Guitar “Setups”

Guitar “setups” refer to a service whereby a Haywire guitar tech professional will evaluate the instrument’s condition, perform maintenance, adjustments and cleaning, and then make tailored tweaks to best fit the player’s needs. Part of being a successful musician is being willing to have your guitar well maintained.

Digital Calipers in Haywire Custom Shop for help finding neck shave thickness

Regular guitar setups are not only an important part of playing your guitar or bass, but keep the instrument in-tune and Gig-Ready. We want to help you to play and sound your best at every performance. Whether  you play an electric or acoustic guitar, they need to be set up. A guitar setup is always required when “NEW” or difficult to play.

• We’ll  assess the instrument for overall structural integrity: check the neck angle, correct bow or hump
• Check frets for straightness to keep it playing correctly is simply good guitar care
• Make sure frets are level, properly seated, and not excessively worn and level as necessary
• Visually inspect nut and string saddles for any imperfections, maladjustment and proper spacing
• If required, test that all electronic components are working correctly 
• Set action, intonation, radius strings to fret board and set pick-up height where needed for max comfort
• Test and play to get the overall feel correct for the specific player using that instrument

We give our honest opinion based on years of professional instrument care and maintenance experience. Although it takes time to perform an adequate setup, we invite players to stay and watch us.  We encourage them to ask questions and learn more about their guitars. We explain what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.

adjusting your guitar truss rod for straightness at the guitar head stock is one part of our guitar setups

Playing music is challenging enough without unnecessarily fighting a poorly playing instrument. We’re musicians working for musicians and want to get it exactly right for you. Your time is valuable. The time spent diagnosing and setting up your instrument should be productive.  After we complete all tasks to get your guitar right, there will be fewer roadblocks to your success as a musician. You will be a happy guitar player!  We promise!

Jazz is Phish guitarist Lee Barbour from Charleston, SC. @leebarbour Plays a Haywire guitar with a custom guitar setup