Pro Guitar Tech's Most Hated Things (and how to fix them)

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When it comes to setting up your guitar, theres many different methods and practices. In today's video, my friend Ben Calhoun at Big House Guitars in Atlanta Ga, shows us some of his biggest pet peeves when setting up and maintaining your acoustic guitar. Some of these things I've even done and showed on this channel in the past!
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Опубликовано:

13 авг 2023

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Комментарии : 2,6 тыс.

@rosswheatley8329 9 месяцев назад

Been playing guitar for over 20 years, building guitars for around 10, and the "just pull it back one fret" trick just changed my life.

@splitsurround 9 месяцев назад

right???

@rick00770 9 месяцев назад

Amen , great advice.

@Fawkes318 9 месяцев назад

I've always used the old pinky on the body, string on the index and spread the gap more the smaller the string. I'm gonna have to try this.

@jermthemicrocosm 9 месяцев назад

Dude… same and same.

@dugger0 9 месяцев назад

Same. I learned the trick he used to wind the string but I could never get the amount of winds right.

@ytmndan 6 месяцев назад

I love that pull it back one fret trick. It's so simple, effective, and consistent. I wish I knew that 25 years ago.

@donwold1622 7 месяцев назад

I have learned more here in ten minutes than I have during the last 40 years of playing, stringing, and fooling around with guitars. Thank you!

@bustersgarage 6 месяцев назад

Me too! Great info!!

@twigsagan3857 2 месяца назад

Same for me except 20 years instead of 40.

@HerbertLemons 9 дней назад

Been playing guitar for 44 years. Like most everybody here, this little 15 minute video has succinctly shown me where I've been making an arse of myself all this time.

@chuckstroud1410 10 месяцев назад

This guy = no BS and doesn't over complicate things. Awesome.

@rstevenhanson 9 месяцев назад

Yep. Best vid ever on these topics.

@ditlevj 9 месяцев назад

😢😢

@therapist6328 9 месяцев назад

You sir, are a mind reader.

@asdf9890 9 месяцев назад

This vid was nice, usually he chats so long I can’t be bothered, but this is good info

@mefirst4266 9 месяцев назад

BALONEY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@johndinsdale4454 10 месяцев назад

Man, why can't all setup vids be like this? Straight to the point, plain English, nothing superfluous. Bravo. Keeping this.

@Zach-ls1if 8 месяцев назад

Because there’s people that speak other languages

@johndinsdale4454 8 месяцев назад

@@Zach-ls1if clearly! 😅 I just meant it's simple and clear. I've nothing against other languages, I promise you.

@Zach-ls1if 8 месяцев назад

@@johndinsdale4454 I know, I’m just being a dork and trolling, cheers and thanks

@johndinsdale4454 8 месяцев назад

@@Zach-ls1if ha ha! Got me. Have an awesome day chap 😎

@CreepyCat. 8 месяцев назад

Weeell Gibson did do a great job with their video

@billwentz5014 8 месяцев назад

I've been playing acoustic guitar since 1964. This is the best information on set up I've even seen. I feel like I want to change all my strings now. Amazing information. Thank you!

@theflash1425 8 месяцев назад

I agree, he did a great job. If you want to see another very informative video on setup, go find the setup video from Rosa String Works (RSW). No, I"m not related to him!

@timn5008 3 месяца назад

Same here. I bookmarked this. Fantastic information! I'm changing the strings tomorrow, and putting oil on the fretboard.

@larrykaplan6199 6 месяцев назад

Hands down, this is the best, most informative, and clearest summary/demonstration of basic acoustic guitar maintenance I have ever seen. Wish I was closer to Atlanta-thanks guys, for this video.

@Inumakitoge99 10 месяцев назад

Fretter and inlayer for a professional acoustic guitar company here! Looking down the neck helps great to see if your frets are all in line and level. When light catches a high fret it will shine before the rest of the frets as you bring the guitar up and down with your hand. That’s what it should be used for, not so much using it to spot the neck itself!

@Bringyourownhammer 10 месяцев назад

I’ve always sighted down the neck like that to see if the neck is twisting.

@Levibetz 10 месяцев назад

Also when buying a guitar it'll give you a quick easy way to quickly see if you're buying a turd. I'm mainly looking to see it's the same side to side, that the neck isn't twisted.

@kristopherk5454 10 месяцев назад

It will certainly tell you if there are big problems, but as far as fine tuning you need a good straightedge or use the string as a straightedge for relief.

@autokrohne 10 месяцев назад

Thank you! Very helpful!

@ravenflight88 10 месяцев назад

anyone putting in frets knows that there is no such thing as "sighting down the tops" they ALWAYS check their work with a fret rocker guage. I wouldn't trust anyone's "eye sight method" does your mechanic align your wheels with eye sight method 😂😂😂

@odelljl 10 месяцев назад

This is gold ... please feature Ben as often as he is willing!

