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What a basic setup adjusts
A setup commonly addresses three related things: neck relief, string action and intonation. Relief is the neck’s slight curvature; action is the height of the strings above the frets; intonation is how accurately the guitar plays in tune across the fretboard. These adjustments depend on one another, which is why intonation comes last. Fender’s setup overview explains the purpose and personalized nature of a guitar setup.
Strings and tuning matter, too: changing string gauge or tuning changes string tension and can affect the setup. Start with the strings and tuning you intend to keep, and use the owner’s manual for your exact model. Fender cautions that truss-rod types and procedures vary by instrument.
Get the guitar and tools ready
- Find the guitar’s model name and its owner’s manual or setup sheet.
- Install fresh strings if needed, using the gauge you plan to play, then tune to your intended pitch.
- Have a tuner, a feeler gauge for checking relief, and a string-action gauge for measuring string height. Fender’s String Action Gauge includes a reference guide for Fender specifications.
- Use only the truss-rod wrench and bridge screwdriver that fit your guitar’s hardware and are specified by its manufacturer.
Fender’s general factory setup guide starts with fresh strings and tuning, and calls for checking tuning between steps.
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Check and adjust neck relief
Relief provides a small amount of clearance for a vibrating string. To measure it, Fender’s method is to place a capo at the first fret, fret the same string at the last fret (or near the neck joint on some guitars), then measure the gap around the eighth fret with a feeler gauge. Follow your model’s manual if it specifies different points or a different procedure. See Fender’s illustrated guide to measuring guitar neck relief.
Fender’s current support chart gives these eighth-fret electric-guitar relief values for its stated standard factory string gauges:
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| Fingerboard radius | Fender relief guide at eighth fret |
|---|---|
| 7.25-inch | .012 inch |
| 9.5-to-12-inch | .010 inch |
| 15-to-17-inch | .008 inch |
These are Fender’s minimum guide specifications, not universal targets for other brands, string gauges, tunings or playing styles. Fender explicitly says they are “minimum specifications, meant to guide you, not to be taken as hard and fast rules.”
If relief needs adjustment, consult the manual for the correct truss-rod access and direction. Do not force the wrench. Fender advises seeking an authorized dealer if you are unsure or encounter excessive resistance.
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Set string action for your playing touch
Action is the distance from a string to the fret beneath it. After setting relief, measure action at the point specified by your guitar maker. Fender’s electric-guitar chart measures at the 17th fret and varies the reference by fingerboard radius:
| Fingerboard radius | Bass-side string height | Treble-side string height |
|---|---|---|
| 7.25-inch | 5/64 inch | 4/64 inch |
| 9.5-to-12-inch | 4/64 inch | 4/64 inch |
| 15-to-17-inch | 4/64 inch | 3/64 inch |
These are Fender starting references, not a single “comfortable” setting for every player. A light touch may work well with lower action; harder picking may need more clearance to avoid rattling or fret buzz. Make small changes, retune, then play notes and chords across the neck with your usual attack. Sweetwater’s guide to setting electric-guitar action discusses how action fits into the setup sequence, while Fender explains the relationship between action, playing touch and clearance.
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Lowering action can change other setup needs, so recheck relief and related adjustments after making a change. If the strings buzz at a particular fret or the action cannot be made comfortable with ordinary bridge adjustments, the issue may need diagnosis rather than more lowering.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Set intonation after relief and action
Intonation is adjusted at the bridge by changing each string’s effective length. Do it only after relief and action are where you want them: changing either can affect the final intonation. Tune accurately, compare open and fretted notes as directed by the bridge or guitar maker, and adjust each string using the model’s instructions. Sweetwater notes that string brand, gauge and tuning can affect intonation; changing any of these may mean setting intonation again. See its electric-guitar intonation guide (published 2020).
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Recheck the guitar and know when to stop
Retune and play across the fretboard with your normal touch. Listen for unwanted buzzes or rattles, check open and fretted notes, and make sure the controls work. If you change string gauge or tuning later, recheck the setup, including intonation.
Use a guitar technician if the neck, nut, frets or bridge appears abnormal, if problems persist after reasonable adjustments, or if you are uncertain about the truss rod. In particular, stop rather than force a resistant truss-rod nut; Fender recommends consulting an authorized dealer when the adjustment is uncertain or meets excessive resistance.
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