Do Your Own Setups: 8 Tools You Need

Learn how to setup your guitar without breaking the bank! In this video Tomo, Erick and Gene showcase 8 essential tools every guitarist needs to perform their own setup, saving you money and taking your guitar playing to the next level.

⚙️ Get to know the must-have tools for the job:

1️⃣ String Action Gauge or Rule: Achieve the perfect string height for your playing style.
2️⃣ Straightedge: Keep your neck straight and prevent fret buzzing.
3️⃣ Truss Rod Wrench: Adjust your neck as needed.
4️⃣ Capo: Zero out your nut height as you are making adjustments to your action.
5️⃣ Understring Radius Gauges: Set your string height to the fretboard radius.
6️⃣ Screwdriver Set: Fine-tune your hardware and pickups for optimal performance.
7️⃣ Gauged Nut Files: Customize your guitar's nut slot depth.
8️⃣ Tuner: Accurately intonate your guitar.

0:00 Measuring your action
4:05 Neck straightness
7:15 Neck adjustment
10:16 Action at the bridge
18:26 Action at the nut
22:42 Setting intonation
28:49 Pickup height

Tools and supplies featured in this video include:

String Action Gauge

6" Shop Rule

Precision Straightedges

2-in-1 Precision + Notched Straightedge

Truss Rod Wrench Set

Understring Radius Gauges

Gibson Tune-o-Medic Bridge and Tailpiece Tools

Guitar Tech Screwdriver Set

Gauged Nut Files

Peterson SC-HD Stroboclip Tuner

Grover Ultra Capo
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Instagram: @StewMac_Guitar

[robertbalogh]

I'm 81. Been playing since I was 14. There was no one doing this stuff when I was young. Had to learn how to do all this on my own. There wasn't any thing like this and it took years. Thanks for this and other videos from Stew Mac.

[professorflitch]

I love that Tomo is not afraid to ask questions. That's the right mindset there!

[mjrams]

I was one of Tomo’s students, he is incredibly knowledgeable and I learned a lot that I still use today.

[markbrown]

I have been playing guitar since I was 22. I’m 70 years old now. I am very grateful for videos on YouTube. That show me how to work on my guitars without a set up man. It gets too expensive, especially when you live on a fixed income. So I truly appreciate your videos and showing people how to do things. I think YouTube is a great tool for learning how to work on guitars and learning music. YouTube has some really good teachers. And they also have some beautiful solo instrumental, music finger style guitar. That’s all I play because I don’t sing. So I’m very grateful for the things I learned on YouTube. Thanks for your videos. Have a great day..👍🏼👍🏼😎😁🎸🎼🎶🎵🎸

[creationinspired]

Tomo is such an icon he’s definitely a treasure in my world! Great to see him with stewmac once again you two have to play together again!

[rodneysmart]

I love musical instruments, I started doing repairs and set ups on lesser guitars and built up my confidence. Its a great way to develop a different level of understanding with your guitars.

[nickburmanmusic]

These videos are pure gold! Local repair shops are standing by, waiting for you to screw it up and give in!

[rdeftone]

Great Vid. Dan's Erlewine's book has been my bible for decades, but it's so nice to watch a video where you can see it done and the how's and why's demonstrated and discussed by three experts.

[smpmn]

Have you looked at the Music Nomad tools? Geared towards DIY and not the professional luthier. I find the Music Nomad system easier to use. Take a look at the KISS kit and nut files. Their tools are reverse ontrast and easier to see. Their files are encased to lessen the chance of damage if you slip on filing the nut. StewMac to me is for the professional making a living with their tools. For DIY hobbyist, I feel Music Nomad offers a nicer system.

[shoestobed]

Have seen half a dozen of these 'how to do a setup' videos, and this one is by far the most scientific, strait forward, and understandable. Thanks, fellas!!

[belmontbutty]

Take care of your instrument, and it will take care of you - even if, like me, you are never making the Hollywood Bowl. Great to hear the interaction between the techs and a master player like Tomo. Superb, educational content. Thanks, guys.

[Meylan]

I am glad you mentioned the different types of wrench needed. A few months ago I bought an FMT telecaster secondhand. I took it to the local shop because some of the frets need to be levelled and they swore blind the trussrod was broken because they couldn't adjust it. They even showed me a video of them trying.

The next weekend I went into the shop, walked into the 'workshop' part, picked up a flat head screwdriver and sure enough, one adjustable trussrod. The numpties had only tried an allen key. What made it somewhat hilarious (and worrying) was that they had a different coloured version of the same guitar hanging on the wall for sale!

[Trauts]

I liked that this video had questions and input from three different people. A little group session, if you will. But dang, now I want that Stew-Mac kit.

[williampemberton]

They actually convinced me to pay for the set up😂

[JohnOhkumaThiel]

The truss rod wrench, of course you can use a hex key, but a lot of people strip the truss rod bolt by using the wrong size wrench, especially because their using imperial unit on metric or vice versa. Make sure you're using the right size rather than just whatever works.

Don't be afraid to take the neck off. It's easy. Just take it off, adjust it, and put it back on. It's just bolts.

[heatherwade]

That long straight edge and some feeler gauges are what got my setups on point. My guitars have never played so well! Even my $50 Epiphone Les Paul plays like a champ now that it is properly set up.

[valaryc]

Damn, I LOVE listening to Tomo talk about guitars and his experiences.

[phillosopherguitarist]

Very helpful and conclusive overview!
When I set up my own guita's action (assuming fretwork is done and aiming for a fairly low action) - I go by: Step 1 > filing nut slots relative to fret 1, this is the point least affected by other setup steps so it sets the starting pint best; Step 2 > neck curve AND bridge - this simply is a back and forth thing to me, I set the bridge to the radius and then action to 1.25mm on high e with truss rod adjusting - check for buzzing and adjust accordingly then check the highest frets for buzz, if necessary raise the bridge (or saddles individually whil roughly retaining the radius) - back and forth until you're happy.

[mathtrixmusiclix]

We’ll done. The Gibson tailpiece screwdriver is great especially if you want to preserve the screw slots AND the maple top!!
Lee Valley (Canada) tools sell one that looks a doorknob (used for plate glass screws) that fits the Gibson perfectly.

[Clabian]

One of my favorite skills I've learned for guitar