@johniadanza4510 9 месяцев назад

Yes he’s great to watch

@christopherhawthorne5395 6 месяцев назад

Agreed

@NerdFiction 2 месяца назад

I'm out here like, when's Ben making his own channel? I'd be patreon sub for this quality of content.

@michaelwadehill4917 9 месяцев назад

I've changed strings hundreds of times over the past 40 years and it's nice to see that a professional agrees with the way I've changed them. I've had arguments about it over the years with other players that do all kinds of weird knots and there is just no reason for it.

@mikevasquez8270 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for posting this video. This is probably the best "how to" basic advice on Proper Guitar Set-up that I have ever viewed (and I have seen plenty) Your concepts are logical, simple, and easy to follow and remember. The part that really sold me was the "nothing straighter than a string" when trying to measure action height. You are absolutely correct sir. As a land surveyor technician most of my life, I can attest to that. We used a string as a tool and unit of measurement to measure vertical plumb. In other words, you can tell if something is straight simply by hanging a string with a washer or a nut and compare using the ole "eyeball method". When you said that, I knew that you knew what you were talking about and that your information was trustworthy. Everything here makes a lot of sense. I will share this video with my friends. Thanks again. Mike V. Albuquerque, NM

@muzikjay 10 месяцев назад

Wow. One of the most helpful guitar videos I’ve ever seen! I learn so much every time Ben is featured on here.

@liquensrollant 10 месяцев назад

Agreed.

@dannyhughes5528 10 месяцев назад

Yeah Ben much respect and a truly nice guy

@kellymckenzie4865 10 месяцев назад

Seriously. I want a RU-vid channel where he explains everything

@maxx5953 10 месяцев назад

Ben is one of the most knowledgeable people on gear you will ever meet. He has done work on a number of my electrics. All play and sound incredible.

@mcburney74 10 месяцев назад

When i discovered using a feeler gauge for neck relief about 8 yrs ago after counless times of having my guitars and Bass guitars setup wrong by 4 different guitar techs from 4 different stores in my area! I learned too set up my Instruments myself with no headaches or dissapointments letalone $250 in setups while there guessing looking down the neck 😢 ! Benchmark with no guessing 😁

@RemiCardona 10 месяцев назад

Having seen Ben in many videos over the years, he seems like a really cool and knowledgeable guy. Always glad to see him here.

@RhettShull 10 месяцев назад

Ben is the man!

@jordanbrown7192 10 месяцев назад

@@1LouderSoundit's the "Gibson wrap" supposedly because guys started doing it trying to fight de-tuning. Which works. Which is why almost everyone does it. Like almost everyone. Just not Ben. I guess it's just personal preference. It does look a little better, and it's easier to get the string off. That's the only benefit. If Gibson, fender, Martin and countless people swear by the correct way to do it, I would suggest listening to them, not the guy slanging consignment guitars.

@norseman61 10 месяцев назад

I think he was criticizing the Gibson knot technique from the perspective of a luthier. He doesn’t like having to undo the knot to remove the string. You know, because it takes sooooo long to do.

@kristopherk5454 10 месяцев назад

@@jordanbrown7192isn’t the Gibson wrap where you wrap towards the top of the post? Like the opposite of the standard wrap but not necessarily the locking knot?

@kristopherk5454 10 месяцев назад

@@1LouderSoundDon’t hate the player, hate the game. That’s how you get tons of followers and views- make a provocative statement like how to “properly” do something. I bet if you made a video claiming the opposite and introduced yourself with your credentials you’d get good traffic too and people would learn the benefits of doing things as you’ve experienced. For example the great Rene Martinez shows how he winds strings. He does the locking wrap and aims for as few wraps as possible because the extra string length leads to more detuning as the string stretches over time. 👌🏻

@adamfeder7125 9 месяцев назад

What a game-changing video. I've been terrified to do anything to my acoustic guitar and BOOM you and Ben just simplified things so much. I like to do some of the work on my electric guitars but never felt comfortable on the acoustic for some reason. You also made my day with a couple of things you showed that I have been doing correctly (I guess I watched the right videos... HAH HAH) on my electric guitars like how I have measured the relief and also with my rosewood fretboards NOT saturating them with a ton of oil and leaving it on there but instead wiping it off right away. One funny thing was when Ben said not to sight along the neck I really enjoyed the way you handled being shown something different than what you've done in the past. I have always respected you greatly, Rhett, and you increased my respect for you by showing a willingness to learn. Good on you, sir!!! And now I have to make a trip down to Big House Guitars since I live in the suburbs of Atlanta.

