Setup Your Guitar Like a PRO! (Complete DIY guide to Acoustic guitar setups)

This is the complete DIY guide to setting up your acoustic guitar just like a pro luthier. While it's not completely necessary, it sure does help to have a quality string gauge action ruler. You can purchase the Baroque string action ruler here:
check out the fret file here:

*Prices mentioned in this video are subject to change without notice, please check the links for current pricing.

Full disclosure: This video is Sponsored by Baroque, and I am an Amazon Associate, so the links in this description are affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase, it doesn't cost you any more money, but I will earn a commission.

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[letsridehard]

There needs to be a correction. To raise or lower the saddle correctly, you need to double the number measured at your 12th fret…. for example; if you want to lower your action by .25mm you would shave off .50mm from the saddle (always double at the saddle)

[ralfhedstrom]

Excellent demonstration, Dan. This is so helpful for people who are unsure of the steps and the levels. The basics. Once you master that it's easier to find ones subjektive preferences and also experience and handle how different strings can/will totally chance everything. Just one thing (and it always have to be one thing, at least 😂) and it's a reminder for everyone that is brave enough to take on a fret leveling. Always start with a straight neck. And a pro tip on top of that...on an electric guitar one can angle the frets a little bit more from the 12th to the 21/24th fret for super low strings. Especially on a guitar with the adjustment of the neck up at the head. Great videos, Dan 😀

[tylergreene]

Great video, love watching your content, thinking of getting one of these to help with my own setups (but I can always use the one at my shop for now). Only thing is, if you want to raise or lower the action as measured at the 12th fret, you need to adjust the bridge by twice that amount (i.e., to raise the 6th string 0.25mm, raise the bridge on that side 0.5mm).

[degreelobwedge]

Great video. You can adjust the intonation on an acoustic a bit by raising or lowering the action and adjusting the truss rod. I have a beat up 50 year old acoustic with a slightly bowed top and 14th fret hump that I picked up second hand really cheap a couple years ago. I got it playing really nice with a low action but anything past 5th fret was noticeably flat. By shimming up the bridge and tightening the truss rod, I was able to get the intonation acceptable at the 12th fret and still a playable action. Its definitely a balancing act and required a lot of messing around with it over a few weeks but its a cool instrument now and I probably play it more than any of my other guitars.

[andrewlittlefield]

This video could not have came at a better time, I am doing a facelift to an 80”s Alvarez regent acoustic and this was very helpful! Thanks Dan and Godbless 😊

[MashaT]

Very good timing! I was just changing my strings, cleaning, and checking my guitar like I do each time I swap strings. This video is super clear and well explained. I have been playing a guitar that was gifted to me in 2018 since March 2020 (aka Pandemic Guitarist lol). I have had to learn to fix and maintain as much as possible on a major budget because I don’t have any cash income due to long term illness since 2018, as well as disabilities and complex health issues from a 2003 summer job accident.

I have been trying to diagnose a problem with my guitar, but I can’t seem to put my finger on the cause. Interestingly, the same problem happened last year too. I was lucky enough to have the guitar manufacturer help me out with a setup and the minor repairs that were needed. I never really thought to ask them what the problem was caused by in the end.

Essentially, it seems that the string action is quite low near the nut and gets way to high as you go up the neck towards the bridge. This means the first 4-5 frets are tough to fret because they feel too low/tight while the other side of the neck feels like they’re the nosebleed seats lol.

I should mention that the guitar in question is a 2018 KLOS Guitars Acoustic-Electric Hybrid Deluxe. The body on my model is bidirectional carbon fiber material, while the neck is wood (including the fretboard — these days, they top the wood necks with a composite fretboard) with two CF stiffening rods on either side of the truss rod.

That being said, I find it interesting that the same exact thing happened with the string action about a year after the company worked on my guitar. I doubt that’s a coincidence. I know they used my original nut and bridge — both are TUSQ. I don’t know if they filed or adjusted either, but I know there aren’t any shims in place. That makes me suppose that maybe they just turned the truss rod a bit. (Any other work they did on the guitar was fixing a few minor divots on the top few frets and some minor cosmetic things).

