How To Setup a Fender Telecaster -String Action, Neck Relief, Intonation & Pickup height adjustments

String & Pickup height gauges fir sale:
www.manotickstringworks.com
This DIY Tutorial will show you how to setup your guitar easily and consistently so you can always have your guitars playing the way you like them. Low action, no fret or string buzzing, pickup adjustments, nut action adjustment, string intonation - including all of the relevant measurements indicated at each step. I found a few surprises on this guitar such as the 3-way switch and a bad stringing job. At the end of the video, you should have all of the concepts you need to set up your own guitar! Enjoy the video!
-Steve Roy
Manotick StringWorks
Ottawa, Ontario
[e-mail]

[@dustdevilz4771]

Great straightforward Tele set up video with good close ups that really help. Thank you

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Glad you enjoyed it! I hope you have subscribed to my channel too?

[@PeterBatah]

Thank you for sharing your time and expertise with us. Fellow Canuck here. Much appreciated.

[@russwood127]

Another greatly appreciated segment. Awesome content as usual, Thanks!

[@What_If_We_Tried]

Your succinct, and clearly presented Telecaster setup video is much appreciated.

[@36on22]

Excellent! I do my own setup on my inexpensive Strat but have always had a luthier take care of my beloved Tele. Your video has convinced me to take on the Tele for minor adjustments (after measuring and recording the as-is settings just in case LOL). The adjustment that I am always the most anxious about is the relief adjustment using the truss rod - damaging the truss rod mechanism would be a real problem.

[@DelThompson]

Awesome setup! Nice clear instructions that even I could understand. Thank you!

[@mondrian5620]

Thank you for this beautifully and simply filmed video that explained everything perfectly. Will definitely help me in maintaining my Tele. 👍🏼

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

I am glad you enjoyed the video and will find it useful... I hope you have subscribed to my channel?

[@mondrian5620]

@@ManotickGuitarTech sure did!

[@mariofournelle4444]

I can't wait to see it completely finished

[@TheSilverShamrock]

Very nice as always!

[@davidrubel9110]

Very useful explanation! Excellent video!

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Thanks, David! I hope you have subbed to my channel?

[@gao1258]

thanks Steve, loving your vids, just got a Telecaster and going to do a set uo this week!

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Awesome! I hope you have subbed to my channel too?

[@jemiller31]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@dataventurer9998]

I have watched several videos like this on how to set up a telecaster. You provided all the measurements, plus text on the screen! Very helpful. Thank you for taking time to share your knowledge!

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Thanks - I am glad you enjoyed the video. I hope you have subscribed to my channel?

[@peterbayliss1484]

Very good video. Thank you 👍😎😍

[@jeffreykelsey9984]

Great video! I just added a tele to my modest collection. When you change strings at what time do you slip the string under the string tree on the head stock? Also do you put any lube on them? Armed with your crystal clear explanations on How To ... I am going to try my own set up! Thanx for all the videos you have put out.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Hi Jeffrey - I am glad you liked the video. I checked and I didn't show running the 1st and 2nd strings under the string tree on video - it just slides under. Good luck with your setup and I hope you have subbed to my channel?

[@jonnhanks8274]

That's a really good video on setting up a Tele! Thanks! I watched another video and there was no actual close-up stet-by-step demonstration of each part, so wasn't helpful at all. I have a MIM Tele too and really struggling with inconsistent tuning along the fretboard, as well as buzzing on some strings. I'm gonna give it a bash at setting it up after watching your vid and hopefully get it back to its original silky sound that it had when I first bought it. Do you have any suggestions for measuring the height of each string if I don't have a suite of gauges? Thanks again for making this awesome video!

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

John, glad you enjoyed the video - I hope you have subbed to my channel? I have a short video on my channel where I use coins and credit/gift cards to measure string height... look it up.

[@davidkettlewell829]

helpful video...thanks

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Glad you enjoyed! I hope you have subscribed to my channel too?

[@vincent33195]

Thanks for a great video! Can/should a radius gauge be used when setting up the saddle heights?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

No need if you if you set your string heights properly

[@wisdence]

Hey, thanks for the video! Could you please tell me what is the name of the tool you used when you checked the string height at the 17th fret? Do i need it, if i'm going to buy a set of feeler gauges and a ruler to adjust the height of the strings?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

I make the string action tool myself...

[@kitsakly2374]

thx for share.i learnt more~~~~

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Glad you liked the video - I hope you have subscribed to my channel?

[@DougHinVA]

.009.5-.046 from Ernie Ball is a good set and fairly cheap and a good feel...

[@leighyarnall7346]

Great video is there going to be video on all tools used

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Thanks for watching, Leigh - I hope you have subscribed to my channel? Is a tool video something that would be interesting to watch?

