Haywire-Custom Guitars Tele Hollow 1
How to know if you have a high quality acoustic/electric guitar?
This is very subjective and given to wide interpretation but lets narrow it down. Most guitars are made from wood. The other components such as the electronics are generally copper wire, magnets, switches, potentiometers, capacitors and steel. Most guitars are put together similarly. Under the same conditions they will all last equally as long. The finishes may vary slightly between polyurethane and nitrocellulose. If these are all the case then what make one guitar more valuable than another?
Haywire Custom shop double cutaway guitar with a wide 1-7/8″ neck.
Ask the player. A guitar that performs well, and is reliable, comfortable, well balanced, easy to play with a neck that suits the players hands well, sounds great and stays in tune is the most valuable guitar a player can have. A high quality guitar is simply determined by the person who plays it, how well it plays and how they feel about it. Get the guitar to standard tuning and play a few chords. Are the strings very low on the fretboard? Is it supple with a relaxed feel? Is the tension low? Are the strings a light and easy to play?
They should be if you want it to be in tune with other instruments. The higher the strings off the frets, the more “out of tune” the guitar will remain. Low action is the key to “in tune” playing. Not to mention, the guitar is so much easier to play with lower action. Is the neck straight or is it “bowed” or “humped”? If so, “out of tune” playing will again be the result. Are the frets level? They need to be so there is no unnecessary “string rattle” or “string buzz”. These “must have” qualities should be evident in quality setup acoustic and electric guitars.
Haywire Custom Guitars perfectly set up using neck shims for proper neck angle.
Let’s discuss electric guitars specifically. Let’s say all of the above issues have been worked out on your electric guitar. How about sound and volume differences between pickups? Does the volume vary widely when switching from one to another pickup? Does the quality of the signal or tone vary greatly from one pickup to another? What’s left to ascertain if your guitar is “high quality”? To help determine if a guitar is high quality, evaluate its craftsmanship, engineering, playability, materials, and sound. While brand name is not always an indicator, a hands-on inspection of the instrument is the most reliable method. Sometimes you’ll find a gem of an instrument that has been ignored, not taken care of and never had a good “setup” to showcase it’s finer aspects. Most of the time when I walk into a music store and pick up a NEW guitar it almost never plays well. The opposite is usually true for a used instrument owned by a pro player that was well cared for.
Haywire Custom Guitars Custom Fat Strat with Floyd Rose tremolo and Dimarzio pickups with gold saddles is difficult to setup
A guitar does not need to be expensive to be a high quality instrument. “According to Haywire Custom Guitars, a setup is crucial for transforming a mass-produced instrument into a “gig-ready” custom guitar that is perfectly comfortable and customized to your individual playing style. Most new guitars are not properly set up for playability, a professional setup addresses these issues to optimize feel and sound. That is one way to know if you have a “High Quality” guitar.” Another is to simply play it and feel the level of playability it has. It it feels and sounds great, inspires you to the point you don’t want to put it down, you have a quality guitar.
Haywire Custom Shop 3/4 sized Strat style guitar with T-O-M bridge getting a low action setup with no buzz!
What to look for when buying a guitar
- Does the guitar stay in tune?
- Is the guitar neck straight?
- How far are the strings from the fretboard?
- Can you comfortably reach the entire fretboard?
- Are the guitar electronics in good condition?
Haywire-Custom-Guitars-Custom-Gold-Tele
Key benefits of a professional setup to make your guitar high quality:
Roy Buchanan and Rick Mariner from Haywire Custom Guitars
Tailored to the player
- A “perfect setup” is one that is custom-fit to the specific player. It is not possible for a factory or store to know your individual preferences, such as playing style (light vs. heavy touch), string gauge, and desired string height. Only you know.
- A professional luthier will take your needs into account and adjust the instrument accordingly, ensuring it feels like an extension of you. Then hand it back for testing and repeat this procedure until you are completely satisfied with it’s play and feel.
