Use a pick to see how well your guitar plays.

#knowyourgear #sharpenmyaxe #mcknightrepair
Using a few guitar picks and card get your guitar playing it's best.
Here are some other cool products from a dealer I trust and buy from online
imp.i114863.ne...
Become a Patreon and support more videos like this
www.patreon.co...
Send photos of you in your shirt here
[e-mail]
Facebook
/ knowyourgear
Instagram
/ phillip_mcknight
Know Your Gear T shirts
teespring.com/...
D Addario Fret Polish Kit
imp.i114863.ne...
String Swing sideways guitar hangers behind me
amzn.to/2QyrpuD
Dava Picks
amzn.to/2Ik60AL
I use D Addario American Series Cables
imp.i114863.net/rmNKQ
The D Addario Kit I Love!
amzn.to/2StZ34k
Single wall hanger metal
www.amazon.com...

[@seenochasm7101]

This guy is so on point and easily understandable. SUBBED.

[@GeneOh]

Yep, me too!

[@bikerdhill]

thanks for the great tip, thats the first time I heard anyone on youtube ever explain to me about a guitar needing a neck, or bridge adjustment based upon fret location, makes perfect sense too, again thanks

[@MrScatalog]

I LOVE the gift card idea. I cut one corner off of the card, making 4 separate straight-edge lengths. I also check the action at the last 2 frets with a nickel (1.95mm). Also, for the neck relief, I put a capo at the 1st fret, hold down the last fret and slide a business card under the 8th fret. Just different ways of doing the exact same things, I guess....Thank you for the interesting perspective and making this video very clear. Cheers!!!

[@502dbl]

Fantastic video!!! Translate complicated things to novices, into crompreensible thing! Genius!! Thanks a lot!!

[@BigKurtRocks]

Hey Phillip, I'm enjoying your videos! That whole 5th fret down is neck adjustment and 5th fret up is bridge adjustment just knocked my socks off!! Thanks so much.

[@fredericadda]

OMG I just understood when to adjust the neck and when to adjust the action at the bridge!

[@insanetubegain]

Low frets suck hard. Nobody ever talks about them it's always high frets.

[@givemeajackson]

Low fret means all the other frets are now high frets. That's basically the only option you have short of replacing that fret

[@bluesthing7490]

This video was very informative. Especially on determining where to adjust (neck or bridge). That was new to me & very helpful. Thanx A LOT !

[@Corey_G]

I am impressed with your knowledge.

[@sebastianibanez6112]

So am I

[@007SpencerForHire]

Yup. I'm about to go shopping for a new (second hand) guitar so this will help enormously!

[@harrylime5147]

I was just about to adjust the truss rod on a Yamaha Pacifica 312 I recently bought used. Now I know to check the frets first. I have slight buzzing, more like a sitar When picking individual strings hard on the first and second string

[@charliefoxtrotthe3rd335]

This is all great info, but I think you may have skipped a step (or I didn't hear it) with putting a capo on the first fret and the last fret and measuring the neck relief in between at the 12th fret. You talked about action height, but until you set the relief, you will never achieve a good setup. For a Strat, the factory recommends a .012" relief. I like it on the low side so I use .010". Once that is set, THEN use the picks and rocker to get a quick idea where you're at. Do you agree?

[@johnt.campbell316]

-17.419865384 You said leave a negative comment if I felt I had to. I *had* to.

[@johnnewton1830]

John T. Campbell That's a negative number. I would have posted "A negative comment"

[@RudyAyoub]

I'm offended plz take this down

[@daw162]

He needs to make a comment and multiply it by negative one.

[@daw162]

And then if he makes another one, he can multiply them together and they'll both be positive. The product of two wrongs isn't a right, but the product of two negatives is a positive!

[@aaebsssb9914]

Rudy Ayoub Why are you british?

[@jerrydoyleenglandengland5961]

Mr. Mcknight my Favorite KZbin guy...

[@monabri6500]

You can buy credit card sized gauges for a few quid (~$5) which have string heights in both mm and thous of an inch. Still, a few picks are cheaper (until I chew em)

[@PhillipMcKnight]

+monabri Yes, I would not trust the chewed picks. LOL. Thank you for posting!

[@AbeAleman]

Thanks for the info!

