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H8180/H8181 Bass Guitar Kit
-19-
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 between the G and D
strings, from the 1st fret to the 17th. Measure
any gaps between the straightedge and the
frets with the feeler gauge to determine if the
neck is straight, bowed up or bowed down
(Figure 30). Figure 31 shows an example of
a slightly upbowed neck.
—If the neck is flat, or bowed up 0.012" or
less, it is set up correctly. Continue to the
next subsection.
—If the gap is greater than 0.012", or if the
neck bows down away from the straight
-
edge, continue to
Step 3.
Tip: Your playing style will also dictate how
much action (string height above the frets)
your bass should have. For fast playing,
low action, set the neck to bow up less than
0.012". Heavy-handed players or those who
use a capo may want to adjust the neck
to
bow up more than 0.012".
Figure 30. Neck bow.
Up Bow
Down Bow
Figure 31. Slightly up-bowed neck (viewed down
neck from headstock).
Bow Curvature