Most instruments are made of wood, which naturally responds to changes in humidity and temperature. As wood moves, it can affect playability, tuning stability, and overall feel. A professional setup helps restore your instrument to factory specifications or to your preferred playing specifications.
Here's our comprehensive, 20-point inspection, setup, and assessment checklist, designed to optimize playability, tone, and reliability:
- Inspect and tighten tuning machine hardware; lubricate open-gear tuners
- Check nut condition; adjust action at the nut if needed; smooth and lubricate nut slots
- Clean, polish, and condition fingerboard
- Inspect for high frets; re-seat or dress up to three high frets (additional issues may require a full fret dress)
- Adjust bridge and/or saddle height as needed
- Inspect for lifting bridge (acoustic instruments)
- Check and adjust tailpiece (electric instruments)
- Inspect and adjust truss rod tension
- Check and adjust intonation at the 12th fret where possible
- Inspect neck joint
- Adjust micro-tilt or shim neck (bolt-on electric necks) as needed
- Inspect and tighten hardware (pots, output jack, jack plate, etc.)
- Set tremolo or Floyd Rose spring tension
- Inspect and clean electronics
- Check pickup balance and adjust as needed (electric instruments)
- Install new strings
- Evaluate overall playability, including action, clearance for bending, and fret buzz
- Assess instrument for dryness or humidity-related issues
- Apply a light body polish
- Dress sharp fret ends where necessary