[@lucasshaffer3324]

Taking my instruments to a local tech that had been certified by guitar manufacturers i've had to educate myself on action a little. The way you explain your process for adjustments to action is really the same explanation that I was given. Now the thing that I don't get is when you go to ye ole guitar center and pick up a stock les paul, strat, or tele why do some guitars come out with garbage fret level, action, and buzz?

[@QueenToKingOfSpades]

+Lucas Shaffer 1. Because then you have to come back and pay them money to do it right. 2. They just can't be bothered.

[@bbnatedogg]

+Lucas Shaffer Because guitars don't come set up unless it was set up in the same environment you live in. Wood necks shift with environment, especially if you buy something slapped together and shipped from the factory ASAP. A guitar set up at the factory in Nashville, Corona, or Ensenada isn't necessarily going to stay that way when shipped to Minnesota to be sold. And the set up needs to adjusted if you want to change tuning or string gauges.

[@lucasshaffer3324]

Both of these are perfectly logical.

[@razzcallahan1351]

Phillip I very much enjoy all your videos I have watched! Keep up the great work!

[@kylelikeskjvbible]

+Razz Callahan agreed

[@mojo5904]

Great advice...

[@MetalLizardJesus]

You just blew my mind man! Thanks a lot for this information :)

[@frankhayes288]

Great info, Thanks! What is the blue guitar over your right shoulder?

[@NeZversSounds]

Nice, haven't thought about using picks for measuring!

[@ariffaysal9458]

the 5th fret rule for adjusting truss rod or bridge is something no one talks about. Thank you 👍

[@Seriouslycantplayguitar]

Good stuff. I have a guitar I bought recently that badly needs leveling/adjustment as there is massive fret buzz when I play especially on the Low E. I may be sending some questions your way as the neck is a cheap clear coat eBay/strat neck with some of the worst fret work around. I may have to make a video about fixing it up.

[@zedzero77]

Once you set up a ibanez RG, they play like nothing else; The RG is the katana of guitars

[@mikebennewitz7019]

Dude you have so much knowledge I haven't found anywhere else! You should write a book on proper guitar servicing and setup!

[@BananaManPL]

I saw the title and I thought "Huh, he's gonna grab a pick, start playing and after 6 minutes he's gonna go 'yep, plays well', isn't he?"

[@BISCUITANDBASS]

The best video channel on KZbin in my opinion. I've never seen a video of yours that I dont like,...well done Phil 👍🇬🇧😁

[@jimfun71]

hey Phil, i know this is a random question but i figure your the most knowledgeable guitar guy i don,t know. I saw an interview where Vanhalen takes credit for wax fill pickups. is this true. I can't find anything on it. Thanks.

[@stewea57]

Good video, just a question though, if the picks stay under the strings when you turn the guitar how are you sure the strings are not too low?

[@geneschulp8598]

Use a thinner pick.

[@johngeddes7894]

I always learn something, and this video was no exception. I'm a sponge, so keep the lightly technical info coming.

[@graxjpg]

Is everyone in agreement that stewmac tools are the best tools for any job involving a guitar?

[@tonefingerz2021]

something about the snappy tone of a lower action is nice. i change mine all the time to feel like i have a different guitar. thx 4 ur vids. i find myself watching all the time.

[@PhillipMcKnight]

Thank you

[@dreamcoma2213]

Measure twice, adjust once. This is the wisdom that keep people coming back. Another great video.

[@citrus1255]

2:18 dont use a hammer, just did and the frets too low. Have to try to fix it now

[@leonid4468]

Great tips. Was just thinking about this the other day, how to accurately measure string-to-fret gaps and fret height variation, and was thinking of all manner of home remedies (rulers, spark plug gap gauges, calipers) but found them all unsatisfactory for various reasons, ranging from cost to logistical issues to uncertainty of accuracy (all which could be characterized in their attempted execution as: user error and holy-crap-I-have-no-idea-what-I'm-doing). Lo and behold, I was holding an excellent and utterly simple tool for the job the whole time! There is absolutely no substitute for experience, and this kind of video makes me very pleased I have access to players FAR more experienced than I. Well done, full marks, and keep up the good work. Though I will say that I'm slightly bummed that I will have to find another way to justify purchasing a bunch of tools I no longer need for dual purposes of guitar and potential gearhead use on my Plymouth GTX, another piece of machinery I have no business tinkering with, but am dead-set upon doing so anyway.

