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H8070 Heirloom Telecaster-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
with regards to alignment. The neck may require
adjustment several times each year, especially 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 the next subsection.
—If the gap is greater than 0.012", or if the
neck bows away from the straightedge,
continue to
Step 3.
3. Loosen the strings, remove the pick guard
and pick guard pickup, and turn the truss
rod nut (
Figure 34) counterclockwise with a
4mm wrench to release tension on the neck.
Retighten until the nut begins to grab.
Figure 34. Truss rod nut.
4. 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.
5. Tighten the strings and recheck the neck with
the straightedge.
—If the neck is correctly adjusted, go to the
next section.
—If the neck is still out of adjustment return
to Step 3.
6. Replace the pickup and pick guard, and
tighten the strings.