How to Set Up a Fender Telecaster in 5 Easy Steps!

This video will show you how to setup your Fender Telecaster electric guitar - or any T style guitar, for that matter - in 5 easy steps. You need a few inexpensive tools (which you might have already) and a little time and patience. Detailed measurements are provided in this step-by-step tutorial video. I hope this video is helpful to you - enjoy!
-Steve Roy
Manotick StringWorks
Ottawa, Ontario
[e-mail]
Intro music by Dave Williamson
davewilliamsonmusic.ca

[@ESANANIKONE]

I watched dozens of those, but none was as practical as yours. many thanks

[@robbym70]

I wanted to share my gratitude for the content you've posted. I found your channel about 6 months ago, two months after I started playing an electric. The first tech I used was terrible so I decided then to do my own tech work going forward. Your content has been invaluable, so clear and concise and simply laid out. Ive done numerous set ups on my own instruments and have disassembled and reassembled all of them for various reasons. Your vid on setting up a floating trem is gold ! In the last couple of weeks I have done two fret levels and I'm about to attempt to wire up a two hB control panel with one volume, one tone and one toggle. I came today because for the umpteenth time Ive linked your channel to a FB Guitar group for those like me and I wanted to share the gratitude.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Thanks so much!

[@Elcatmano]

I followed your video to setup my Les Paul and it feels perfect now. Time to follow this with my Tele. ❤️

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

@@Elcatmano Great!

[@akashyonzon3685]

Nice and simple to understand. Much appreciated 👍

[@davidconboy5822]

Wow! I can't tell you how much your video helped me. I, like many other people, have watched dozens and dozens of set-up videos. Your was explained so well. Thanks again. Oh .... and yes, I subscribed. 😊

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Awesome- thanks!

[@craigdwillia]

Excellent video. I've watched so many other videos on setup that were confusing or contradictory. This is clear and easy to follow. I feel like I understand these steps properly now. Thank you!

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Glad I could help- I hope you have subbed to my channel too?

[@HatefYaminiOnline]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@limitededition1053]

Nice tutorial, once the neck relief is correct I prefer to bend the high E up a full tone around the 14/15th fret to see that it rings clear without fretting out and that sets the action.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

good trick!

[@AstroJeep]

You are awesome! My tele sounds awesome now! I just subscribed!

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

That's great- thanks!

[@bentlyist]

Good video but shouldn't all string measurements be done with the guitar in playing position? When the neck is resting on the cradle it gets pushed forward a bit.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

I measure on the bench, some people measure in the playing position... just be consistent in how you do it. The "playing" position is a myth, really.

[@bentlyist]

@@ManotickGuitarTech Interesting, thanks for the reply. 🙂

[@scottyburlap7879]

It's certainly not a myth. Test it for yourself. Tune the guitar flat, then rotate up in the play position and check the tuning. @@ManotickGuitarTech

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

@@scottyburlap7879 which playing position? On your knee? Hanging from a strap? Down low like Slash? Up high like Pat Metheny? On the bench is always the same and consistent. Adjustments can be made afterwards if the player so desires.

[@bentlyist]

Actually, whether it's on your knee or strap hanging low or high, still means the guitar is vertical. While vertical (in playing position) 2 forces pull on the neck; gravity pulls down and the strings pull forward. When you lay the guitar on its back, that changes the forces and even more so if you lay the neck on a neck holder which changes the neck position by a measurable amount. I'm sure you can still set it up well enough that way but there's a reason that most pros say to do setup measurements in "playing position". @@ManotickGuitarTech

[@gripperrod]

Hi, it would be handy to show how you adjust at each of the 5 steps if it not quite right thanks.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

@@gripperrod I have several videos that show the setup of telecasters- check them out!

[@gfull13]

Great video. Thanks for the help.

[@Mpactpics]

Thank you for taking the time to create a clear and simple approach to a telecaster setup. How will you raise the low e string at the nut? A file will not help in that instance, will it?

[@jdmoney1000]

So, what if there is no neck relief? Then I assume we are adjusting the truss rod? How does an amateur accomplish this? Which way does he turn the trust rod adjustment Allen wrench? That would have been very useful information… Otherwise, I appreciate the videoand your efforts for making it…

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

I have made dozens of videos showing how to adjust the neck relief- lol. Turn the truss rod nut clockwise to tighten (less relief) and counter clockwise to loosen (more relief). Subscribe to my channel and check my videos- thanks!

