Guitar Player Repair Guide: How to Set Up, Maintain and Repair Electrics and Acoustics (Paperback)

Ive been playing guitars for 10 years now. In the last 4 years, ive attempted my own setups based on the manufacturers guidelines and advice from internet resources. I read the previous reviews of this book and thought that this would be a setup "bible". However, in my opinion, there is very little ground-breaking information in this book. Much of this a guitar player should know (and could know with a little reasearch)in order to keep their insturment in check and in tune.

I would like to say that this book is aimed at beginners but I think its very advanced if that was its aim. In several places it suggests investing in very expensive tools (e.g. precision straightedges). I understood that some of this book was to eliminate expensive setup costs?? In some places this book is more of a huge advertisement for the stew-mac guitar shop in the US. If you are considering to undertake mods/repairs with the aid of this book - be prepared to spend money on tools such as a bench router, a dremmel router, straightedges etc etc.

I cant say the book is useless as it HAS taught me a lot. However, there is nothing fundamentally new here. If youre reasonably able to setup your guitar at the moment - dont expect this book to surprise you too much as you'll be doing much of it already. It will however add depth to your knowledge on the "why" of what youre doing. Its a bit of a tease really - all the "juicy" bits are skipped over briefly.

Good bits - The Pro Setups section is useful, if youre interested on how some great blues (and ONLY blues) players set up their guitars. The nut section is also good but Ive found all these methods available on the internet.

Bad bits - The Floyd Rose installation chapter was very very dissappointing. It does NOT give you the necessary dimensions of the top/bottom cavitys and does NOT give sufficient guidance on routing . It merely suggests that you buy the templates and bits - and hey presto - its done. The templates and bits cost £200 total by the way !! A more detailed section on routing for beginners would have made this book more worthwhile.

Note to the author: Most guitar players are not carpenters. We do not have workshops with special tools and money to spend on expensive apparatus. Perhaps a furture edition will take conisgance of this??

Containing essential measurements, step by step guides, and as many useful hints and tips as you can take in, this is THE reference book for those looking to set up their guitr, right from the basics like setting up a tremolo through to tuning tips.

My stratocaster now plays in tune (even with a standard vintage tremolo), has a far better tone than before, and does exactly what I want it to. I wont let a repair shop set up for me any more!

Thanks Dan, a cracker.