SECTION 5: SETUP

General

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.

Neck Adjustment

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.

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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.

Figure 34. Typical truss rod nut.

5.To flatten a down bow, turn the truss rod nut a 14 turn clockwise. To correct an up bow, turn the nut a 14 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.

H8069 Heirloom Stratocaster-Style Guitar Kit

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Grizzly BL8551 owner manual Setup, General, Neck Adjustment, Tools Needed, To adjust the bow of the guitar neck