Zac's Hacks - Easy Telecaster Setup - Ask Zac 55

[@paulngardner]

Can't explain how helpful this was! Being an engineer I was hell bent on measuring stuff and my tele just wasn't playing. This gave me the confidence to follow my gut and not have that nagging feeling that I didn't do it right.This stuff is gold - thanks!

[@hunkydorian]

Here's Uncle Al's two cents on nuts and nut heights: First, if you have a set of slot files corresponding to your string gauges, throw aside the skinny high E file and use the B file for the the high E slot. And the G file for the B slot. And so on. You don't want the string to be all bound up by a zero-clearance slot and the file leaves the bottom of each slot round anyway, so what's the problem? The string will find the center of the slot. Secondly, the way you know a slot is too high is when the first fret plays sharp. The reason it plays sharp is you're stretching the string when you pull it down from that high slot to the fret. Deepenize the slot until the first fret plays five or six cents sharp. If you try to get it all the way down in tune the string will buzz and you messed up the nut. Oh, and have the bottoms of the slots slightly rising toward the fingerboard. Really. Listen to Uncle Al.

[@derin111]

This is great advice. I have this problem on frets 1 to about 3. I kept deepening the slots in the nut to get it in tune at those frets…but now on a couple of the strings I’ve gone too far and introduced sting buzz! 😢 I’v bought a replacement nut but the trouble is, I don’t really have a half decent nut-files and I can’t afford or justify the exorbitant that I’ve some on Amazon for just one guitar. I’m not a professional guitar tech or luthier. In fact, I’m not even much of a guitarist either! 😅

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

Great advice! I found how to do that by my own experimenting with files one string larger than the string gauge. It’s still tricky to get it exactly right but I’m there about 99%.

[@redpaul101]

​@@derin111 If you overdeepen a nut you can undo the damage using a mixture of talcum powder and superglue. Drop the powder into the slot, drizzle some superglue onto a cocktail stick and apply the talc. It'll harden in minutes and then you'll be able to file the slot back down to the height you want. 👍

[@joseislanio8910]

That's the beauty of using compensated nuts.

[@philliplee1193]

Two dollars for that two cents of your advice !

[@deerosario8662]

Zac, you're like the Bob Ross of all things telecaster. I love your videos. I learn a lot from them. Keep them coming!!

[@AskZac]

Thanks, will do!

[@mattmcfakename5060]

@@AskZac happy little telecasters... :)

[@AskZac]

@@mattmcfakename5060 let's give this one a friend!

[@HighlyInsulatedDummy]

The Bob Ross of telecaster. Haha

[@howardmaryon]

About harmonics: when setting intonation, I use a precision tuner, a Boss one that shows cents, and play the harmonic and then fret the note. It often is sharp because the action is too high and I am effectively bending the note sharp by fretting it. So back to the whole setup again till I get it right.

[@davidrice3337]

What's this "cents " stuff

[@WillyPDX94]

Old School. I love it! My setup process? I take it to my luthier who is also a killer Telecaster player and tell him set it up as you would set up your own guitar. My guitar always plays like butter when I get it back from him. Let me give a shout out to Ryan Lynn at Eastside Guitar Repair in Portland, OR.

[@AskZac]

Nice!

[@WillyPDX94]

@kevindlinc Yes. It's amazing what an experienced luthier (especially one who actually plays the type of instrument you have) can do. I can set up a guitar on my own, as I'm sure you can too, but the results I get, no matter how closely I follow the "right" procedures, rarely if ever produces the kind of results I get from my luthier. Of course not all luthiers are created equal, but when you find a really good one, like my guy Ryan, it's amazing what they can do. I pay about $75 for a setup which is standard here in Portland. To some people that might seem like a lot of money, but a good setup lasts a long time.

[@nickangelo3283]

William, I have been a long time customer of Ryan’s. His work is impeccable. He actually built my Tele for me from some custom ordered parts. I have him refret all my guitars because his fret work is so perfect. He puts in the perfect amount of fall away on the upper frets so that you can set action nice and low, without fretting out. I find that if you get a great setup initially (including filing nut slots and leveling frets), that it’s easy enough to do the min for seasonal adjustments. I will set my own action, intonation, relief etc throughout the year, but as soon as the frets get worn and need a dressing, it’s off to Ryan they go. That reminds me. I need to bring that man a beer. Maybe I’ll stop in today.

[@rylynnpdx]

Aww. Thanks for the props! More than happy to make sure your guitars play right.