[@Stratisfied22]

Hey Phil I need your help! I'm buying $1000 guitars off the shelf with bad fret buzz. Checking them with a fret rocker shows slightly higher frets on a few of the frets. This particular guitar is a Charvel dk24 pro mod that I purchased from GC and i'm in love with except the buzzing. I don't feel that a guitar in that price range should be anything but perfect and definitely no high frets. GC will ship me another which I will accept but I feel the same thing is going to happen. My $300 Jackson JS32 has no buzz and plays perfectly. My question is should I just take it to a luthier for a fret level or keep trying to get a good one and annoy the hell out of the guys at GC. Obviously spending that kind of money I feel I should receive a perfect playing guitar. Thanks and I didn't want to comment on the Charvel video as you have a purchase link and didn't want to give any negative feedback that could affect you.

[@JInfinity7]

A digital caliper from Harbor Freight would do well too

[@gregmerritt9366]

Thank you very much for posting videos. Your choice of topics, and methods of explaining them are of a "teach a man to fish" variety. It's clear that your top priority is the sharing of knowledge over subs and monetization. I wish I was local to ya. I know the care of my guitar would be secure in your hands.

[@Ellysionair]

I have to say. I totally dig your vids. Thanks a lot for them. They really rock.

[@bilbojohnson9191]

Thanks for serving in the military, hope you had a good veteran's day!

[@patientzero3367]

I know im late to these videos, but they are fantastic for educating guitarists! Great work!

[@ronalddelavega2142]

Same with me, i use pick to setup my action. I put capo on first fret, then on the 15th fret on the high E i use 1.2mm pick, and on the low E also on the 15th fret i use a 1.5mm pick. Feels perfectly fine for me on all of my 3 guitars, and by the way i use 10gauge strings.

[@fredericadda]

On my MIM Strat, if I go under 2mm on the low E / 1.5mm in the high E, it just buzzes horribly. How can you go so low and prevent fret buzz?

[@mikeoutlawpunk]

Thanks for the great information, you're the best

[@aakaashbulani9237]

Hey, the lower E string on my guitar is buzzing on 11th and 12th string.... its an tune o matic, tom and tailpiece Bridge..... the frets are levelled, the neck has a decent relief...... though the 11th and 12th frets are buzzing...... Help Please Sir........ The guitar has a set in neck.... its an Esp Fx 260 SM.... Thanks.......

[@gerardboulais5748]

Am diggin' on these Phillip McNight videos ! Really . Thanks !

[@PhillipMcKnight]

Thank you.

[@FlorianGuitar85]

0:53 When you obviously want to say "FUCK!" but you can't because your already a minute into recording :)

[@shotguneugene]

Nice tutorial man, may i request to give the details of pick gauges that we need? Much appreciated it in advance phillip.

[@evanabbott2737]

Thank you! You’ve really helped my beloved Les Paul😁👍

[@Titan-gs6cf]

About measuring before adjusting... I've got a junior model Les Paul and I was changing the strings and the bridge fell off (it's held on by string tension) and I figured it would be fine. The guitar doesn't sound bad (for a junior model that's fallen so much, you'd think it's hungover) but I wish I would've known that a bit earlier.

[@chuparipaguitar]

Thanks by sharing your knowledge!

[@bartm5485]

Hi Phil, Thank You this helps me a lot.11 guitars with movement in about half of them, I have been randomly going between bridge and truss rod....

[@Andreorsel]

1.25 mm on the 12th fret without a capo on the 1st! I have yet to hear a guitar sound good with such an extreme low action. 1.5 mm with capo on first is already low; i prefer a bit higher then that. But, also string gauge wil make a difference of how low you can set the action. I use 10’s. Thinner strings will need higher action as they have more movement and with thicker strings you can lower the action because they have less movement. How hard you hit the strings will make a big difference also. If you have a light touch and use legato you can get away with much lower action then when hitting hard and doing lot’s of bends. But again, 1.25 on a 6 string without a capo on the first fret without buzzing can’t be true.

[@BrentODell]

I use a cheap set of 'feeler gauges' from the auto store. Only $3, and available from a parts store just down the street. I'm somewhere between .81 mm and .89 mm at the 24th fret.

[@itaxevasixn8808]

What is this model of rg??? Someone PLEASE respond I’m very interested in one.

