U2start.com | U2 & Guitar Gear: Q & A

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979:A trip to your local Guitar Center or Sam Ash will show that no guitar comes "set up and checked for proper intonation etc. as part of their testing process".

Many guitars have string buzz off the shelf.

That said, I've mentioned this to retailers time and time again - why don't they at least set them up when they put them out for sale.

The response? Everyone likes their guitars setup different.

My response? Perhaps that is true but NO ONE I know likes string buzz or bad intonation!

[..]

Mine doesn't have string buzz, my brother checked and was quite surprised, I have to check the intonation.

To do that you just play every note on the fingerboard and see if its in correct pitch right?
The M13's tuner makes that a piece of cake to do.

WojBhoy

15 years

Originally posted by vanquish:But doesn't it come from Epiphone set up and checked for proper intonation etc. as part of their testing process? (it says so on the checklist included on the warranty card)

So I'll just need to keep retuning the strings until it starts holding tune?

As Jeff says, I've never received a guitar from any retailer that has been properly set up. It might not be string-buzz, but there's a host of other things that can be wrong. My Les Paul was a perfect example, it felt like a completely different guitar after having it properly set up.

vanquish

15 years

Originally posted by WojBhoy:[..]
As Jeff says, I've never received a guitar from any retailer that has been properly set up. It might not be string-buzz, but there's a host of other things that can be wrong. My Les Paul was a perfect example, it felt like a completely different guitar after having it properly set up.

Ok, i'll go to a music dealer and get someone to set it up after I finish my exams.

thechicken

15 years

I don't mind a bit of buzz, since it's not possible to get the strings real close without it.
Also, be aware that a guitar will never be perfectly intonated. Because of the way it is built, some notes will always be a little off. It is more like you have to choose which ones will be right and which ones will be wrong. Most likely, if a decent setup is done, you won't notice these little "wrongs" here and there on the neck.
Be aware too that as the weather changes, the wood changes and the guitar changes. A guitar that sounds good on the summer is likely not to sound good on the winter, it may need another set up.
That is why I do all of this myself. It is easier, cheaper and more satisfying.

anstratdubh1979

15 years

I mind buzz.

Per Dallas, if the neck and intonation and all are set up proper, you can have a guitar without buzz.

Intonation may not be 100.00 perfect but if done proper, one can get 99.987% correct.

I have my guitars set up an Neeley in Hollywood. He's worked on many pros guitars - including Bono, Edge, The Eagles and many more... Keith Richards...

He asked: "so you trust me as I've worked on Edge's guitars?"

I said: "That is a plus but actually, more that you worked on Keith Richards... because if you didn't get his proper he'd have stuck you with his switchblade." Dave got a good laugh outta that.

Originally posted by thechicken:I don't mind a bit of buzz, since it's not possible to get the strings real close without it.
Also, be aware that a guitar will never be perfectly intonated. Because of the way it is built, some notes will always be a little off. It is more like you have to choose which ones will be right and which ones will be wrong. Most likely, if a decent setup is done, you won't notice these little "wrongs" here and there on the neck.
Be aware too that as the weather changes, the wood changes and the guitar changes. A guitar that sounds good on the summer is likely not to sound good on the winter, it may need another set up.
That is why I do all of this myself. It is easier, cheaper and more satisfying.

Andrew_C

15 years

i might get my SG set up properly then, had it for a yr now, prob needs new strings too.

vanquish

15 years

Hey guys, if I don't have any fret buzz and if I do an intonation test (was reading how to on the net) and it doesn't show any problems, I should be ok to play right? Are there any other things I should check?

As apart from my earlier tuning problem which was just due to new strings I haven't noticed anything wrong with the guitar, other than a small crack in the finish where the nut joins the neck and some dents at the tip of the horn on the back

(unfortunately the Epiphone cardboard box wasn't designed to withstand the rigours of international shipping). But apparently nearly everyone who has an Explorer gets it damaged in that exact same spot, which makes me feel better.

Small annoyances aside I'm happy and most surprised at how easy it seems to play, I already know a couple of basic riffs ( my favourite so far is TTTYAATW).

PS: my pickups (which are apparently gold plated) had an oily looking film on the when I got the guitar, is that normal? ( it could have been from the stickers though)

LikeASong

15 years

Originally posted by Andrew_C:i might get my SG set up properly then, had it for a yr now, prob needs new strings too.

Well, if you haven't chanegd strings in one year, they surely need changing, hahaha

Andrew_C

15 years

Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]Well, if you haven't chanegd strings in one year, they surely need changing, hahaha

yeh and they were the strings on the guitar while it was on display

,and god knows how long it was on display for, with all fukers playing it. OMG with new strings i might actually rival the Edge in guitarsman-ship.

vanquish

15 years

Originally posted by Andrew_C:[..]

... OMG with new strings i might actually rival the Edge in guitarsman-ship.

Yes.....assuming they are magical, ability enhancing strings of course

BTW does anyone know what kind of bottleneck slide I should get?
What does Edge use for his slide parts (eg. Magnificent, Even Better Than The Real Thing etc.)
Am going to a music store on Sat to buy leads and a strap and this is their selection of slides:
http://www.billyhydemusic.com.au/shop/search-result/?search=slide&submit=

AAV711

15 years

I've found that doing these two things are helpful in extending string life:

--washing hands beforehand
--wiping down fretboard after playing with a hand towel

Helps a bit to reduce oils, grease, bacteria, etc. from lingering on strings and corroding them

I've been very good about keeping in this practice with my new Taylor, which sounds **almost** as good as the day I took delivery of it back in June.

thechicken

15 years

Originally posted by AAV711:I've found that doing these two things are helpful in extending string life:

--washing hands beforehand
--wiping down fretboard after playing with a hand towel

Helps a bit to reduce oils, grease, bacteria, etc. from lingering on strings and corroding them

I've been very good about keeping in this practice with my new Taylor, which sounds **almost** as good as the day I took delivery of it back in June.

I always do this, an dmy current bass strings have been there for well over a year now...but they definitely don't sound as bright as when I put them.

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