What is a Guitar Setup? Common Signs Your Guitar Needs One

Ever picked up your guitar and felt like it just wasn’t quite right? Maybe the strings buzz or it’s harder to play than you remember. That’s when it’s time for a guitar setup—a little TLC that gets your guitar back to its best self!

What is a Guitar Setup?

What does it mean to set up a guitar? To put it simply: it’s like a visit to the doctor for your guitar. It’s a process of adjusting your instrument to make sure it’s playing at its best, where every note rings clear, and your fingers glide effortlessly across the strings.

Regular guitar setups can help you catch small issues early, saving you from expensive repairs later on. Think of it as a little TLC to keep your guitar happy and healthy!

Why Your Guitar Needs a Setup (And Why You’ll Love the Results)

A guitar setup can work wonders, even on an old guitar, by improving how it plays, feels, and sounds. Small adjustments like tweaking the truss rod (the metal rod inside the neck that helps control its curvature) or setting the right string action might seem minor, but they make a huge difference in playability.

Even new guitars need a little love! They’re often mass-produced and may not be perfectly tuned to your playing style. A setup makes sure the neck is straight, the strings are at the right height, and the intonation is perfect, making your guitar feel just right and sound great.

Acoustic Guitar Setup vs. Electric Guitar Setup: How Are They Different?

Acoustic and electric guitars both need setups, but the process is a bit different. Acoustic guitars are like a fine wine—beautiful but sensitive, with their all-wood design making even small adjustments noticeable in tone. They’re also sensitive to humidity, which can affect their shape. 

Electric guitars, on the other hand, are more flexible and forgiving. With adjustable parts like saddles and electronics, tweaks are easier and can be reversed, though working with pickups, tone controls, and tremolo systems may take a little practice.

Common Signs Your Guitar Needs a Setup

1) No matter how accurately you tune, your guitar doesn’t sound quite right

Have you ever tuned your guitar perfectly, play high up on the fretboard, and it still sounds out of tune? Odds are you need your guitar intonated. Intonation refers to the accuracy of pitch. While your guitar may be in tune when you play your open string, it may be too sharp or flat at your 12th fret.

To correct this, you would need your guitar intonated by adjusting the saddle length. The saddle length determines where the middle of the string is. If the middle of the string is over the 12th fret in just the right place, then it will play in tune.

If it is not, then your chords will sound funky! Since acoustic guitars normally do not have adjustable saddles, this cannot always be the case. However, the bowing of the neck and intonation are correlated variables.

Meaning, sometimes intonation can be adjusted by the neck, other times it really shouldn’t be, and that’s up to your local Music Room technician to decide.

The Music Room offers multiple options to service all your guitars and fretted instruments. In fact, you can come in at any time for a free consultation and estimate!

2) The Environment: Humidity & Moisture

For every guitar technician, winter is one of the busiest seasons because of the change that the weather brings onto guitars. Winter is a good time to get a setup for your guitar because it prevents any problems that the cold will bring and will correct any issues that have already started to occur.

3) Your strings have no tone

Over time, your strings will age. Not only will they look different but they will sound different. The oil from our fingers that leave the strings more prone to corrosion. Old strings have a significantly less resonant tone. We call these strings “dead strings”.

If you play every day, standard strings last 3 months at the most. Brand new strings can make your guitar sound better than the day you bought it! A standard set of strings for a 6 string guitar is only about six dollars.

One simple way to prevent early corrosion on new strings is to wash your hands before you play the guitar.

4) Your Guitar Constantly Buzzes

This is a very common issue for guitars. When you press down on a fret of the guitar, usually the string only touches the fret in front of the one you are pressing on. Buzzing occurs when the string hits multiple frets and rattles against them. Usually the cause of this is because of low string height.

Low string height can either be adjusted by raising the saddle height, an adjustment of the neck, or a combination of the two. Another reason why this may be is because of a manufacturer issue.

If the neck is not set into the body of the guitar at just the right angle it can cause a “hump” around the 14th fret (depending on the guitar you have). This can create an incredibly noisy buzz around the 11th, 12th, and 13th fret.

Environmental warping of the wood can also cause your strings to buzz depending on the severity of the warp. You can prevent this warping by simply leaving the guitar in your case when you’re not using it and keeping it in a place with controlled humidity (specifically 40 – 55%).

5) Your Fretboard Looks and Feels Dry

A dry fretboard not only looks bad, but is also bad for your guitar. A dry fretboard can lead to the neck bowing, warping, and in severe cases, cracking. Guitar necks have to hold anywhere between 80 and 180 pounds of tension!

Having a healthy, hydrated fretboard is key to a strong neck. You can tell your fretboard is dry from the discoloration of the wood. For example, rosewood fretboards may turn from a dark brown/red color to a light brown/grey color.

In some cases, frets may start to stick out the sides of the neck, ever so slightly, due to the shrinkage of the fretboard that dehydration causes.

You may also notice white lines appear on your fretboard, a common sign your guitar needs a drink. What should it drink? Lemon oil! This is especially important during the winter time.

Not only does lemon oil hydrate the fretboard, but it is also a fretboard cleaner. Another way you can prevent dehydration is with a humidifier.

Like I said before, it is best to keep your guitar in a place with controlled humidity (40 – 55%).

How Much Does a Guitar Setup Cost?

A guitar setup usually costs between $50 and $100, but the price can vary depending on the type of guitar you have, the type of setup needed, and where you’re located—with more expensive cities charging a bit more. 

Acoustic setups usually fall between $50 and $65, while electric guitars run around $75 to $100. If your electric guitar has a complex tremolo system like a Floyd Rose, expect an additional $20 to $60 for adjustments. 

For advanced professional setup or repairs, like a PLEK machine or fret work, the price can go up to $300. If you’re on a budget, asking for a basic guitar setup with new strings, tuning, and intonation can still make a big difference!

Can You Set Up a Guitar Yourself? Here’s What to Consider

Yes, you can totally set up your guitar yourself. If you’re up for a challenge and don’t mind taking your time, setting up your own guitar can be a fun and rewarding way to save some cash! Start with simple tasks like restringing, adjusting the truss rod, or lowering the action. 

But for things like fine-tuning pickups or adjusting the nut height, it’s usually best to leave those to the pros. A professional setup ensures everything’s perfectly dialed in, especially if you want top-notch precision.

Thinking of setting up your guitar yourself? Here’s what you’ll need:

• Tools: Truss rod wrench, string gauge, tuner, and a capo.
• Patience: The learning curve is worth it! Start small with adjustments like string height before doing more advanced tweaks.
• Resources: Check out our easy-to-follow step-by-step guide to walk you through setting up your guitar.

How Often Does Your Guitar Need a Setup?

How often you should set up your guitar depends on how often you play and how much you put it through. If you’re an avid player, a setup every 6-12 months is a good idea to keep everything running smoothly. 

If you play more frequently or in different climates, you may need to adjust your guitar more often. Always trust your ears—if something feels or sounds off, it might be time for a setup.

Your Guitar’s Best Days Are Just a Setup Away!

Every guitarist, from beginners to pros, knows the joy of rediscovering their instrument after a great setup. 

Basic maintenance keeps your guitar in great shape and make sure playing it always feels like a joy, not a struggle. Whether you choose to take it to a professional or try a DIY setup, the key is keeping your instrument comfortable and ready to rock!

Think your guitar could use a little extra care? If you’re in the Palatine, IL area, our team is here to help—from expert setups to guitar lessons that’ll inspire your next jam session. Let’s bring out the best in your guitar—and in your playing!

We’re happy to service your guitar, and also provide guitar lessons in the Palatine, IL area.