@dooleykeith 9 месяцев назад

I had a whole discussion with a friend about how string saddles on electric guitars look like two "stair step" patterns. This is the first time I have ever heard anyone besides me talk about this relationship. Thanks for the validation! Keep up the good work, Rhett!

@GuitaristOnWheels 10 месяцев назад

I’ve always struggled to get the right amount of wraps for a string and the 1 fret trick is the best thing I’ve seen!

@jamesgardner2101 10 месяцев назад

I use the length to the next peg and pull back, then the first wrap over the tail and the rest under. About 2 1/2 wraps on the low strings and 3 on the highs.

@fiddsj45 9 месяцев назад

@@jamesgardner2101same here except my dad taught me to just cut each string at the next peg and then string it up...the D and G just eyeball as though there was another peg past them.

@dtrude000 10 месяцев назад

It is always good to have friends and colleagues who are not afraid to tell you the truth and back it up with common sense and logic. Great content as usual.

@mfhulskemper 8 месяцев назад

It's one of the major criteria I base my selection of actual, real friendship on. ; ) Rock on, everybody!

@ConeyProduction 7 месяцев назад

Hands down one of the most useful guitar setup videos I've ever seen! Thank you

@SamadhiGuitar 9 месяцев назад

Ive been restringing my own guitars for decades and Ive never seen the back up one fret technique before. I’ve overthought this to death and its been this simple the whole time 😂

@HowieStephens 7 месяцев назад

I've always held my hand perpendicular to the 12th fret with the string going over my hand to get the length. But now that I think about it, that would be a different total length for different sized hands. Will try this one-fret method next time.

@missingremote4388 7 месяцев назад

Same here . 12 fret bend string. Then tighten

@reginaayat5390 6 месяцев назад

Learned that one early on. Not sure where I picked that up

@stone5against1 5 месяцев назад

@@HowieStephens Same! pulling back one fret is so much more simpler!

@SwedeSpeeder 5 месяцев назад

Imagine me using the pull the string up from the fretboard a fingers length...with four inch fingers. 😂

@jdmorgan8863 10 месяцев назад

WoW!! I'm 67, been playing since I was 13. I sure wish I'd learned from a master like this decades ago. Thanks so much, both of you. I will pass this on to my son.

@institchez5366 9 месяцев назад

😂

@DEJONGLIVE 7 месяцев назад

I have been an acoustic guitar player for over 20 years And I just learned more in the last few minutes Then in 20 years combined. Great video, thank you.

@andrewrobson3647 6 месяцев назад

What a fabulous guitar tech Ben is! Great video. Super-informative, clear, and easy to like.

@Kahawai68 9 месяцев назад

This is seriously one of the greatest videos ever. As a working musician for many many years I can’t tell you how useful this has been.

@DaveMorrisonMusic 9 месяцев назад

I took a chance and restrung my guitar as suggested here. I played a gig yesterday outdoors near the ocean, and my guitar has NEVER stayed in tune so well. I mean, this has really changed the game. I'm shocked and delighted to have finally found a better method. PS ... I've been doing it wrong for 40 years.

@TheDiaboliq666 9 месяцев назад

Wrong how?

@ourjob6629 9 месяцев назад

Remember, good technician never work in a store. He is just a storyteller.

@jeffro. 9 месяцев назад

@@ourjob6629Yes, of course THAT makes sense. NOT!

@onixtheone 9 месяцев назад

@@TheDiaboliq666the biggest problem people have restringing is too much or too little wrap and getting wraps on top of each other rather than orderly under each other

@glennrosa234 8 месяцев назад

Same hear bro i would wrap it manually bottom up same results but waste time th 1 fret w winder cant go wrong ....

@authorrayrogers 5 месяцев назад

I learned more in fifteen minutes with this video than in ten years of playing guitar with teachers. Thank you!

@mikesmith8187 9 месяцев назад

Ben really knows his stuff. I’ve been using his methods for the last six years. 👍

@JeffWok 10 месяцев назад

This is why I watch your channel. There are so many trends, breakthroughs, magic and bro science over the years that we need to take a fresh look at what we do every now and again. Great video.

@garybrady2723 10 месяцев назад

Best 'set up' video I've seen after 3 years of watching guitar videos on RU-vid. Would happily watch a full video on each of these points with you learning, along with us viewers, from Ben. Great stuff lads! 👍

@MarkPeotter 9 месяцев назад

The new trick here, for me, was "wiggle" the neck by its' head after turning the truss rod. Very cool. I've been setting up my own guitars for 15 years, but it was great to see that I do things the same way as this expert.

@TheOlandex 2 месяца назад

About 35 years playing guitar and I just learned a few things from Ben. That's so awesome - thanks guys!

