8 easy steps ANYONE can do to transform your guitar! Setting up the Fesley FDK800  

Just a couple of small additional things I would have done. The neck screws shouldn't thread though the body, they should be able to easily pass through it. This allows them to pull the neck tighter to the body when tightened. Next, after you restrung it and got it back under tension I would have then simply backed each neck screw out about 1/2 turn to allow the string tension to pull the neck into the pocket and then tightened the neck screws back down. That's also a good time to make sure the neck is centered and that you have the same distance from the edges to the fretboard to both E strings.

Great video. Every guitar player needs to know these things. I've discovered that tuning the e strings first helps. Really like the tiny screw trick

I remember in the hangout someone said they dont know why people like thin necks. I prefer thin necks but its what is comfortable for the person to play. Thanks for the setup vid, Good advice RJ. Have a Great weekend Bro

That was entertaining! I usually just check pickup height at 12 frets. You could verify how straight a neck is with strings on, also. Or is there an advantage without strings placed?

Thanks, man.I've been wanting tdo that to several guitar.That I bought and I just didn't play because I weren't set up. I don't get the tools ordered. And give it a shot. This is a thing. I love about your channel. You do all kinds of stuff. If crazy funny stuff, Siri is stuff. And I always learned something. Thanks dude

Great tips. I don't think stores do a good a setup like they used too. More the reason to learn how.

The BEST thing Fesley could do to make their guitars better….is to STOP PUTTING THEIR NAME ON THE 12TH FRET!!! That is SO uncool!

Your ability 🪄 brilliant 😁

You just showed us how to save $100 in guitar setup.

I liked this video a lot... you made it interesting, but you always are REAL and not FAKE... Bravo..!

Good Detail on this vid. -- very helpful.

I think you should probably check fretboard straightness again after you have string tension on it. I could be wrong though.

Killer vid! Love the flamed maple with the white binding on that guitar. How's that trem holding up? Did it stay in tune after a few deep trem dives? Just sub'd 🤘

With the amount of videos on YT about set ups I'm still amazed more people don't do their own... I used them to teach myself and haven't paid for a set up in idk how long. I've even started building guitars in the last few years. Learned almost everything by watching YT videos. This is the age of information people. Take advantage of it!!!

Glad you don't use interval trem set up,it seems kinda hard. the fesley is great

🎶🌉🎶🎸🎶🌉🎶🎸🎶🌉🎶🎸 I LOVE when you do videos like this one! I'd been thinking of ordering the tools and Boom! You showed me exactly what to get. Until today, I had ZERO knowledge of how floating bridges work. I just love learning new things about guitars. THANKS SHREDDER!!! 🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟

Dude, you have a Line 6 Spider III 2x12? Wow! I'm a Line 6 guy myself! Have a Spider III 15 and Spider V 60! Bad ass amps! !😁🤘🎸

Wondered what your favorite strings were.

Hi Richard, I've been maintaining guitars for 50 years. Going to do this point form to make it short. 1) Anytime you pull the strings off your guitar, unless it's a maple neck, you should condition the neck. I've been using RAW Linseed oil on my guitars for fifty years and swear by the stuff. Amazing on Rosewood, works well on Pau Ferro. 2.) Always use 2 hands on a fret rocker is my belief, learned that the hard way. 3) Neck relief should be done with the strings on, what you did so you could check for uneven frets is fine. And maybe as you use .09 to .042 strings, allowed you to get away without checking neck relief after the fact. I use .011 to .052, I always have to tighten my truss rod after I have tuned up the guitar after a full setup. 18 of my 22 guitars use a floating bridge. 4) I believe the Fesley neck radius is probably 12, the saddles are meant to follow that radius and there is a cheap set of radius guides that should be used. The 2 screws at the top and bottom of your floating bridge is where the string height adjustment should have been done. 5) And most important, you did not check and adjust your intonation. Setting your guitar's intonation is one of the most important aspects of a setup. If your intonation is wrong, chords and notes as you progress up to the 12th fret and beyond, won't be in tune. Almost forgot. Stewmac sells maple shims at varying degrees and are worth every dime. Long ago I used to shim a neck like you just showed, the full maple shims are superior in so many ways. I am not being critical, just want to share what I have learned over 50 years and I am still learning as new tools and methods for performing these tasks evolve. What you do for the community is awesome, keep it up.

Nice! Learned a lil there! Also watch SixStringStanger, GuitarMax and Sean at Scarred Guitars! 😁🤘🎸

I only own a single acoustic electric at the moment, so the tools and most of this set up doesn't apply to me, but once I can afford to get an electric again, I'll probably take a stab at my own set ups. Thanks for the video. I'd love to know what you are using to get that tone on the shred demo at the end. It's killer.

That was some of the fastest setting up I have ever seen! But actual serious question: Shouldn't you recheck the flatness of the neck again after you restring it? since string tension puts pressure on the neck or is the difference negligible?

Cool. I subbed. Oh, wouldnt you want to adjust the truss rod (flat edge)while strung and tuned? Then lower the tuning and adjust and retune until the neck is flat while strung and tuned up??? Just a thought....🎉

Was looking forward to see this video after you talked about this on the live stream. Hope the shoulder is getting better!

1

there is a much better way to set the floating bridge...Lock the bridge, tune it up, release the springs....Done!

Nice job and teacher ☝🏽

I got same guitar, BUT when I lowered my strings fhey hit the middle pick-up, and I could not lower the pickup. Ideas?

