You play electric guitar or electric bass guitar and you want to know how to do your own setups–and do them right. You’ve seen how much bad information there is out there on the subject and so have I. That is why I made this site. I took the best information I could find, geared it toward everyday players so you can fix your broke-ass guitar. (And by “broke-ass” I mean it don’t play right, or not as well as it should.)

Maybe you’re a beginning player. Maybe youv’e been playing for years. Lots of people, new and experienced players, don’t know how to do a proper setup. Some are afraid to try. That ends now. I’m going to explain exactly what to do, which tools to use, and the correct order of operations.

If you follow my instructions carefully and use the tools I tell you to, you’re going to find success. And, by the way, the tools I’m going to recommend to you are inexpensive and readily available. Final note: Unless you bring me your instrument for me to personally setup for you, I make no money from any of this. Ready to begin?

Latest Blog Entries

Ibanez EHB1505MS…in California

Ibanez EHB1505MS…in California

Having now moved to the same town in southern California as my pre-pandemic bandmates did about three years earlier, I apparently have my old gig back. I arrived back in October, but I have been so...

MusicNomad FTW

MusicNomad FTW

So I'm clicking around on Reddit and there's someone asking about how to do a setup on a new bass he just ordered. There's only a few responses so far. One of them suggests that YouTube, and in...

Oh, Sweetwater…

Oh, Sweetwater…

It’s infuriating. The amount of shit advice on how to do guitar/bass setups is just maddening. And from sources who should know better! The latest one I have come across is in the “knowledge base”...

Practice Bass Amps

Practice Bass Amps

Do not buy a bass amp that has a speaker smaller than 10 inches in diameter. Don't do it. Forget about being loud enough to play in a band–it will not faithfully reproduce the sound of the...

Fret Sprout

Fret Sprout

While not part of a standard setup, fret sprout, or sharp fret ends, is something many of us have to deal with at some point or another. Sometimes when you receive a bass or a guitar you may notice...

My Action Is Way Too High

My Action Is Way Too High

This is a very common complaint. "My action is way too high. I tried turning the truss rod, but..." Don't do that. The only reason to adjust your truss rod is because you measured your neck relief...

Dave’s World Of Fun Stuff

Dave’s World Of Fun Stuff

You need to know about Dave. He's a YouTuber from Toronto. His channel, Dave's World Of Fun Stuff, is the main way I learned to do setups. For more than a decade, Dave has been uploading videos of...