@silkroad1201 9 месяцев назад

I love his fret trick, I'm gonna use that from now on. Another trick I learned from my mentor in my recording studio days was after you restring, tune the guitar, then pull every string at every fret and tune again. This is especially helpful for the studio or right before a show when you need to stay in tune

@MattMeNotYou 9 месяцев назад

You should only need to stretch your string open, 5th, 12th, 17th (approx); more if you like, and a couple times up and down. Doing every fret is overkill. Try it next time, you'll be surprised. Once the string is stretched that's it, you shouldn't need to do it before a gig or anything either. A good trick to stay in tune is to always tune from flat up to the correct pitch, never down - it keeps the tention behind the nut. That drastically reduced how often tuned during a set.

@EarthWalkerOne 8 месяцев назад

@@MattMeNotYou I just pinch the string by the bridge and slide up to the nut while pulling up and down. This method is faster and better results IMO.

@tomgorycki7176 9 месяцев назад

A luthier friend taught me this trick to help with intonation: Fretted Flat Forward, meaning if the fretted note at the 12th fret is flat compared to the harmonic, move the saddle forward (towards the neck).

@doctorjones278 9 месяцев назад

"Sharper is shorter", is how I've always remembered it.

@Paul-rt4ix 9 месяцев назад

@@doctorjones278 Correct ; )

@joegriffithsmusic 8 месяцев назад

The way I remember is turn in the smae direction the tuner is showing when you check the intonation. So if the note is sharp then turn the screw to the right, if it's flat then turn it to the left like it shows on the display.

@tomgorycki7176 8 месяцев назад

@@joegriffithsmusic that makes sense!

@joegriffithsmusic 8 месяцев назад

@@tomgorycki7176 haha it's just cause I always forget which direction makes the string shorter or longer lol

@georgeh118 6 месяцев назад

Pulling the string back one fret is a great idea. It makes it so easy and allows for the proper amount of post windings to keep the string locked in place...!

@nickfastmusic 2 месяца назад

I’ve been playing guitar for 20 years. This is one of the most informative guitar set up videos I have seen. Learned a lot. Nice work! Thanks!

@mrzachwright 10 месяцев назад

Interesting. I've never sighted down the neck to set relief, only to check if the neck was twisted. It's nice to have your habits affirmed by a pro. Ben's a cool dude and a good teacher!

@ev25zv 6 месяцев назад

It seemed like Rhett was talking about checking for a twist and the tech was thinking people who sight a neck do it to check relief, as I never ever heard of anyone sighting a neck for relief - only sighting for a twist.

@ViaticalTree 2 месяца назад

@@ev25zvsame here

@jamesborders3731 9 месяцев назад

Thank you, Ben and Rhett, for the clearest explanations of these set-up issues!

@brenttrek 8 месяцев назад

Got my first guitar 4 months ago and this video provides so much information on the maintenance and care. I might not do it on my own yet, but at least I understand a lot more of what I'm looking at.

@blkbrd33 5 месяцев назад

This video packed in a lot of knowledge in a short amount of time. Very much appreciated.

@thierrylecuyer1507 10 месяцев назад

Useful and no BS video. Love it!

@dwerggalago 10 месяцев назад

Some pretty brilliant tips right there. I absolutely love how you're supposed to string to get the ideal number of winding. Even after almost 30 years, it was at times a bit of a guess, but that 'one-fret-back'-thing is super handy. Thanks guys!

@brianwhitenz 9 месяцев назад

Amazing tutorial, I learned a LOT. Plus - I have NEVER seen these things explained so simply and plainly in 30 years of playing. A+

@Grumplestitskin День назад

Ben’s my old high school buddy. Cool to see him still geeking out on guitars.

@DevonVanNote 10 месяцев назад

These tips are invaluable. Ben is awesome! Always love seeing him in your videos.

@carlc2597 9 месяцев назад

I love this kind of stuff - I know a bit about setup and maintenance but always learn something every time I watch these kinds of shows. If I was a young man again I would go to lutherie school and make a career of guitar and amp repair/building.Just didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life back then. Ever wish you could go back and do it all over again with the wisdom you have now?

@garyleahy4537 4 месяца назад

Great video and advice. Having played and worked on guitars for over 40 years, everything he said and showed is exactly the way I maintain every guitar I've ever owned or worked on.

@mikemay8334 4 месяца назад

This guy knows his business, always a pleasure to learn from a master.

@abraxas511 9 месяцев назад

I love the Gibson knot. I am not a guitar tech though, so I am not dealing with unwinding them every day. But nobody can convince me that its not better with less slippage, not even a guitar tech who doesnt like it. He didnt say it wasnt good, he said he didnt like it. The only reason given is, unstringing them.

