Guitar Repair FAQs
Q: Should I take the strings off my guitar when I bring it to you for a setup or repair?
A: No. Please leave your strings on the guitar. Even when something as severe as a broken neck or separating bridge happens, you should just loosen the strings to remove the tension, but it’s still better to leave the strings attached. Without the strings on, it’s more difficult to assess any problem the guitar may have.
Q: If the action is too high on my guitar, can’t I just fix it myself by tightening the truss rod?
A: The truss rod is there to counteract the tension of the strings on the neck. It does play a small role in changing the action of your guitar, but it must first be properly adjusted to ensure the neck has the correct curve. A properly adjusted truss rod gives the neck a tiny amount of curve called “neck relief” which allows the strings to vibrate without rattling against the frets while also keeping the action even across the length of the fret board. But the primary criterion for adjusting the truss rod is setting neck relief … NOT for setting the action.
Often the action on a guitar will be too high even when the neck relief is correct. The proper fix is to adjust the saddle height. Also, it may be necessary to adjust the nut slots, which are sometimes not set deep enough, causing the action to be too high at the lower frets.
If the truss rod is tightened too much, the neck will have a back bow which will cause the strings to rattle on the frets, sometimes even when playing open strings.
Q: Do you do rush jobs? I need my guitar back today.
A: I don’t guarantee same day service but I do it if my work load allows. Generally, it may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on the specifics of the job and how many jobs are ahead of you in the queue. I’d rather under-promise and over-deliver than the other way ‘round.
Q: Why do the strings on my solid body electric guitar still buzz when I play it un-amplified or amplified at very low volume settings, even after it’s been set up?
A: Solid body guitars are designed to be played through an amp. Because the action is usually set at roughly 30% lower than an acoustic it will rattle if you pluck with enough force to hear the notes without amplification. There’s no way to prevent this. It’s a bit of a paradox, but solid body electric guitars are designed to be played loud and with very little effort, which means that you have to use much less force when you pluck the strings than you would for an acoustic.
Q: Can my guitar be set up so the strings never buzz when I play?
A: There are many reasons why you’ll hear strings buzzing. If the action is too low … If the truss rod is improperly adjusted … If there are one or more frets that are of un-even height — Any or all of these problems can cause string buzz. Sometimes, though, the buzzing is the result of hitting the strings really hard, or if you don’t press hard enough when you fret the notes or chords. If your finger is too far away from the fret as you press the string down, you might not have enough leverage to keep the string from buzzing against the fret. Certain problems can be solved by adjusting the guitar, but some issues are caused by playing technique. No one can guarantee a guitar won’t produce unwanted sounds regardless of how it’s played.