I have a humidifier in my bedroom, but it tends to be dry most of the year regardless. It IS possible that the neck may need a truss rod tweak, but I’ve never done it before. I’m worried I won’t get it back to the way it is if I screw up. I also don’t know if I should try that first before doing anything else. Based on my limited knowledge about truss rods, I also don’t see how just turning my guitar’s truss rod would raise the action in the top 4-5 frets and lower the action for the higher register — especially when the neck looks pretty dead straight by my eye (though I will check for neck relief like you described in this video).

That being said, lol . . . I don’t expect you to reply to such a long spiel without even seeing what I’m talking about. However, I’d like to suggest an idea for your channel being that you really post clear instructional videos.

Would you consider doing occasional videos where subscribers can submit questions/issues using video and/or photos, so you can help diagnose and guide the person to resolve the issue? Even with your very clear videos, it definitely would help others to see some concrete real world examples. I’m sure I’m not the only person who has encountered the above issue, after all. Many people (especially visual learners) will be more likely to fix a problem properly if they have seen someone’s submitted footage and your approach using a real world example.

Anyway, it’s just a thought. I’ve learned very valuable info from you. Your content is high quality. Thanks for your dedication!

[likerollinstone]

This is amazing man. Thank you so much. Now I can finally setup my acoustic properly

[movingfloors]

you're a beast for putting this all together. gave me the confidence to do my own setup!

[RobertPalomoMusic]

Best basics video I've found. I learned banjo setup and now want to be able to do guitars.

[kdtrimble]

Waaay too inside baseball for me, but I still love watching. Thank you sir.

[timothysanders]

This is an awesome video Dan, great information. I need to get one of those to set up the guitars I have and the one I got for my oldest. Great stuff Dan!

[peterquailman]

I've been messing around with my newly acquired tele, that I've forgotten about my acoustic for a while. Guess I'll be messing with it now. . .thanks, Dan

[danpost]

Hey, Dan! Nice demo on a basic set-up. I am a gun and guitar addict myself. Lol. I enjoy your channel.

[csharp]

Very helpful video. I’m going to venture into setting up my guitars once I have the proper tools. Thanks for the information on how to and that very useful tool

[rickgledura]

To lower your string height, you do not remove the bridge, you remove the saddle.

[TheDiaboliq]

What is the reasoning behind checking neck relief by pressin behind the last fret and measuring at the 12th fret?
Asking beacause most, if not all, acoustics, the truss rod ends up where the neck meets the body.
So, the peak of the neck relief would be halfway between the neck joint and 1st fret (usuall 7th or 8th fret).
That's where the truss rod exerts most effect, but also where the neck would most bow (certainly not near
the heel where it is most thick).
Also, should remind folks that it takes some time for the changes in truss rod tension to take effect, so:
turn, wait at least 20-30min, then measure and correct again.

[widmarkeloo]

I just came across you video and wanted to share a little something about string Buzz. I bought a fret dressing kit form stewmac and did a pretty good job for my first time. I strung up a brand new set of Elixir 80/20 bronze custom light 11's and there was a Buzz from the D string. I tried everything to fix it but no luck. Since Elixir's are good and pricey strings at $18 a pop I played my guitar at my gigs with the D string Buzz which I work four days a week.
One or two month's later it was time for a new set. Guess what the string BUZZ was gone!!! In my 24 years of playing music as a full time musican I've never had this problem. I've been using Elixir strings for twenty something years now, Don't get me wrong they are the best string I've ever used!!
I contact Elixir and they told me something about some kind of electrical thing going on with the string. Who ever the dude was told me I needed to ground the string somehow. WHAT!!! sounds like a lame excuse to me haha

[rstevenhanson]

I recommend checking neck relief with the guitar on its side, like playing position. And I would never shim on a nice guitar, but seems appropriate for this one.

[MrDaveKC]

That's a super helpful demonstration... Looks like I need to get busy! And I've got both tools and they're super helpful.

[hoosierdaddy]

Great video.
I thought you adjusted the truss rod as straight as possible first. Then check the nut. Then the bridge, etc. ?
Thanks Dan, as always. Great stuff and much appreciated. I'm speaking of electric guitar by the way.
Love that baroque gauge. Very cool. I will have to look into their tools sir. ❤🤘