@VladimirGolev 9 месяцев назад

Completely agreed. And surprised there are many comments braving that they do it “right” like this tech. And no comment that he didn’t even said why he hates it (maybe just more work for him to restring) I used this exact way of stringing without knot for decades, but it’s not holding tune well. But after RU-vid was invented, I learned about knotting, and it changed a lot. It’s used by many pro techs who work with top bands, and who need to restring in few hours before the show or in a mid of the show (in 5 mins to replace a single string until the next song). And they use it for reason, less time for a string to “stretch”. I think with knot it’s more complicated to achieve and easier to fail or create a terrible overall wraps. Btw, there is no right or wrong in music, if you do something and it works for you - then it’s cool. But if you want, you can experiment and try different things, and decide what works better for you.

@bobrojapistole4426 9 месяцев назад

I'm with you! I met magic guitar man who worked on Lucille. Not your average fellow as far as whose guitars he's worked on and I used the knot ever since.. you don't need as long for your strings to stretch and set in. Which he prestetches strings after stringing also... But that long wind bit makes smore stretch over longer time happen in the windings and it will take time for those to hold tune more then the knot.. it's pinched right their. A working blues man musicians knot

@clinlashway9147 9 месяцев назад

I noticed after he said he didn't like knotting, he then said he doesn't cut the string until it's tuned because it might slip. Yeah, okay?. No question the knot holds better but is therefore slightly more difficult to remove. But I can understand for a tech doing many guitars a day, it could be a little annoying. But I'll keep knotting mine.

@abraxas511 9 месяцев назад

@@bobrojapistole4426 Thats how I see it also. You only stretch from peg to tuner knot, instead of from peg to three or four turns around the tuner knob. Thats why it feels so good and consistent.

@jaxone1259 8 месяцев назад

He Shows / hates it when undoing it and he's not acting like a Professional guy doing it either and he doesn't seem to know that less winds are Better ...that's why I have used it for 50 years it works flawlessly and 1 1/2 -2 wraps on the lower strings I don't use it on the non wound strings they're wraps don't add that much bulk and don't affect the sound as much. Yes I think you'll hear more Resonance using the Knot because more wraps is definitely not better JMO. and it's on wind on top 1-1/2 under .. doing it like Martin has since their beginning. It is the BEST WAY JMO again

@johnwehby7371 10 месяцев назад

Looking down the neck helps tell you if the neck is warped. Don't abandon the technique, @Rhett Shull -- just recognize what information you are getting from the exercise.

@user-hv3xl5sj2r 5 месяцев назад

the string wrap trick for tuning... MIND BLOWN. I love it.

@MrBikboi 2 месяца назад

Love hearing from Ben, he should have his own channel. If I lived in the area I would absolutely immediately switch to him for all my guitar work.

@davidburke2132 9 месяцев назад

For me the reason to sight down the neck is to check for neck twist. It something I always do when I’m considering purchasing a new guitar. I would never even think to do it in order to assess neck relief… I don’t see how that could ever be an accurate or meaningful way of doing that, so well said Ben 👍🏻

@ledoynier3694 9 месяцев назад

same ^^ Looking down the neck for relief is near damn impossible.. and if you wear glasses, forget it, it'll be either distorted or blurry lol

@Emhartain 8 месяцев назад

that being said, sighting down the neck to 'check for twist' is about equally useless.

@davidburke2132 8 месяцев назад

@@Emhartain and why exactly is that? You can definitely see if the nut and lower frets are out of parallel with the upper frets and bridge (and then consider how the bridge is set with respect to the body on its bass and treble sides) by sighting down the neck in that way. The human eye is very good at detecting when things are out of parallel in that way. I’ve spoken to a number of guitar techs who have spoken about similar checks. But I’m sure you’ve got a thorough explanation of why it doesn’t make sense and wouldn’t just be making a superficial and unexplained comment just to be contrary, right? 🤔😉

@user-bl3si3kq6x 8 месяцев назад

@Emhartain it will be obvious if it's very twisted. If it's out a tiny bit. Sure.

@dickstryker 8 месяцев назад

Look at it from the side for relief. If it's decked flat or bowed even slightly in either direction you'll notice.

@MrTony2187 10 месяцев назад

Ben is a properly knowledgeable dude, have to say mind was blown a little learning about why the saddles are arranged as they are for intonation to be spot on.

@FloatingOnAZephyr 7 месяцев назад

I could watch this guy all day. Such great information!!

@Whitney62455 7 месяцев назад

most succinct discussion I have ever heard for setting up a guitar.

@J.C... 10 месяцев назад

Those "fret guards" can REALLY mess up your fretboard if you don't pay attention, also. Cheap ones have a bur on the edge so as soon as you lay it on that nice wood and start grinding it into your fretboard while you polish away, it leave a huge line thats dug into your nice fretboard parallel to the fret, from the burr on the edge. I know because it happened to me. I was SICK. All because I bought the $5 set of protectors instead of good ones from Music Nomad or somewhere.

