"The Tweek"
- Tune to pitch with tuner.
- "Read" neck relief. Fret 1st string at first fret and where the neck meets the body. Look
under the 7th fret for a tiny gap (.006" or less). If no gap, loosen truss rod slightly. Repeat
process on 3rd and 6th strings to correctly set truss rod.
- Re-tune.
- Replace strings if necessary, one at a time.
- Lower nut to proper height. This is the real secret to make a guitar play easier. The gap
from the bottom of the string at the first fret should be the same as for all the other frets, plus
about .003". You make the first fret gap a tiny bit higher to compensate for the wearing of the
nut. For example, fret the string at the 3rd fret and check the gap from the bottom of the string
to the top of the 4th fret. If you file it too low, you can build it up again with superglue. The
average height is usually around .006", (.020") for a nylon string).
- Adjust individual string height at the bridge. Test for lowest action by bending 1st string a
whole step without fretting out.
For light touch or Jazz players:
1st and 6th strings set at 1/16" at 22nd fret.
For Rock and Roll players with a heavy touch:
1st string set at 1/16", 6th string at 3/32" at the 22nd fret
Set 2nd-5th string height to gradually increase between the outside strings. I find this problem a
lot on Gibsons; If the G is the lowest string, the guitar will never play right.
- Intonate. Twice. I find the guitar really sings when you correct the intonation the second
time.
- Adjust the pickups, starting with the bridge.
Humbucking pickups:
Fret the first string at the 22nd fret and adjust the pickup height screw to about 1/16" between
the bottom of the string and the top of the 1st string polepiece. Adjust the other pickup height
screw until the 6th string volume is equal to the 1st string. Equalize the volume of the remaining
strings using the pole pieces. Check by playing octaves and scales all over the fingerboard. Set
the neck pickup by making the 1st string volume equal to the bridge pickup using the pickup height
screw. Then set the 6th string volume with other pickup height adjustment screw. Set the remaining
string volumes with the polepiece screws, checking as before.
Single-coil pickups:
Fret the 1st string at the 22nd fret and adjust the pickup height screw until there is a gap of
1/8"-3/32" between the bottom of the string and the top of the pickup. Adjust the 6th string volume
with the other screw until the volume is equal. Adjust middle pickup 1st string volume until it's
equal to the bridge pickup; do the bass side and repeat for the neck pickup. Check by playing
octaves and scales all over the fingerboard.
- Check action of all electrical controls; clean if necessary.
- Final check through amp. Prepare to plotz*