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Editorial Reviews
From shopping for a first electric guitar to setting customized action, this do-it-yourself playerÕs primer for owning and maintaining an electric guitar explains the ins and outs of: choosing the right guitar; cleaning, tools and basic maintenance; personalizing and improving on a "factory setup"; trouble-shooting; basic guitar electronics; setups of the pros; and much more. Written by Dan Erlewine, author of the bestselling Guitar Player Repair Guide and the popular "Repairs" column in Guitar Player magazine, this book also includes a plastic sheet with specialized guitar tools you can snap-out!
Related Reviews
Best Guitar Repair Book - Hands Down!
This book walks you through all the steps necessary to set up your electric guitar to play the way you want it to. The included guages help make set up considerably easier. I used it to significantly improve the playability of a Stratocaster and a Gibson SG. Well worth the money.
This is a great book for all the reasons outlined by the other reviewers. The reason (one of the major ones) why I wanted to get this book was because part of the setup I was doing involved changing the pickups on a strat-style guitar with no pick guard. Since I was pretty inexperienced (I have been playing for 7-8 months now), I wanted to get some outside help. Unfortunately, this book doesn't deal at all with changing out pickups.
In the two months since I bought the book, I was able to change out the pickups myself, and I realize through other research what thorny area that it is (wiring diagrams, wires, etc). Still, it would have been nice if he had outlined ways to open up and be able to change out pickups for different solid body and hollowbody guitars. Also, unless I am remembering incorrectly, the book doesn't deal with removing/crowning frets, which is something I would like to learn to do.
In total, I'm very satisfied with the book and the things it covers, however, I felt I should warn potential buyers. Part of making my guitar play great involved changing out the pickups - it may for you too.
In the two months since I bought the book, I was able to change out the pickups myself, and I realize through other research what thorny area that it is (wiring diagrams, wires, etc). Still, it would have been nice if he had outlined ways to open up and be able to change out pickups for different solid body and hollowbody guitars. Also, unless I am remembering incorrectly, the book doesn't deal with removing/crowning frets, which is something I would like to learn to do.
In total, I'm very satisfied with the book and the things it covers, however, I felt I should warn potential buyers. Part of making my guitar play great involved changing out the pickups - it may for you too.
This book should be titled "The Electric Guitar Maintenance and Setup Bible"
Dan Erlewine's book is fantastic. The detailed factory spec setups and the setups of the pro's alone, is worth the price of admission. Dan shows how to inspect a guitar before you buy (where was this book 20 years ago, Dan??), and how to properly clean, set-up and maintain your guitar.
This is a book specifically for ELECTRIC guitars, the adjustments for various bridges, nuts, tremolo systems,and intonation are thoroughly explained with lots of photos. He also shows how to use or make simple, home-made or hardware store tools.
There is an excellent section on tuning and intonation every guitar player should know! The Buzz Feiten Tuning System is discussed and there are tons of tips and tricks to get your guitar in tune, and to help it stay in tune.
Dan's writing style is very easy to understand. And his use of graphics, both line art illustrations and photo documentation, help the reader get a clear, real-world sense of the subject matter.
This is truly the manual your guitar should have come with.
I consider this book, along with the Guitar Player Repair Guide, to be essential to any electric guitar owner, and absolutely required for anyone in the guitar repair business.
This is a book specifically for ELECTRIC guitars, the adjustments for various bridges, nuts, tremolo systems,and intonation are thoroughly explained with lots of photos. He also shows how to use or make simple, home-made or hardware store tools.
There is an excellent section on tuning and intonation every guitar player should know! The Buzz Feiten Tuning System is discussed and there are tons of tips and tricks to get your guitar in tune, and to help it stay in tune.
Dan's writing style is very easy to understand. And his use of graphics, both line art illustrations and photo documentation, help the reader get a clear, real-world sense of the subject matter.
This is truly the manual your guitar should have come with.
I consider this book, along with the Guitar Player Repair Guide, to be essential to any electric guitar owner, and absolutely required for anyone in the guitar repair business.
I've been a guitar player for nearly thirty years, and until today have never really understood setting up my own guitars. Thanks to this book, my guitars play better than they ever have before, and my days of having someone else set them up are over.