@castleanthrax1833 10 месяцев назад

I think that's going to depend on the set. It's easy enough to feel if there's a bur on them, and if there is, you don't use it or you file away the bur. I can't imagine the steel is very hard.

@feddomeijerwiersma6955 10 месяцев назад

1 Lay a piece of sandpaper down on a table. 2 Pless fretguard flat onto paper. 3 vigorously move guard left and right a few times. 4. Grab a drink, job done

@J.C... 10 месяцев назад

@@castleanthrax1833 it felt fine to me. But it still screwed it up. It may not have even been a burr but just a hard corner. Whatever the case, it did. Nobody warned me about that so I assumed they were fine to use since they felt fine. Boy was I wrong. Compared to the Music Nomad set I got later, there's a night and day difference but you don't notice that unless you have both sets in-hand. I didn't until I got the better set later.

@J.C... 10 месяцев назад

@@feddomeijerwiersma6955 as I just posted, they felt fine. I wouldn't have just laid a burr down and ground it into my guitar. Since they felt fine to my fingers, I used them and it was only once I got some done that I realized what they were doing.

@socialmeaslesinpartnership1252 9 месяцев назад

Years ago I used to just wipe the guitar down with all the strings off. No lemon oil/asses milk conditioner, no fret polishing, no fret guards from Stewmac etc.....just look at the f/board and give it a bit of a rub. Buying, setting up was just a matter of sighting along the neck from the nut end and in the vanished guitar stores, all the guitars had clean f/boards and frets etc, no crud or bogeys but no one ever thought about polishing the frets................ and nothing in this has changed. Most of us wash our hands and................that's enough. The tool box full of gizmos like radius checkers, sprays and lotions are just a load of gay stuff that no one needs. It's got to be said. This world of "flipping" guitars looking for the "keeper", huge guitar collections, makers bringing out "annual ranges" like Paris frocks and guys constantly "swapping out" p/ups is for the birds.

@elenbrandt290 10 месяцев назад

This Tech is a master - excellent advice - straightforward and useful! I am going to have to watch it again and take notes.

@mastertimb 9 месяцев назад

I've been playing for almost 30 years and I still learned a lot. Thanks!

@HeathenHammer80 9 месяцев назад

My guitar teacher taught me to string guitars that way on my first lesson. That was thirty years ago and I still string my guitars the same way today. Great video!!

@gib412 9 месяцев назад

I certainly feel better about how I do adjustments and re-stringing on my guitars now. Everything that Ben has shown here is exactly what I have been doing for years, mostly out of intuition and common sense. And, the truss rod IS your friend. Do not be afraid of it.

@PaulReveres 9 месяцев назад

Hi can you help me find this "truss rod" he is using is it a brand? When I go to Amazon they give me little rulers. His looks like an L hex lock key unless that's not what it is. Thanks

@BimmyRee 9 месяцев назад

@@PaulReveres No, the truss rod is in the neck. It's the thing he's adjusting with the tool, and the tool he's using is a basic hex-shaped allen key.

@Garythefireman66 10 месяцев назад

Good to see Ben back on the channel. He really knows guitars.

@-RandomBiz- 9 месяцев назад

I've been working on guitars for 35+ years and I used to work at Washburn as a setup tech then an inspector. I am so glad to see someone else do things the way I have done ESPECIALLY the stringing and the lack of the Gibson knot.

@Roy-pz6tm 6 месяцев назад

Great video. I really like Ben's approach to the topics. He is really a down to earth guy and is nice to listen to.

@Reign_In_Blood_963 9 месяцев назад

As a furniture makers, going to let you in a secret. You are not going to risk your frets falling out from too much oil on the fretboard. You will however risk them becoming loose if you never oil your fretboard due to shrinkage of the wood from lack of moisture allowing the slots to open up. But like he said, you don't need to leave it on there for a long time. Just be sure to use a quality finish like Howards Butcher Block Conditioner and use it often. I pretty much do my guitars ever time I change strings. I just wipe it on, massage it with my fingers into the fretboard, then wipe it off.

@Tonetwisters 9 месяцев назад

GOOD on you, Sir! We used Watco back in the early '70s at my brother's music store and I still have the can. However, I have advanced to other things. I will try that Butcher Block Conditioner and see how it do!

@paulhopkins1905 9 месяцев назад

As a guitar builder/repair man, you are wrong. Wood reaches an equalibrium, once it's dry it fluctuates slightly, but doesn't completely dry out. I have seen plenty of damaged fretboards from over oiling, I have never seen damage from not oiling it

@Reign_In_Blood_963 9 месяцев назад

@paulhopkins1905 Ok, I guess all the fine woodworkers are wrong and wood does not shrink when it looses moisture. Moisture in wood is relative to time and environment.

