure, there will
inevitably be mistakes...the question being can you live
with the idea of "making mistakes" with your brand new
Chinese Strat?
...in the past, I practiced setting up my cheapo $25
guitars..mainly because it didn't seem worth the $$$ to
take those instruments in to a tech...and additionally, I
didn't have any spare $$$ for tech work, even if I were
inclined to take my instrument in! I found a couple of
books on guitar repair/setup, and I read them...and they
had very helpful advice.
...additionally, there are online resources that can help
with guitar set-up techniques: especially at the Fender
Guitar Mr. Gear Head site.
...I'd say, if you take it easy, and don't atempt any
radical neck/trussrod modifications...you should be okay.
...just remember, that when adjusting a guitar trussrod,
SMALLER ADJUSTMENT INCREMENTS ARE BEST!!! When tightening
or loosening a trussrod, work in 1/4 turn increments...in
other words, turn 1/4 and wait overnight to see the
effect...if you need "more"...well repeat the process.
...as far as bridge/intonation/ string height adjustment,
just be sure you are using the correct sized tools: either
screwdrivers or allen wrenches. If you don't own the
correct sized tools, DON'T use a butterknife!...get on down
to the hardware store and buy the right implements!
...most of the electrical work is relatively simple..as
long as you know how to solder.
so...my final advice is give it a try...it's good to know
how to repair/maintain/setup your own surf guitar...as long
as you realize that you are learning and things may not
turn out perfecty the first time through. If you CHERISH
your new Chinese Strat...then I suggest you let trained pro
tech person work on it...go and pay for their expertise.
in the long run, any mistakes you make re: your new Chinese
Strat will prove invaluable...you'll soon be able to do
most of the basic tech work on your own guitars, and the
whole "guitar setup" mystique will become comprehendable to
you.
good luck,
-dp
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--- In , DP <noetical1@y...> wrote:
> "Can I teach myself to set the action and
> intonation, or should I find a guitar tech ..."
>
It's not rocket science...you are simply making small, mechanical adjustments to
get a
combined effect of better playability and good intonation. The tricky part is
that one
adjustment, such as the truss rod, can affect other adjustments. The key is to
follow the
proper order, as spelled out in any good guitar set-up instruction booklet or
article.
Really, you should learn to do your own guitars, because a tech many not always
adjust
things to your liking. The guy at my local shop, for instance, always sets my
action too low
because that is his preference. He also doesn't like to mess with the trem-lock
feature on
Jazzmasters and Jags (many good guitar techs lack knowledge of and practice with
these
alternate model Fenders).
My advice mimics DP's: go slow, follow some good instructions from the Fender
site or a
book, and use the right tools for the job. Even if you botch the job, you can
always take it
to a tech as a last resort - just don't tell him you screwed it all up yourself!
Gavin
What these guys say is true--it's not as scary a job
once you start in on it, just be careful. I can sorta
halfass set up my own stuff now, and usually that's
good enough for me. It's always nice to take it to a
pro to give it the spa treatment but not always
practical and knowing how to do your own basic tweaks
helps a lot.
Richard
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