[@dominickedwardscantore9001]

Hey Phil , I just had my guitar a fender stratocaster mij set up . . The so called Lutheir said he had adjusted the neck , but when I came by the music store to pick it up he said that he didnt , he said the reason why he lied about adjusting the truss rod is he didnt want me worrying ? I asked him why he didnt adjust the truss rod ? He said he didnt have a truss rod bullet and that he would have to order one ? Wtf. So when the truss rod bullet came through the mail he had put it on the truss rod and had adjusted it .... Well my guitar now has fret buzz worse than it was before I ever took it to him ! The fret buzz is at the first 5 frets . .. He said after adjusting it that it would take time to settle at the neck .. I gave it a few days hoping the buzz would go away , it didnt ! Now I'm going to have to take it back to him to see if he can adjust the truss again !!! I always thought the first thing you do when doing a set up is relieve the neck of the guitar through a truss rod adjustment ..? I'm starting to feel I need a New guitar tech ! I don't know ?

[@laajos300]

Is that a parker on the right?

[@williamfreeze3924]

hi great video but i do have a quistion i have a ACADEMY STRAT copy now i have lowered the action to were i like it but i still find it hard to play on the lower fret it feels like the string is still too high but it looks like it cant get any lower so what does that mean ?? im stumped

[@marcocarrasco4250]

Great video Philip, this explanation really helped in standardize my setups. Do you have any tip for Basses?

[@Ibaneddie76]

THIS IS THE BEST VIDEO ON KZbin EXPLAINING HOW TO SET UP A GUITAR FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY BE NEW OR SCARED TO DO IT THEMSELVES. MOST VIDEOS ARE TO LONG WINDED AND GET INTO TECH STUFF THE AVERAGE GUITARIST WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND. FOLLOW THIS VIDEO AND YOUR GUITARS WILL INDEED PLAY PERFECT. THANKS PHILLIP.

[@le0_fx]

well... lowest e-string on my 8-string guitar is like 3.8mm above the 12th fret... the "normal" e-string (3rd lowest) is like 2.3mm above the fret. still buzzes slightly(!) in every register... neck is adjusted properly (for sure), what am i doing wrong? :D String Gauge is pretty thick, 054 for e-standart and 080 for drop e...

[@einarabelc5]

Try raising the nut. Watch Will Easy Guitar video on getting rid of fret buzz. Specifically the part about getting rid of buzz close to the nut.

[@thishigh]

Damn Phil, I never thought of using a Pick for a gauge. Know Your Gear!>

[@C2ARNY85]

What's your neck relief?

[@FilipeDiogo49]

very cool video... never thought about measuring before....

[@BobRock420]

This is why you are my favorite on KZbin. Thanks brother.

[@k.mcquistanpop6341]

does the measurement of the 3rd and 12th fret also indicate whether the neck has the correct convex bow - aka the truss rod needs adjusting?

[@k.mcquistanpop6341]

I think you answered this in the video, but it went quickly...

[@edwardkennedy5500]

Very helpful as I am learning to set my own guitars up. Thanks

[@dadudezpr]

Enciclopedia level Wowwww! Thanks

[@kaoe145]

Also your nut might be to high or low I just had to sand the wood down to lower the nut but went to far so I shimmed it it’s perfect now

[@m.jmoore654]

Makes perfect sense i think your my new guitar mentor lol

[@ProvenSeb]

Thank you. Your advices are very precise.

[@mustyguitar]

lol. i want you to be my long lost uncle man. i'd never leave your shop :)

[@KevinOShaughnessyGuitar]

Very helpful. Thanks for posting this. Is there a similar trouble-shooting method to see if the nut slots have been worn down too low, and the neck and saddle adjustments don't fix buzzing problems?

[@Kingleazard]

whatever i do i can't set my string height perfectly. If i mesure 0.8 at the 5th fret, i have a little buzz, if i mesure 1.5mm at the 12th fret also. My neck needs a little fret levelling.

[@stantischendorf2439]

Any advice on heights for a 5 string bass?

[@RickyPisano]

Another GREAT video Phillip!! THANKS BRO!! BTW...Just bought a RONDO SX VTG Series Strat!! Incredible guitar for the money!! I'd love to see you do a blind test with an American Strat. I don't know how this company does it. This guitar blows my Fender Squire HSS Bullet into the weeds. Not even close.

[@leventopoulos]

but checking the action like that, without fretting on the last fret and capoing on the first makes it difficult to see what you need to adjust, bridge, truss rod or nut.

[@Techead78]

That's gov property, Mr McKnight. DOD hasn't permitted service members to keep past ID's since like.... last time it happened with me was 2002. That old laminated green/black/white/squ thang. I do like your channel.

