Guitar Setup Maintenance and Repair

Chapter 1 - Tools and Materials

• Guitar Maintenance Kit - Basic tools needed to perform setups.
• Materials - Materials and supplies you'll need
• Recommended Tools - List of luthrie tools.
• Sources - Where to purchase tools and materials.

Chapter 2 - General Maintenance

• Hygiene - Keep it clean.
• Cleaning and Conditioning - Proper care of your instrument.
• Restringing - Professional tips and techniques.
• Transporting and Shipping - Tips on packing and shipping a guitar.
• Humidity Effects - Too much, too little or too late.

Chapter 3 - Adjusting the Neck

• Diagram of Components - Frets, fingerboard and trussrod.
• Measurements - Before and after.
• Sighting the Neck - Foolproof techniques.
• Proper Adjustments - Adjusting for playing style and design.
• Types of Trussrods - Single-action and double-action.
• Troubleshooting - Identifying stripped and frozen trussrods.

Chapter 4 - Adjusting the Action at the Bridge

• Diagram of Components - Parts of a guitar bridge.
• Measurements - Before and after.
• Acoustic Bridge Saddles - Concept, materials and common problems.
• Tunematic
• Hard Tail Bridge
• Floating Tremolo Systems

Chapter 5 - Adjusting the Action at the Nut

• Diagram of Components - Different shapes, sizes and materials.
• Measurements - Before and after.
• Angles, Width and Spacing - How to correctly cut string slots.
• Proper Adjustments - Calculating the correct height for each string.
• Replacement and Repair - Do I film, shim or replace the nut?

Chapter 6 - Adjusting the Pickups

• Diagram of Components - Parts of an electric pickup.
• Proper Heights and Effects - Pole pieces, adjustable and fixed.

Chapter 7 - Intonation

• Definitions - What is intonation?
• Tools Needed - Tuners, hex keys and screwdrivers.
• Sharp, Flat and Hopeless
• Variables and Tempering - Fret placement, nut placement and Bach.

Chapter 8 - Basic Fretwork

• Diagram of Components - Tools, jigs and materials.
• Fret Leveling - My steel bar and buckshot method.
• Recrowning Frets - A tight crown is better than a flathead.
• Partial Refretting - How many should you replace?
• Burnishing the Edges - Final buff and polish.

Chapter 9 - Basic Electric Guitar Wiring

• Diagram of Components - Anatomy of a pickup.
• Pickup Harness Color Codes - So many colors, so little time
• RW/RP, LFT/W - Fun with acronyms.
• Pots, Switches and Jacks - How they work? And what do they do?
• Wiring Diagrams - The proper way to read a wiring diagram.
• Acoustic Pickup Systems - Application and function.
• Troubleshooting - Pickup failure causes.

Chapter 10 - Top 10 Signs of a Problematic Guitar

• Electric - Common Problems.
• Acoustic - Common Roblems.

Chapter 11 - Miscellaneous Upgrades and Repair

• Strap Buttons - Drilling, countersinks and felt washers.
• Tuning Keys - Replacement and repair.
• Bridge Pins - Too loose, too tight and just right.

Chapter 12 - Other Training Resources

• Apprenticeships - Understudy programs.
• Factory Training - Crash courses in real guitar repair.
• Workshops - ASIA, GGAL and schools on guitar building.