Roy Buchanan April,1988 at UCSB campus in Santa Barbara, CA
Enhanced playability
- Easier to play: A proper setup makes a guitar more comfortable and effortless to play, reducing hand fatigue and making it easier to hold notes.
- Eliminates fret buzz: By leveling the frets, a luthier can set the string action lower with no buzzing, which makes playing much smoother.
- Prevents problems: Addressing issues like high action or poor intonation helps prevent further frustration and can breathe new life into an existing guitar.
Partner links of guitar player and singer entertaining with a Haywire Custom Guitar-custom built.
Improved tone and tuning
- Accurate intonation: A setup ensures the guitar plays in tune across the entire fretboard, so that every fretted note sounds correct and in-key with others.
- Balanced action: Uniform string height across the fretboard ensures consistent pressure is required for each string, allowing you to produce a perfect note with the same technique.
- Better tone: Adjustments such as pickup height and electronics testing ensure the guitar sounds its best, with clear notes and optimal output.
Haywire-Custom-Guitars-Custom Setups for guitar players
Necessary adjustments in a quality setup is the first step to creating a high quality guitar
A comprehensive setup involves the following adjustments and inspections:
- Truss rod adjustment: Ensures the neck has the correct amount of relief or straightness for optimal playability.
- Fretwork: Involves leveling, crowning, and dressing ends of frets to eliminate buzzing and ensure smooth string bending.
- Action adjustment: Sets the height of the strings low at the nut and bridge for easy fretting.
- Intonation adjustment: A saddle adjustment tunes each string at every fret to ensure note accuracy.
- Nut and saddle adjustments: Ensures proper string seating and even height.
- Hardware inspection: Includes lubricating parts and tightening any loose hardware.
Haywire Custom Guitar loaded with EMG active pickups
A high quality guitar renders a better experience for the player
Ultimately, Haywire emphasizes that a great setup isn’t the only factor that makes a high quality guitar. While technical adjustments are very important—it’s about how the guitar makes you feel. A properly configured guitar will inspire you to play and focus on the music rather than the instrument’s shortcomings. When you’re not distracted by uneven adjustments, out of tune chords and notes then all of the creative juices can flow in the same direction and the musical magic can take place. The player is happy and views his instrument as a perfect specimen of a perfectly setup and tuned guitar. That is the ultimate determination of the definition of a high quality guitar and it’s made by the player. Special circuits, switching mods and pickup selections can really enhance a guitars quality and desirability.
Haywire Custom Guitars-Nashville Player+1
When buying a guitar the most important thing to remember is:
It’s not always a matter of making the RIGHT DECISION. It’s making a decision then MAKING IT RIGHT with a great setup.
Tele-wide 1-7/8 inch Brent Mason-2
In conclusion:
A high-quality guitar is one that is built or modified to the player’s exact specifications and is delivered “Gig-Ready”—perfectly set up for effortless playability. Haywire Custom Guitars emphasizes a great setup, customization, craftsmanship, and performance-enhancing modifications, easy play and excellent sound production over brand name recognition.
Instrument Customization and playability
- Designed for the player: A great guitar feels effortless to play because it is designed to suit the individual player’s needs. Haywire achieves this by working with musicians to understand their playing desires, problems and works to build unique solutions.
- Custom neck: A high-quality neck is straight and features leveled, crowned, and polished frets for smooth string bending and consistent action. Haywire offers various neck profiles, scale lengths, and fretboard radii to fit a player’s hand and musical style, along with an exclusive recessed heel for easier access to higher frets.
- Lightweight body: Many Haywire Custom guitars feature lightweight bodies, which are more comfortable for extended rehearsals and live performances. They can also resonate more loudly than heavier guitars.
- “Gig-Ready” process: Before shipping, every new Haywire guitar undergoes an 8-point setup process to ensure it is immediately ready for professional use. This includes precise fretwork, setting intonation, and custom string-height adjustments
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