[@anthem3560]

righty tighty lefty loosey

[@Mytwocentsisallicanafford]

I have a 93 squire neck that had a twist and too much relief and I have the truss rod bottomed out it will not take anymore adjustment as is any other options thanks I replaced the neck but I would really like to use the original neck

[@summerspinecenter]

thank you so much for the tutorial. Just got my first tele. Can I ask how you made the 4/64ths feeler guage?

[@golds04]

I prefer- no relief on the neck. Is there any easy reply on any different measurement , or technique for my preference? Thanks- great video. 🎉

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

@@golds04 not all guitars can play well with a straight neck; with string tension loose, straighten the neck with the truss rod and then retune; their should be a small amount of relief in the neck but you might have string buzzing on the frets.

[@golds04]

@@ManotickGuitarTech thanks 👊👊

[@user-hc1fo6qp4s]

Great vid! Question: Would you want to do the string height adjustments first since this will effect the height of the string during the neck adjustment. Inversely, the neck curve shouldn't effect the string height at the 17th fret so logically the neck adjustment should be second. Do you agree?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

No, neck relief does affect the string height...always do that first.

[@mmypainting]

Excellent.

[@flppr1]

What if you have a high fret high on the neck when measuring relief. Wont it give you inaccurate relief measurements?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

That could be an issue- you can check thebfrets beforehand with a fret rocker

[@davidfillis8725]

If I replace the strings with a thinner set do I need to adjust the truss rod, please? Thanks

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

You might- there will less tension on the neck

[@บ๊ายบายไดโนเสาร์]

ขอบคุณมากครับ ผมไม่เคยรู้เรื่องนี้เลย

[@angiesamgulliver554]

Help telecaster strings so high past the 12th fret if I lower get buzz frets ok

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

You probably need to shim the neck about .020-.025"

[@angiesamgulliver554]

@@ManotickGuitarTech aww hi thanks 🙏 so much for answering me and your vids were would the shim go front of neck pocket or all of it I’ll try anything as love my telecaster but a pig to play many thanks 🙏

[@onlyj610]

Hi I have a Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50’s, I’m having issues with choking out at the 10th fret, I’ve got the neck relief dead on and I can’t go any lower on the action because of this issue, what do you recommend I do? I have done some research on putting a shim in the neck pocket.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Did you check tp see if your frets are seated properly and sitting.up high? I would look at that from the 9th fret and up first.

[@onlyj610]

@@ManotickGuitarTech I will take a good look at it, Just taking a glance it looks all leveled to me.

[@edmondlau511]

@@onlyj610curious if you ever figured this out.

[@victorluiz2099]

I think I disagree. My point: the last step is intonation, because everything that we make before this for sure will affect the correct chords, pitch...anyway, the intonation at all.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

I do it in this order because if you have to adjust the nut, you will have to check the setup afterwards anyhow. If you adjust the nut before doing your setup, you could find yourself with a problem that can't be solved because you took too much off the nut and the nut will have to be replaced.

[@CornedWalls]

It's good you know the TRAIN method and listen to the millions of youtube videos that pretty much say the same thing, but their methods don't include nut action because most people would screw it up. This video showcases the proper set up steps for competent people.

[@flppr1]

You said the action was too high but went from action to intonation without adjusting action. Doesn't that come before addressing intonation?

[@davidsutter3431]

U show what it should b but do not show how to get their 😂

[@tomudj]

Yea the fact that at the end he just said "Ight Ima bout to fix it" hahaha

[@derin111]

Agree! This video is not much help at all.

[@jim9214]

Nice that your tele is already set up near perfect...You didn't tell us how and to what degree to set up ours. Mine is exactly the same as yours...even the same colour, maple neck etc. but ..was looking for a how to....? Sorry I rarely, if ever, leave negative reviews...but this was disappointing.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Sorry, Jim but I did outline the steps and the measurements I use for setups... I have many more videos on telecaster as well

[@DougHinVA]

too much talk and getting ready to make a point about 'how it used to be done' ... skip that nonsense and use the correct 12th fret method to set intonation and have adjustable saddles.