How to adjust the action on your guitar. 

This is the absolute best explanation of playability of an acoustic guitar that I’ve seen. I can’t believe I’m just finding this video!

I set up acoustic guitars professionally for my customers at my studio here in England. This is not only the best and clearest demonstration of the setup process I have ever seen, but also a demonstration of your passion for your craft in creating that brilliant model. Props dude. I'm so glad I found this channel. You're killing it. Love your work 🙂

30 years of experience playing guitar. I’ve seen hundreds of setup videos. This one is the absolute best one. My hat’s off to you!

that model is a stroke of genius in understanding applied mechanics its practical and provides instant recognition of the problems every responsible guitarist should be aware of, great stuff ,

Hi Chris, this is really the best explanation about guitar setup i have come accross. Your setup simulator is absolutely fantastic, it helps so much to be able to see the impact of a modification on the nut or saddle, or neck relief instead of just a theorical explanation. You really did a great job here, thank you very much.

Single-handedly the best explanation of this that I’ve ever come across on the Internet. Thank you so much.

You would've been a very successful engineer. The things you do, especially the accelerated failure mode testing... measuring the bow of the top, measuring the depth of the dents using a dial indicator, etc. Now you build a model, a very functional teaching model, and are using it to help your viewers understand a guitar setup...you ARE the man. Thank you so much. Who'da thought that James Franco had this level of engineering and teaching skills...and I thought you were just a stoner Hollywood actor!

Humble hardworking patient , help him get these videos out people . As i continue to watch this channel i now know what a good guitar is .

I’ve been playing for over forty-five years, doing my own setups for almost twenty, and worked as a guitar tech for about a year before being recalled into the military, and this is the best explanation of how to set up a guitar I have ever seen. Excellence!

How has this guy been around since 2007 and I've never heard of him?? Completely underrated. This guy is amazing, his guitars are some of the best I've seen, the inlay work is kickass. Awesome job Chris. Now I need to go rob a bank so I can own one of these someday.

This was awesome. Appreciate your time and energy making this video. Hands down the best visuals on guitar setups and care!

That is by far the best teaching tool I’ve ever seen. I wish you’d sell these so I can use it to demonstrate!

how come anyone that watch this video ended up not subscribed to your channel? it confused me. i own taylor, yamaha and epiphone. hopefully one day i can order a guitar from you. amazing work sir.

That's the best explanation about setting I've ever seen. Thanks a lot for your generosity in making and sharing it.

Fantastic video man. Super informative and easy to understand. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this for us.

Great video. I have an old $100 beater acoustic/electric I've had it for almost 20 yrs. Could never get it to intonate. So I tuned it for slide. However saw another builder's video, a guy described exactly what was wrong my old beater. The guy said "check your nut". 1st I lowered the action by shaving the saddle, that helped, but it still was sharp along the fret board. Decided it was an inexpensive guitar, so I did the half pencil trick, all the strings were too high. I filed the slots to the point I had .020 at the 1st fret, the old guitar came to life. Every fret was in tune on all the strings (to my amazement). The guitar is basically plywood, but she actually sounds Great! I decided to do the same with a newer 335 copy I bought for $150, that, a fret leveling & crowning, a new set of $20 humbuckers, set the action to Gibson recommendations, that guitar sounds good (the pups are $20 so ididnt expect it sound like a real 335), plays like a dream as well. I've been playing 50+ yrs, & never realised how a few thousanths on a nut, could make such a difference. I've got a '92 Fender Telecaster that only needed a bit of saddle adjustment, it's always played great. Of course the guitar companies do set their guitars up with high action, (so they don't buzz when people try them out). Funny how a few tweaks can turn a cheap guitar into 1 that plays well, & sounds pretty good.

Excellent visualization and explanation of the variables involved and how it reflects to different aspects of playability. What a great teaching aid you built! I learned a ton!

Just ran across a couple of your videos. This one really blew me away. What an ingenious tool you've made to explain the complexities of guitar setup. An excellent video!

Great model. Really made it easy to visualize the concepts you were presenting.

I cannot thing of nor have I seen anywhere such an eloquent and accurate visual depiction of guitar build and action. Answered a slew a questions I had. Thank you!

Very well produced and nice move with the test model. That really puts it into perspective.

Awesome video and thanks for taking the time to build this model. Best demo I've ever seen on explaining these things. I know some of these things but you explained it all on a different level that is extremely helpful to me. Thank you!