[@cimen9793]

if we have like gibson bridges adjusting action with just e and E strings easy and actually adjusting otomaticly other strings adjusting byself cuz you can’t adjust each string but if fe have tremolo bridges like fender guitar I really don’t know which string height what will be and all action gauges just giving 1. and 6. string info. what height must be others? how can we decide other strings height. I hope you understand me. Sorry if my english is not good. what about other string heights? we adjusted 1.6. string but what should be other strings heights?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

The string height should be the same for each string. If you measure for thr top of the fret to the underside of the string, they will follow the radius of the fi keyboard naturally.

[@Andreas_Straub]

When polishing the frets I would protect the pickups (with some tape or alike) in order not to collect the metal dust being generated. Also all the measurements/tuning etc should be done in the playing position, as otherwise the guitars own weight influences the measurements. ....

[@MattSmithMe]

Did the customer ask you to lower the height of the neck pickup?

[@leemckinney7178]

i know this is an old thread but, where did you get the wood handle measuring gauge ( 2:15 in the video)? thanks in advance.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Hi, Lee - I make these gauges... they will be for sale soon

[@paulgibby6932]

6:48 Canadian!

[@ColinHouston-Luke]

wouldn't the micro shavings from the frets get on the pickups?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

The wipe off easily- put a piece of masking tape over the pickup before

[@deanc.5984]

I have a open dead muted no-sustain B string. The nut might be incorrect or the saddle height, suggestions?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

I would check the nut first - could be cut too deep or wide. Also make, if you have a string thru design, make sure the string is seated in the ferrule properly and not loose.

[@ChadwickRider]

I really need some help, bad. I just built a telecaster, I have the saddles in the bridge as high as they can possibly go and every single string is sitting on the frets all the way down the neck. What can I do to fix this?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Your neck angle needs to be adjusted

[@rogerwalker9191]

What does "Harmonic" mean when checking tune (@ 12th fret)

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Put your finger on the string lightly, don't oress kn the fret, and then pluck the string

[@frwiss]

Quick question: how can you set relief and action with the guitar lying down on the bench?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Easy - just like in the video 😁. You check the measurements in the "playing position" after... it doesn't make much difference at all. Just do it the same way everything for repeatable results.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Sold all my 6 saddle Teles. Just can’t beat the 3 saddle ashtray bridge.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Really? Do you find the tone better?

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

@@ManotickGuitarTech Sure. Just have that bite and whine. I like an Esquire overall. Basic and bold! A Tele neck pickup can be great for jazz. Warm and dark.

[@pedrojintan7407]

Did you have how to setup a Les paul guitar, thanks

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Yes I do- search it up on my channel

[@MattSmithMe]

You’re switching the pickup selector without contacting the customer? What if that was intentional? I have my switch set up the exact same way.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

I did inform the owner of the change and he was happy with it.

[@MsPaulieboy]

What’s a finished neck? I have a rosewood neck? Is there a difference to use simple green to clean it?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Rosewood fingerboards are natural meaning they dont have a finish on them so you can oil them. Maple fingerboards usually have a finish on them and dont need oil.

[@stealthbum34]

How come you set all the strings the same height at the 17th instead of setting the saddles to the radius of the board?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

You automatically follow the radius of the fingerboard when you measure from the fret to the underside of the string

[@stealthbum34]

@@ManotickGuitarTech see…if I’d have thought about that a little longer…I wouldn’t have had to ask! :D doh! 😂

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

@@stealthbum34 LOL... I hope you have subscribed to my channel too?

[@MicTheGuitarMan]

Great video. The others on this subject were pure crap

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Thanks, but I am sure there some other good videos too...

[@riverboat6201]

4/64ths ?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

I/16" if you prefer...

[@peterh7575]

Very strange to do the measurements when the guitar is resting on its neck, all values will be way off unless you already accounted for that?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Not true- nothing changes in the "playing" position. After thousands of setups, I can say that...

[@matt-SonsofLamech]

Think if the owner changed the switch to have facilited acces to the neck pickup and when you bring that to him find the Guitar tilted back😂

[@xfallofmanx]

Who put that string tree so low lol

[@antonio4740x]

4/64ths.... jesus christ dear americans....

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Lol- I am Canadian, not American, and I use both metric and Imperial where appropriate... try it some time

[@MattSmithMe]

Your method of string intonation is all wrong. Intonation is done in the playing position comparing the open note with the fretted note, not the harmonic.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Matt, I have found on the bench or in playing position makes no noticeable difference... but I always tell people to do it the way they prefer consistently. I tune with the open note and harmonic then adjust the intonation with the fretted note.