Oh man if this video was out 6 years ago it would have made my life so much easier LOL. I did manage to learn all this but it took me about six months of scrounging the internet haha. It's difficult to learn when you don't even know what you're trying to learn.

Great!!! Would be cool to see you do this again with little better camera work to understand neck pocket string height stuff. Still confused about string height. Love my C1 Schecter, but I need to set it up❤

I recently bought a guitar neck straight edge tool I bought on Amazon. I took 3:27 it to work to check the straightness on a surface plate. I found that it was bowed about .015 thousands of an inch. So I fixed it by grinding it on a surface grinder. Now it's dead straight. So a heads up for anyone using a straightness gauge. Make sure it's straight first.

Did you consider lowering the two point trem screws (2 hex crews)to lower the action? I notice you went right to the saddles after you shim the neck. I am ready to do this to my FDK800 to lower the action. Thanks for the video. Another question, is this fret-board ok to oil with the same oil I use on a rosewood fret board?

Well I was subscribed. Re-subbed.

Nothing better than working on cheap guitars and listening to some good music. Be glad when I can play it without it sounding like a couple of cats fighting. Lol

I’m learning…. Thanks for sharing!

Why would you not put a set of locking tuners on immediately and a Graph Tech nut?

I'd never used paper as a shim before. Thanks for the tip I don't have a way to cut a wood shim and haven't been able to find a precut one that fits my guitar. But I can cut paper in my small place.

Awesome Video Thank you Shredder 😁

Very informative bud Good job😊

Dr. this patient needs a Floyd transplant STAT!

Plumbers tape works best for a loose wiggle stick

how do you know whether to tighten or loosen the truss rod? is it based on if the neck is basically convex or concave? (ie bowing up or down)

Ordered the neck straight edge. Didn't notice I didn't have one. Thank you for your kindness. I believe every action is recorded in time. Nothing is lost. I'm left handed. Hard to find Ibanez Lefties. I have 6 electric lefties. Each a different type. They sound so good I forget to check details.

Wow, a set-up vid! Great tips mr Shredder!

Awesome job!! 🎸🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

I'm liking this video. No b.s. just good info and some shredding!!!

I like the way that you have simplified the set up process. Cool trick with the allen wrench to remove the ball end of the guitar string. Well done!

Super helpful. My notched straight edge is out for delivery. This is a great video. Every guitar player should watch.

Ha haa I love that yellow sign in the background that says Don’t Touch My Guitar!

Great basic set up video!

Did 2Yards show you all of this info?

Great Video there brother...I have those tools but I've been a little fearful of adjusting the truss rod..

Okay, maybe I missed it, but my FDK800 (just delivered) has an issue with the Fret Bars (dividing the frets). They are rough/sharp and dig my hand/fingers going up and down the neck. How do I fix that? It's really not that playable as is!

N00B Here: When I install the Trem Bar, how tight should I screw it in??? Because if I screw it in until it just stops (no force), then it's way out of position. So I would have to force it to keep turning it to be in position (I didn't). But if I back off so that it'll be in position, then it's not screwed in all the way. Is that why you used the spring? To make it like it's screwed in all the way??? If so, did you use a particular spring (Part #)? Sorry that I'm asking stupid questions. Just bought a guitar (this one) again after 40 years and even back then, I never had one with a Trem Bar, so first time for me.

So what was the action height on low E?

Great video! Love it!!! 👍👍🔥🔥

Love the Ernie Ball Strings. .My wife and I both use them on our guitars.. Great Tips .. You were working hard on stretching the strings. Have you seen a string stretcher. Eddie Van Halens Luthier well former one Tom Webber swears by them. Looks like s did 🪒 razor handle. Note Both TEMU & ALIE EXPRESS have knock off ones $1.79 each my wife and I each own 6 each. That way you can use 1 for each string. They get hot from stretching the strings. So Tom Webber alternates using 3 of them. 1 just figured the knock offs are so cheap Just by 1 for each string. You can look for the video of Tom Webber setting up a #evhguitars the FtankenStrat. They save time & energy. So well worth the investment. The guitar is beautiful BTW. Cheers 🍻🥃🥃 🎸🎵🎶 🎶🎶🎶

Are they SS frets?

Good video man need to set up my Firefly!

i have that guitar

Would you be willing to do an episode of leveling frets and crowning them?

Why do people want 1.0mm action? I just can’t get along with it that low.

Nice job! Good info for beginners! Thanks Shreddermister 🤘 😊 I've been working on guitars for 30+yrs! Playing for 50+ yrs! 30+yrs Bald!😮

So Richard, when you set your action, you don't match the radius of the strings to the fretboard? Are you just setting them all at the same height across the neck?

Where did you get this guitar

I like Leo Jaymz guitars better than Fesley.

Good to see you wearing your eye protection… OSHA compliance is a must!

This is a masterclass right here! Very generous lesson!

Glad you spoke about floating strat style bridges. It is a PAIN to set floating. And you have to adjust it AGAIN once your strings are well broken in.

Nice vid. Lots of great info on how to do stuff. Thanks so much.

Another great vid, Richard. Simple and clear instructions. Your vids are always good. This one is gong to help a lot of people out! Good stuff. Love that guitar, too! That's another one I want. Sigh....

This is great for beginner or novice guitar players/techs. You do a good job of explaining things and break things down in a simple way.

Was just gonna leave w no comment but title says 10X better. A lot of good info on RU-vid...but not always. Why bother w a fret rocker and leave bad fret alone. It has been confirmed by many luthiers that partial shims are bad and on and on. Ok, cheap guitar but..

forgot to do intonation.