The book is well written, concise, and delivered in easy-to-understand terms. The pictures are a great help, and the book is all that the title implies.
If you're a guitar player at any level, I would strongly suggest this book.
The book is well written, concise, and delivered in easy-to-understand terms. The pictures are a great help, and the book is all that the title implies.
If you're a guitar player at any level, I would strongly suggest this book.
I have used this book to set up my Lespaul and my Telecaster (with confidence). This is simply a must have if you play. Lots of fun side info to read as well.
I am just starting to play a guitar and purchased an electric generic brand on E Bay. When I tried to play it, it was very stiff and hard to tune. After breaking a couple of strings I invested in the above book and made a few adjustments. They really worked and it now takes a lot less effort to make music. If you want to make your guitar sound great buy the book *******
Essential for every guitar player
This book deserves a full on five stars despite any slight flaws it may have. I agree with another reviewer that the beginner who isn't used to the terms and common practices of the craft may have some difficult at first. The book isn't particularly well laid out in that sense.
However, all the information is there and very well explained. It provides guitar players with a better understanding of their instruments which leads to better evaluation of a potential purchase - including a priceless walk-thru a guitar evaluation. It also guides the guitarrist through the basic setup and maintenance that the instrument requires so often. All this is achieved with a minimum of tools (the pro jobs are left to pros) and there's plenty of suggestions for home made, "recycled" tools.
I like this book better than his earlier one and it's my main reference. His videos are also a good reference.
However, all the information is there and very well explained. It provides guitar players with a better understanding of their instruments which leads to better evaluation of a potential purchase - including a priceless walk-thru a guitar evaluation. It also guides the guitarrist through the basic setup and maintenance that the instrument requires so often. All this is achieved with a minimum of tools (the pro jobs are left to pros) and there's plenty of suggestions for home made, "recycled" tools.
I like this book better than his earlier one and it's my main reference. His videos are also a good reference.
Great Information for starters
I use the book for reference when I need to do maintenance on my guitars. It tells you what to look for and how to fix problems that could crop up. The only problem I have with the book, is that it is kind of confusing when it comes to restringing a guitar. All my guitars have non locking tuners (never seen one that has those) but that is the main thing they talk about. That and the steps and illustrations aren't very clear. You need lots of pictures if you're going to show some one how to restring a guitar properly. The steps just left me confused as ever.
I bought Dan Erlewine's book "How to make your electric guitar play great" because I had bought an unfinished LP stlyle arch top solid body and matching bolt on neck. After the finishing and wiring of the guitar, I used this book to set up the guitar from start to playing. This is the first guitar I have built and set up. The book was easy to read and follow. The examples he gives on various repair or setup jobs he has done give excellent background info for the non-expert to gain a fuller understanding of the mechanics of guitar maintainance. My guitar sounds great through a little Fender Champ amp and stays in tune ...... now all I need to do is learn to play the darn thing.
the book was very informative. It may have tried to cover too many types of guitars. If I had glanced through it before i purchased it I would not have bought it. However since i have bought it I have read through it and learned a great deal about how to setup a gibson semihollow archtop.I t covers many different types including some pretty rare(obscure) guitars.
All Right I Have This Book With The Guitar Player Repair Guide, It's Nice For The Radius Gauges In The Back,Each Book Covers Some Of The Same Things But This Book Covers Better Setting Intonation,And Tuning Systems Like The Buzz Feiten Tunning .And If You Have Fender Strats Old Or New He Cover's Them Good.So I Say If You Have The Tools And A Good Tuner Go For It.
It has everything for the guitar player that wishes to set his guitar himself.
Must have!
Must have!
This book takes a somewhat indepth look at setting up your electric guitar, but when it gets too complicated, he tells you to go to a pro. As far as getting a good setup on your guitar, this is the book to have. Covers many types of bridges, pickups, and nuts, and shows tools you can make, instead of buying. After studying this book, I set up my cheap Harmony strat style axe to play better than I ever thought it would. Great Book!!!
When your guitar is setup properly, you'll play better. This book will help you reach your full potential as a guitarist!
After buying a new Telecaster, which felt great in the store, I bought this book to maximize its playability. The result was an impressive improvement that was easy to accomplish!