Thanks! Your demo tool does a good job of illustrating how changing different parts will change the relationship between the nut, neck, saddle, the frets and the strings. Never thought about how a string change would affect the geometry of the guitar, or how to tell what's making an instrument that used to play well, play poorly now. Very informative! Everyone who watched is now smarter. Thanks for the video!

Hands down the most informative vid I've seen on this subject, and love the demo model.

The thought and time that you put into this video is amazing! And the fact that you are willing to share your process says so much about you. Obvious confidence and competence! Making that model was a great idea - not many would have put so much time and care in doing that. Thanks for what you do!

You have done a great service to the guitar playing community. And guitar mechanics as well. I plan on sharing your video to all my playing friends. I was planning on making my own video someday on how to evaluate a used guitar and you have covered every aspect in this video. Thx.

Just a brilliant and informative explanation of setting up....and the best I've ever witnessed. Well done.

I've always wanted to maintain my own guitars but thought it was voodoo or black magic. The algorithm brought me here but this explanation is what's keeping me here. I hope this comment makes the algorithm happy because this was brilliant and more people should know this. Thank you! Liked and subbed.

Fantastic explanation and demonstration of all the factors involved! I love the cross-section/"slice" of a guitar side-view model you came up with -- really neat idea!

Incredible little model you’ve made here. Awesome.

This is such a great tutorial and your teaching rig is genius. I have pretty much had to set up every guitar I've ever adopted except my most recent Taylor which was one of the only 2 brand new ones. The other new one needed filing and truss adjustments right away. It was great to watch how you do things and learn new (and better) ways of doing things. Thanks 👍

That model is perfect. And you explained guitar geometry very well. I've been enjoying your videos very much. Thanks Chris.

You've inspired me to attempt a much needed setup on my old Seagull S6. As others have said, this really is the best explanation of what a setup is and how to go about it. I love the model. I'm already looking for more videos where you use it.

You know your stuff! Love it. Thank you for this demo - super helpful!

A brilliant and easy explanation of guitar playability.👌

This is the finest explanation of hows and whys of set up and visually makes everything so clear and obvious.

Great video. It might be the most instructional video I have ever watched about setting up a guitar. Well done!

This visualization model is pure genius! Excellent job!👏🏻

Awesome simulator! Well done! By far, the best comprehensive explanation of guitar playability in the universe!

Honestly the best setup video i have seen. Great job bro!!!

The model and explanations were outstanding.

This is a great video, thank you very much for taking the time and effort to put this together.

I really appreaciate your time, this video was very clear and to the point.

What an insightful lesson, thanks!

Absolutely brilliant, many thanks from the UK .

Best explanation of acoustic guitar setup with an amazing training aid I've ever seen. ❤

Wow! Do you know how many videos I had to watch just to learn what you taught me in just a few minutes? What a great teaching tool. That model you made is an excellent visual tool that makes it simple to understand the concept of what is causing the action on a guitar to require adjustment and how to troubleshoot to know where the adjustment needs to be done. Thank you for taking the time to make that model and for this video. Now I feel more knowledgeable and educated and confident about setting up my guitar. A million thanks.

The model was a wonderful learning tool to allow us to see how the physics of the guitar work and how subtle factors affect playability. Thank you so much!

Awesome model and very helpful demo!👍🏼👍🏼

That was just brilliant, Chris. Thank you!

I am late to the game here, but I love this channel and the work you do! This is an amazing video and explanation the playability of an acoustic guitar! You are a great teacher. Thanks for putting these videos out and providing this content!

thank you for posting this video. really helpful.. love your channel and expertise!

Easily the best video I’ve seen from you 😀. That model is amazing, great explanation, thanks Chris!

What a great and informative Video. I feel the model helps demonstrate the different areas for potential adjustment that may be required, and also the effects on the complete setup. Probably the most informative & practical demonstration I have see. Thank you.

This demonstration tool was fantastic. Great job, thank you Rob

A better explanation than this is not possible. Thank you very much for all your effort to explain this item with your fantastic cnc model.

That model is amazing!! Very clever aid to help explain all the principles in an intuitive manner… love it and great job!!!

Hands down the best acoustic guitar "set up" demonstration and tutorial video!!! And... huge props for the clever ingenuity of that model. Thank you !

Awesome show and tell video! Thanks, i learned quite a lot!

Absolutely brilliant video! Well done

What an absolutely brilliant video !!!! This is so helpful, fantastic !!! 😍🎸👌

What a great teaching tool! I learned a lot today, thanks.

Love the model which provides the perfect visuals to better understand cause and effect. Thank you!

ditto and kudos . best visual instruction on the mechanics of guitar set up. bravo.