@paulhopkins1905 9 месяцев назад

@@Reign_In_Blood_963 Yes, in this case you are 100% wrong. Secondly, you are no more of a "fine woodworker" than a luthier. I have seen loose and high frets caused by over oiling, several times. I have worked on pre WWII guitars, that had never seen a drop of oil in their lives with no issues at all. The FACT is that a properly dried piece of wood, especially a tight grained, oily wood like rosewood or ebony, which are what most fret boards are made of do not need to be oiled.

@Reign_In_Blood_963 9 месяцев назад

@@paulhopkins1905 So glad you know so much about me and so little about wood. You do you. Don't belittle others that don't agree with you.

@jdbroders64 9 месяцев назад

This was a very informative video. I've been playing guitar for 40 years (non-professional just for fun) and I learned a lot such as his simple stringing method, how to clean the frets and fretboard properly, and his simple explanation of how intonation works. Good stuff.

@thomasadkins7159 2 месяца назад

Nicely done! Grateful for the masters sharing some of the wisdom with us mortals.

@nickokarpan699 Месяц назад

Love the setup videos with Ben! Please make more if possible!!

@benbo21 4 месяца назад

I can't help but hear Billy Bob Thorton when he talks.

@Cajundaddydave 8 месяцев назад

Really good tips on acoustic guitar care and setup. Caveat: I do sight the neck when evaluating a guitar but I am not looking for relief, I am looking for twist or other significant neck problems. Those (I think) do show up when sighting down the neck.

@re_loyola 6 месяцев назад

And fret sprouts, too

@nickfox7756 8 месяцев назад

This guy does a great job explaining his opinions on this. I love his keep it simple approach

@juliandonias8519 7 месяцев назад

You can see his demeanor change after their disagreement about looking straight down the neck of the guitar. He suddenly was less expressive and seemed offended.

@louisdort5857 6 месяцев назад

This is a great video, like a refresher, even if you think you knew it all. Very clear step by step explanations every guitar player should know about their instrument. 😊

@eoinc4091 10 месяцев назад

Ben Calhoun… sounds like a real Cowboy name that John Wayne would have played😂. Learned more in 15 minutes than I have in 40 years of playing guitar. We need more content like this!! ❤❤

@wkp1908 10 месяцев назад

I don't know why, but Ben seems happier than some of the previous videos he featured in. Much more loose and easy going. Good on him 🙌🏼

@785tonecapone 8 месяцев назад

Super helpful info! Ben is awesome!!! I'd love to watch him work!!

@hachibahn8844 9 месяцев назад

best set up video i have ever seen, quick and to the point

@techguy2683 9 месяцев назад

Ok I like that pull back to the first fret thing. It's consistent and easier than what I learned. I used to stand the string up on my middle fingers at the 12th fret.

@balmain2496 9 месяцев назад

This dude is a legend. We need a Ben Calhoun in every guitar store.

@frankpuryear3844 9 месяцев назад

Not so fast pilgram.? If you dont worry about smooth string slip , ok. If you need a plec machine and small flat edges to take a look at your neck ,. Ok . If you cant be bothered to take the strings off of the tuner peg., Ok. If you have to measure what doesn't buzz For You then ,ok If you cant just feel a great set up in your hands , then yea ok. If you want to be preached at by some guitar tech ,ok rock on. I guess you are right. All these years ????? How did we make it without him .???????????????????????

@Murf_Workshop 8 месяцев назад

been playing for 14 years and I've learned about half of these early on, but man I love watching videos where the tech is clear in his descriptions and paints a a good image of what you want, I'll bee sure to use more of these next Time I build a body and do a set-up, or restring any of my guitars.

@kc5ohj 4 месяца назад

Where has this been all my life? Seriously! Thanks.

@guithawk-ij8is 10 месяцев назад

Always enjoy your videos. I've been playing 47 years and am totally guilty of the Gibson wrap! Gonna try his suggestion, looks a lot easier. Not a big fan of steel wool on electric frets because of fear of shards getting into the pickups. I just use the Music Nomad stuff and it works well for me. Thanks for the tips!

@RollinKelleher 8 месяцев назад

I could listen to him talk about guitars all day. He has that same easygoing demeanor that all of our favorite teachers had back in school, all the while dropping truth bombs.

@lasagnahog7695 8 месяцев назад

I agree, it's a real pleasure hearing someone talk about something they love and are super knowledgeable about. Those crappy teachers lacked either the love or the internalized knowledge.

@stevengriffin1676 9 месяцев назад

Such a great video! You can tell when someone loves their job and is good at it! Could have listened to Ben for ages more! Get Ben to do one of your electric guitars next...?!

@kdakan 2 месяца назад

The last trick regarding 3-3 and 2-4 saddle adjustment was very informative, thanks.

