Where Can I Learn to Set Up A Guitar?

[Billy's Little Trip]

Thanks Ross, you rock!
That site gave me this link >> http://www.guitardaterproject.org/gibson.aspx
I typed in my serial number, hit submit, and BAM!

Your guitar was made at the
Kalamazoo Plant, USA
April 20th, 1979
Production Number: 39

So it was the 39th one made on the first year of the new design, cool.
PLUS, it was made on 4:20. Stoner day, lmao! I was destined to have it.

1979 is the year Sid Vicious died.

[bz£]

Actually, unless it explicitly says so somewhere (I didn't really look too closely) I'd guess that it was the 39th one off the line that day, not that year. Not sure if that really matters though, it looks cool either way.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Yeah, it doesn't make a difference to me, but now I'm curious.

[Paco Del Stinko]

Here's a link to a Gibson page. Click on the "Gibson Serial Number Information" to download a file. Their history of assigning numbers is all over the place, but it explains what you're looking for. http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Support/SerialNumberSearch/

[Billy's Little Trip]

Thanks Chuck.
OK, according to the info in Paco's link:
The pattern is as follows:
YDDDYRRR
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
RRR is the factory ranking/plant designation number.

001-499 indicated Kalamazoo production
500-999 indicate Nashville production

Examples: 70108276 means the instrument was produced on Jan. 10, 1978, in Kalamazoo and was the 276th instrument stamped that day.

So mine was the 39th guitar made on April 20th, not that year, as bzl pointed out. Now thinking about it, 39th of the year on April 20th would be pretty sad production, lol.

[Kill Me Sarah]

My preciousssss



I can't believe the setup on this thing. By far the smoothest guitar I've ever owned and up there with anything I've ever even tried at a store. I may not have the distinguished palate of some here, but compared to what I've grown accustomed to playing, this thing is like butter. There was very slight buzz one the E string which was remedied with one quick turn of a bridge screw. The only place where the low price is immediately evident is on the sides of the neck where it looks like they got some stain on the sides of the fret board, but it's not obvious unless you're examining it closely. I'll use it for next week's SF so you guys can tell me how it sounds.

[Project-D]

That looks nice, I wonder how they can offer a bound fingerboard, inlays on the neck, and solid body. I was looking at a couple of the lower end Strat clones, and saw this description: Perfect for many musical styles including rock, jazz, blues and Christian. They don't have one that plays death metal though.

[Kill Me Sarah]

Okay, so I'm just wondering if this is a normal issue that I've just always been unaware of because the action on my guitars was so high so there was never an option to fret lightly:

When I'm playing my new SX, particularly on the low E string, I notice that the pitch changes a lot depending on how hard I fret it. I believe some pitch bending is normal, but I notice that, for example if I lightly press on 5th fret, I get an A, but if I press hard it bends all the way to a Bb.

Again, I don't know if this is normal and I'm just having it happen because I grind the strings down out of habit from playing high action guitars, or if this is like a setup issue or something else.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Okay, so I'm just wondering if this is a normal issue that I've just always been unaware of because the action on my guitars was so high so there was never an option to fret lightly:

When I'm playing my new SX, particularly on the low E string, I notice that the pitch changes a lot depending on how hard I fret it. I believe some pitch bending is normal, but I notice that, for example if I lightly press on 5th fret, I get an A, but if I press hard it bends all the way to a Bb.

Again, I don't know if this is normal and I'm just having it happen because I grind the strings down out of habit from playing high action guitars, or if this is like a setup issue or something else.

#1. What gauge strings are you using? Light strings will do that if you have muscle fingers.
#2. Either readjust your action, or take it to your local guitar shop and have them do it.
#3. It could be, and quite possibly is, because of fret wire crown widths and height. Again, your local guitar shop can fine tune that for you as well if you're not comfortable doing it. But it really isn't hard to learn and I think all guitar players should know all the ins and outs of their instrument.

I've picked up new guitars at guitar center that have HUGE fret wires and never been been fine tuned.

[Kill Me Sarah]

Okay, so I'm just wondering if this is a normal issue that I've just always been unaware of because the action on my guitars was so high so there was never an option to fret lightly:

When I'm playing my new SX, particularly on the low E string, I notice that the pitch changes a lot depending on how hard I fret it. I believe some pitch bending is normal, but I notice that, for example if I lightly press on 5th fret, I get an A, but if I press hard it bends all the way to a Bb.

Again, I don't know if this is normal and I'm just having it happen because I grind the strings down out of habit from playing high action guitars, or if this is like a setup issue or something else.

#1. What gauge strings are you using? Light strings will do that if you have muscle fingers.
#2. Either readjust your action, or take it to your local guitar shop and have them do it.
#3. It could be, and quite possibly is, because of fret wire crown widths and height. Again, your local guitar shop can fine tune that for you as well if you're not comfortable doing it. But it really isn't hard to learn and I think all guitar players should know all the ins and outs of their instrument.

I've picked up new guitars at guitar center that have HUGE fret wires and never been been fine tuned.

#1 - I'm not sure, whatever came on the guitar I typically favor very light, I suppose when it comes time to restring I'll have to pick a gauge and stick with it, eh?
#2 - I got the name of a local guy, so this may be the route to go until I better understand what all the different screws and knobs do
#3 - This would involve getting a fret saw and sinking them in deeper, yes?

[Project-D]

Luckily it won't be as complicated as removing frets, they make a little file for just such a purpose. Some people use a three cornered file, but I think it takes a little more skill.

[Kill Me Sarah]

Luckily it won't be as complicated as removing frets, they make a little file for just such a purpose. Some people use a three cornered file, but I think it takes a little more skill.

That thing costs more than half what my guitar did

[Project-D]

That thing costs more than half what my guitar did

I know, everything at Stew-Mac is overpriced, but guitar techs are rich, they can afford it, right?

[king_arthur]

KMS:

Carlos Santana used to (still does?) have guitar necks specially made with the wood scalloped out between frets for just this effect. I guess it's one of those techniques you have to practice a lot so that you can hit the notes when that's what you want, though.

Charles (KA)

[Billy's Little Trip]

That's a cool trivia bit, KA.
I played a really old guitar once that was like that from wear from bending strings. Makes me wonder if Santana learned on very old guitars and developed his sound on worn out frets. Hmmm, I wonder.......

[Project-D]

KMS:

Carlos Santana used to (still does?) have guitar necks specially made with the wood scalloped out between frets for just this effect. I guess it's one of those techniques you have to practice a lot so that you can hit the notes when that's what you want, though.

Charles (KA)

I know Billy Sheehan used to do that to his basses too. I think his Yamaha signature basses have the upper frets scalloped. Yngwie did it too. I'd guess you'd need a light touch for sure.