I also bought the following tools to aid me:
- CruzTools GuitarTech Guitar Kit (available on Amazon)
- Stewart Macdonald string action gauge (stewmac.com)
- Stewar Macdonald understring radius gauges (stewmac.com)
The tools cost me around $85 total, and were well worth it because they gave me everything I needed to set up my Tele. They conveniently store in a handy case that keeps them all in one place. It appears that these same tools will allow me to setup my acoustic and bass guitars, although I haven't tried it yet.
The book also gives you setup specs from multiple professional players. Once you measure your specs, you'll be able to compare them to the pros and isolate areas for improvement.
Even if you ultimately take your guitar into a luthier, you'll benefit from knowing the basics of setup.
After buying a new Telecaster, which felt great in the store, I bought this book to maximize its playability. The result was an impressive improvement that was easy to accomplish!
I also bought the following tools to aid me:
- CruzTools GuitarTech Guitar Kit (available on Amazon)
- Stewart Macdonald string action gauge (stewmac.com)
- Stewar Macdonald understring radius gauges (stewmac.com)
The tools cost me around $85 total, and were well worth it because they gave me everything I needed to set up my Tele. They conveniently store in a handy case that keeps them all in one place. It appears that these same tools will allow me to setup my acoustic and bass guitars, although I haven't tried it yet.
The book also gives you setup specs from multiple professional players. Once you measure your specs, you'll be able to compare them to the pros and isolate areas for improvement.
Even if you ultimately take your guitar into a luthier, you'll benefit from knowing the basics of setup.
A fantastic all-in-one source of information
I have struggled setting up my guitars and had to play with variations quite a bit to get what I wanted. In reading this book, I find much of the material reflects questions I asked myself along the way as well as answered by experimentation. I haven't found a better book that is so clear and concise. As a wonderful and unknown to me bonus, the book contains radius gauges for both the bridge and fret board (all he various sizes). I greatly recommend this book for the serious guitar hacker looking for less dangerous trial and error methods of great guitar set-up.
This book and any other books by Dan Erlewine are Excellent. He gets right to the point. Easy to under stand. Any information you need about guitars, he is the (GURU). I am very happy with this book and you will be too.
SLICK
have a great day
GOD BLESS
SLICK
have a great day
GOD BLESS
This book is a very easy read that tells you how to make your electric guitar play better. I learned so many easy ways to fix my guitars. For example, my son has a Telecaster that the neck is slightly crooked to one side. Sure enough, the book states this is very common and shows you how to fix it.
That's the reaction I have almost every time I use this book. I do agree with some of the other reviewers that this may not be the best book for the rote beginner. But if you have a bit of guitar playing and fixing experience, this is THE book that will get your prized guitars playing perfectly. Erlewine has a giant workshop full of tools, but most of us don't need anything more than some basic tools, patience and the confidence to do things like adjust the relief on a strat or tele neck and swap out stock pickups for better ones. His book gives you the confidence to do it.
I got this book around 3 years ago when I got into guitar for the first time. The book is very informative and goes over a lot of information. You get some basic "tools" but still need to buy files and such to really tweak the guitar.
For anyone who is tired of bringing the guitar to the shop and paying money to get the guitar in tune and at its best, this book is for you.
For anyone who is tired of bringing the guitar to the shop and paying money to get the guitar in tune and at its best, this book is for you.
In all due respect to the reviewer about terminology. One only needs to type in the word on a Google search to find the answer. Thus, lower bout is the extended part below the waist of the guitar. The upper bout being the body part closest to the neck or fretboard.
Dan is the granddaddy of electric guitar repair. If you want to understand guitar work, buy this book. If you are happy playing an out of tune guitar, or don't want your guitar to play and sound its best, then don't buy this book.
Excelent book for all guitar players
This book complement the other book from Dan Erlewine that I purchased. The explanations are very consistents and elucidative, helping the player to extract the maximum sound output and playability from the guitar.
How to make your electric guitar play great
I thought the book was well put together. There was usefull information on how to pick the guitar that is right for you. I would recomend this for a first time guitar buyer.
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Also recommended: Guitar Player Repair Guide