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H8069 Heirloom Stratocaster-Style Guitar Kit
Guitar set up is an art that requires skill, patience,
and experience. If you have the patience, you can
acquire the skill and experience. If you don't have
the patience, you may want to have your guitar
set up by a qualified guitar technician.
This section presents an overview of setup prac
-
tices. We highly recommended that you research
more in-depth methods. Books on setting up
electric guitars can be ordered through Grizzly
Industrial, luthier supply catalogs, or may be
available through your local library.
General
SECTION 5: SETUP
The guitar neck was adjusted perfectly straight
before it was packaged; however, the moisture
content of wood acclimates to the humidity of
the surrounding environment. This characteristic
results in movement of the wood components
affecting alignment. The neck may require adjust-
ment several times each year, particularly in
regions where the seasonal climate changes are
more drastic.
Components and Hardware Needed: Qty
Guitar with Strings Installed ..............................
1
Tools Needed
Metal Straightedge 18" .......................................
1
Hex Wrench 4mm ...............................................
1
Feeler Gauge Set ...............................................
1
Phillips Head Screwdriver ...................................
1
To adjust the bow of the guitar neck:
1. Tighten the strings to playing tension.
Neck Adjustment
2. Place a straightedge from the 1st fret to the
17th. Measure any gaps between the straight
-
edge and the frets with the feeler gauge.
—If the neck is flat, or bowed up 0.012" or
less, the neck is set up correctly. Continue
to String Height instructions on Page 21.
—If the gap is greater than 0.012", or if the
neck bows away from the straightedge,
continue to
Step 3.
3. Remove the strings from the neck, then
remove the neck from the guitar body.
4. Turn the truss rod nut in the base of the neck
(Figure 34) counterclockwise with a 4mm
hex head wrench to release tension on the
neck. Retighten until the nut begins to grab.
5. To flatten a down bow, turn the truss rod nut
a
1
⁄4 turn clockwise. To correct an up bow,
turn the nut a
1
⁄4 turn counterclockwise.
6. Reinstall the neck, restring the guitar, and
recheck the neck with the straightedge.
—If the neck is correctly adjusted, go to
String Height instructions on
Page 21.
—If the neck is still out of adjustment return
to Step 3.
Figure 34. Typical truss rod nut.