Having your guitar set up correctly for your playing style, string gauge and tuning is crucial if you want to get the best from your guitar.

A setup includes the checking and adjustment of the following - string heights at the nut, neck relief (truss rod adjustment), action, intonation, vibrato unit, pickup balance. In addition the fret board is oiled, nut slots and other string contact points lubricated if necessary and vibrato unit contact points lubricated where applicable. Your guitar is also cleaned and polished.

Typically, most people want a lower action for easier playing. This is possible on most guitars but, on a few instruments, uneven frets will cause excessive buzzing or dead notes, and make it impossible to get optimum action. The solution is, where possible, to level them - see the fretwork page.

Changing your string gauge and tuning can completely ruin the previous set up. You might get away with it on a Les Paul or Telecaster (at the least you'll find the intonation is wrong and the action will have changed slightly) but on guitars with vibrato units like the Fender Stratocaster or an Ibanez with a Floyd Rose - if you change the string gauge or tuning then the guitar will need a fresh set up.

New strings are essential for a good setup. You can provide me with the strings of your choice or I can supply a range of good quality strings like D’Addario or Ernie Ball etc at retail price.