[@jg9249]

Phillip where are you located ?

[@robbolandsvids]

Great idea, now I have a use for that big old bag of picks I've been collecting for years. The 5th fret split is not something I've heard before, I'm sure that's going to come in very usefull before too long.Thank you..I just subscribed for more of this. Cheers, Robbo

[@AhmetOmerOzgen]

i luv ur vids. but sometimes i wsnt to beat you

[@yinyangja]

Good videos...seems like a nice guy and knowledgeable. I won't watch a video that is anything other.

[@MattHalcyon]

My 7s neck was flat when I got it, I used pocket change to measure my neck. I adjusted and got my action perfect, I think I used nickles and pennies. Btw, I measured with picks just now that you mentioned and we have the same numbers. Lol. You can adjust somewhat blind if you're experienced enough to know what you want, but you have to be smart about it.

[@jackmacmillan8806]

Hi! In our country these instruments are not very known and no good instructor to get help from. I want to buy an electric guitar for about 400_650$. Do you have any recommendations? (Music type is metal, but I also like fender tones) Thanks,

[@redneckoutlaw2134]

I really love your video you give great advice

[@TURKISH812]

Hi Phil, cool video buddy. Do you have any videos on EVH peavey guitars??? I find all your videos either very helpful or very educational and I'd like a video of how to set up the guitar to EVHs specs and general servicing of my Wolfgang. It's my dream guitar since the first Erie ball music man so I'd like to keep it looking and playing like a dream forever. Thanks Phil. Ian.

[@billhannum4117]

That was good practical info thanx and I find your videos very useful

[@PhillipMcKnight]

Thank you

[@uberweiss6251]

Do you know how to do refrets? I'm thinking about getting a $50 neck on Amazon which is probably pure crap so I might have to change a few things. If you could do a video on that I would greatly appreciate it

[@sneezoid13]

Thanks for all the great videos, I've got a '99 ibanez 7620 that is buzzing at the nut on the low B but it only happens every now and then after every 3rd or 4th restring even though the gauge is the same. This is with all the nuts locked down. Any ideas of what this could be caused by?

[@Tyrannocaster]

If the nut slots don't have the right depth then somebody who follows your advice about height (especially on the lower frets) is in for a very frustrating experience. You really should have included that factor in this otherwise good video. Since most guitars come with high action (they don't know what you want so high is better - plus it's quicker so it saves them money), a beginner with a new guitar would be especially vulnerable.

[@fredeagle8766]

Phillip, I would expect my treble 'E' gap to be less then the bass. It doesn't bother me much though. Only classical guitar action is way beyond what I consider playable !

[@paulwinkelmann4241]

Fantastic content my friend. I love your videos. Liked and subscribed. More on locking trem set ups! I have two,,,and I'm always guessing...

[@brandonbraner]

Love it I just used a gift card the other night as a rocker. What would you say is the point where you need to level a fret?

[@dansmith2253]

Philip was a little sloppy with some of the details, but I get the overall principle. I figured out what he meant to say ,and bought the pics I needed. Thank you Philip

[@magicdjinn]

Excellent tips! I have seen lots of tutorials regarding fret buzz and none explained the "5th fret rule of thumb" the way you just did. I have had the bridge or neck adjustment doubt for years. Thank you very much! subscribed and liked, hope you get much more coming! :)

[@TheZotman5]

Hey Phil, is there a way for guys who cant drop $100 on nut files to adjust their nut slots, or is this an area where "proper" tools are a necessity?

[@SidBonkers51]

+Zotman5 When making a cigar box guitar I used a set of gas burner cleaners, not sure what the proper name is but they are a set of thin wires that are ridged and can be used to saw a nut. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Gas-Burner-Jet-Cleaner-/111423980537?hash=item19f16303f9:g:sHwAAOxyJX1S-28N

[@TheZotman5]

Thanks for the idea.

[@davidmoullet6646]

Arizona Heat always has great stuff to share. It's easy to forget tips over the years. I personally like professional grade/made measuring tools. Ya they cost money, but if your a tool guy it's all good. Thanks Phillip!

[@anthonygoines1466]

That Parker is beautiful

[@samlelowitch]

Don't some manufacturers (e.g., Fender) recommend a slightly wider gap between the fret and the string on the bass side versus the treble side for certain neck radii?