@Dan.Solo.Chicago 9 месяцев назад

I like to use the pinch method when restringing acoustics and electrics. That’s where the first wrap goes around the peg above the cut end of the string. Then when you wind the string , the cut end gets pinched between the top two wraps around the peg. Then, if it’s a Gibson style headstock, I wind the G string going up the peg, unlike the other five strings that wind going down the peg. This solves the G string’s issues with staying in tune. You don’t get the steep break angle from the nut, resulting in less tension on the string and more tuning stability. All this stuff is subjective though. If your way of doing things works fine with no issues, there’s no real reason to change it. Do you. ✌️

@biasthoughts 10 месяцев назад

Such an informative and entertaining channel!

@Eyrascal Месяц назад

This. Is. Amazing!! I tried watching others and couldn’t follow along because of how tedious and drawn out they were. Plus this is absolutely the best way…man am I glad I found your video!

@The-End-Of-The-Line 9 месяцев назад

Excellent walkthrough and explanations by Ben. Wish he was at my local guitar store.

@DCrockett1 10 месяцев назад

Cool info! I always make the first wrap over the top, then the rest under. I've experienced slipping of the strings when not over wrapping. Maybe it's just me? But I've only been playing guitar for 55 years. On and off stage.

@samj.6867 10 месяцев назад

I do the same thing.

@flanger001 9 месяцев назад

I always do the first wrap over the top as well. I feel like it's the only reasonable lock on non-locking tuners, and I just like the way it looks. And I use the "next peg" technique Rhett does. Always works for me!

@marcelgaryjames 10 месяцев назад

Ben is the man! So informative and packed full of guitar maintenance. Great video Rhett

@ryandinosaur 6 месяцев назад

Finally, the video i've been looking for. It's surprisingly hard to a video with these no-BS, straight forward facts.

@user-yx8cx6bg1g 2 месяца назад

Excellent video tutorial demonstration! This is so basically good for those who are more players than fixers. Because Ben don't play. He just lays it out and tells you the best and easiest, mosy common sense way to do it. And that's golden, because, hey, theres enough to worry about with guitars. Having the ability to do this for yourself in a pinch, really can economically change your life for the better. And me? I'm a tuning and intonation freak/perfectionist. So some of those tips are priceless time savers for me. I mean, most of this "is" what ive been doing since the age of 13 in 1979. But say, the "one fret back" rule for stringing, and the "dont look down the neck" bits are indeed helpful Love the common sense suggestions as well. Humorous. Like "don't leave the fluid on the fretboard and go to lunch" and the "don't scrub the against the wood" bits. Haha! Those, plus the .multiple intonation point testing is where im right in line, and always have been! So great video and Thank you, Ben! Marc ⚡

@willholt100 9 месяцев назад

One thing that always annoys me, the vintage split post tuners on Fenders like the Mustang are literally the best design for a tuner and ease of stringing. Why did this stop and why aren't all tuners like this? Honestly blows my mind.

@user-bl3si3kq6x 8 месяцев назад

Because they can't charge as much and the guitar won't weigh as much or feel as substantial.

@havagethesavagecabbage3616 7 месяцев назад

In my humble opinion I cant see them changing from split post to eye hole tuners just for adding a few grams of metal if that. Its a safe bet to say no one will be able to feel the difference in weight anyway so it has to be for either function or form, perhaps it just wasn't stylish, or the closed version being shiny chrome. instead of speculation I'm certain there's an article on this very topic! I hope you're just being facetious. @@user-bl3si3kq6x

@johnarcher9480 7 месяцев назад

Well…they might be the best for non-locking tuners. Locking tuners are easier, and better still.

@jcows12 6 месяцев назад

I agree the fender vintage split tuners are fantastic. Leo fender was not a musician but he definitely listened to musicians opinions on what improvements could be made.

@ross3818 6 месяцев назад

Because it's not a good design.

@Martin-ql6ty 10 месяцев назад

Thanks to Ben for sharing his knowledge and doing it a way that simple folk like myself can understand. legend !

@TWebs11-11 8 месяцев назад

Thank you Rhett! That was amazing information. The back one fret thing is rocking my world! Dude, bro, man, that was good stuff. Thanks again. Love this channel! You are appreciated!

@peterschmidt9942 9 месяцев назад

Nice, simple and easy to follow tips for most players. Unfortunately there's a lot of videos that can over complicate what is essentially very simple. Up until a few years ago I'd always used that Gibson knot when restringing guitars. It's almost guaranteed the string will never slip - but it does look a bit ugly. Then I started using that luthiers wind where one wind goes over the top and all the others under and it locks the string in place. Looks very neat as well. One thing he didn't show was you need to stretch strings as well.

@BlindTom61 6 месяцев назад

This guy knows how to put a string on a guitar. I've been doing that for 63 years. People who do that weird wrap over string kind of stuff and then say that's how it's done don't know what they're talking about.