What a fantastic model. I can't imagine a better visual tool to help truly understand the various adjustments. Thank you.

I have been building and setting up guitars for decades, and this is absolutely the most helpful video I have ever watched. Thank you for sharing this valuable information with others.

Great job, thank you, cant wait for the next video👍👍

An excellent demonstration on setting up a guitar! Thank you so much!

Watched this today. The best setup video ever. Pure genius. Thank you for taking the time to explain it so thoroughly. That example you made works visually and virtually perfect.

Easily the finest explanation of all the items that make your guitar the most playable; I had not thought about string tension and other factors which bring it to PERFECT ! Thank you much.

Excellent video! I'm exploring learning how to do my own guitar setups for the first time and this was super helpful :)

I had no choice but to subscribe after watching this awesome video! I'm also impressed that you took the time/effort to build the great working teaching aid you used. Much better than drawing diagrams on a whiteboard, or computer illustration. Your knowledge and teaching techniques are top shelf. Thanks!

This is a lot of variation to absorb but by far, leaps and bounds the best setup video I have ever seen WOW !! Excellent video thank you!

Been playing for a long time and you taught me a lot. Thank you!

Thanks Chris for sharing your knowledge. Enjoyed this video very much.

Excellent video. That model is very helpful in understanding the various factors that impact playability of a guitar.

The best explanation of acoustic guitar action on the internet!

Brilliant explanation. Thank you for all the work that went into this video.🎶🎶🎶

Brilliant idea with the model!

This video, your presentation and the intricate model is an another level. This is qualitatively different from anything else on the internet - a true gold standard. Masterclass. Outstanding.

Thanks so much for this awesome information! I appreciate the work you put in to make that model and make this video. It’s incredible!

Really good video, love your model...am off to explore the rest of your videos for more juicy info... 🤘🏽

Very creative way to show and explain what goes on concerning the most important part of any stringed instrument. Thanks for sharing this visual explanation, breakdown of the basic principles of the setup. As an artist I am visually able to learn much better then any other way, see it being done, workings thereof make it very simple to figure out.

So much good information. Thank you for providing it to all of us.

Exceptional video explaining the various nuances affecting a guitar’s action!

I can see why you were excited about this project. Excellent work and teaching aid. very cool!

Not only is this by far best vid on playability adjustment I've ever seen, it has got to be among the best presented vids, on any subject, on the whole of RU-vid. Thanks. I've learnt a lot.

Wow, your explanation using these props is really awesome. You're really intent on teaching the lesson. Thank you very much for your effort. I appreciate it. So far, your video is the best and the most comprehensive for explaining how to set up an acoustic guitar. Super! 👍👍

Just got my first acoustic guitar, and setting it up is a lot more tricky than any of my electrics so I appreciate the detailed explanations and the visualization on your guitar model along with all the helpful tips.

I can’t tell you how many times I have reviewed this video. It is an exceptional explanation of guitar dynamics and your visual aid should be used in classrooms. The work and time you have put into your videos is not unnoticed. Keep up the great work!

Hi Chris, I just watched this after seeing your latest "guitar tech" video. I have to say that I have watched many different setup videos over the years and this one is the most clearly explained of all. The model you made is a genius idea...Even though I do my own setups this is a great way to show what actually happens with all the interactive parts.

Thanks for this video Chris! I love your channel! You are one gifted teacher! Your explanation of guitar setup is pure genius! I love that you took the time to design a model. The visual representation of how string tension, neck angle, nut, and saddle heights, and humidity changes were so easy to follow along with the model. I don't know much about guitar setups but I feel like this video is an amazing start, and it doesn't make it mystical or scary. Keep making great videos, and thank you!

The best acoustic guitar setup video bar none!!! You cover every aspect of the problems and causes answering which course of action and setup steps to correct it! You’re THE MAN!!!! Thank you so much for what you do for us!!!!

Fantastic, informative, video! Brilliantly done, thank you!

Simply said, thank you for this. This is by far the best setup content I’ve seen.

Excellent video, the best explanation I've seen. Really helpful thank you

Great teaching aid. You really make guitar setup clear!

Although I am already familiar with all this and do my own set ups and make my own nuts and saddles, I had to watch this as that demo is just fantastic. Great teaching tool!

You are a total genius…thanks for sharing your expertise!

I want to echo what others have already said, by far, this is the best explanation of the mechanics of an acoustic guitar and how the adjustable pieces affect each other. Great job!