[@ClamsAnonymous]

This. If you care about having guitars that play well, take it to someone with tools and experience. They can dial it in for you. You might set up a handful of your own guitars in a year, but they do hundreds upon hundreds of setups in a year...all different makes and models. If they're nice and can actually play guitar well, those are good signs. A good setup is worth more than a new set of pickups, and usually costs less.

[@sh4rkbyt3]

Nothing beats a well broken in Tele! By far the most versatile guitar and the perfect guitar for beginners in it's simplicity. Raw, clean, distorted, overdrive, wah wah all sound better to me on a Tele than any other model.

[@MatthewScottmusic]

Nice to hear someone else who goes by "feel" and not "feeler" gauges😄👍🏻

[@LUCKYB.]

I had to stop going by Feel .. the older I get the longer the Bruses take to Heal ..😜👍

[@johnw4659]

Matthew - you and Zac are the top 2 channels I subscribe to.

[@LUCKYB.]

Matt How is that Gibson you picked up a couple weeks back comming along !

[@briano.5746]

I heard that Matthew! Couldn't agree more. 🐉💀👽🎸🎶🎵🧠

[@bryanrulz3904]

Nothing wrong with going by feel but once you get it the way you like it, I'd measure what you like. That way it makes it easier to get it back that way or let someone else know where you like things if you get to an age that you don't want to mess with it anymore. Like me. lol.

[@ajboscan6711]

I just cancel my appointment with my therapist. this is relaxing my friend!

[@AskZac]

Wonderful!

[@seanyiscubsfan1]

Hi Zac I just got my first Telecaster yesterday. A 2007 Highway One Telecaster in honey blonde with a rosewood board.

[@coyotefurtrumpet]

Think i will be returning to this video, for info for many years. Thanks

[@aarondurham75]

I check the individual nut slot depths by sight and feel also. Finger each string at the 3rd fret, then tap the string behind the 3rd fret. It shouldn’t have too much “play” and should just barely clear the top of the 1st fret. If it’s resting on the top of the 1st fret, the slot is too deep, too much play and the slot isn’t deep enough.

[@r.weaver3769]

I do the same, and was told that was the wrong way of doing it, so I tried putting to specs, hated it, so I put it back. Thanks Zac for showing, right is what works for you.

[@WarrenAndrews-w5x]

My favourite episode. Thanks brother from Warren in England 😎

[@davidrice3337]

Hey WA - favorite is spelled favorite...just sayin

[@StahlsBlues]

I'm blown away. I've watched maybe 15 of your videos so far and you've opened up a whole new world for me. I can't believe how much I've learned and I'm just beginning!

[@J.C...]

This is why I'm glad I have a light touch. I hopefully won't have divots in my frets for a very long time. Hopefully not ever, tbh. I learned that early on, after someone explained that my fingers don't have to touch the fretboard when fretting notes and its ok if it doesn't. That changed everything for me.

[@dunxy]

Makes for much less finger fatigue on the fretting hand too!

[@deanbanks3392]

I prefer "tips"--thank you for your perspective. Setting your way without tools makes more "player" sense. I learned quite a bit on this blog.

[@peoplespoet1974]

Thanks. Goth rocker circa 94 here. Love my blue 92 Tele plus and like your advice. Thanks man.

[@johns1159]

Got to love your simple, non-nonsense setup routine for Teles.

[@johntruman6571]

Zac, I come back to this video over and over with my Teles. Such good hacks and simple, good advice. Thank you once again.

[@TwangThang57]

Your Teles always sound great, so your methods obviously work for you. One thing I found interesting was your comment about erring sharp, if you have to err, when setting intonation. I've always erred the opposite way if forced to. My thought being I can slightly bend a flat note to pitch by feel, but certainly can't flatten a sharp note. But again, your Teles sound great, so........

[@AskZac]

Your method makes sense

[@ffbai]

To adjust the neck on a heel of a tele take off the pickguard and use the Stew Mac or similar tool. Way easier then loosening neck screw.

[@telecasterbear]

After purchasing a stew mac tele neck wrench, I was doing a bit of painting in our house. The paint can opener from the home store was bent 90 degrees just at the tip, just like the wrench is. There ya go.

[@mike8610]

One shop off 51st and Centennial that I won't name in Nashville is charging $650 for a strat re-fret. Insane.

[@glenlapwing8468]

Been setting mine up exactly the same way since 1970, my idea of what feels right is usually a lot different than a techs

[@ronaldcaimi5720]

The pickup height hack worked! Improves clarity and volume. Took awhile to get an ear for matching the output from high e to low e and from front to back pickups but well worth the effort. Thanks.

[@AskZac]

Great to hear!

[@newgunguy4176]

I use the harmonic at the twelfth to tune the open string and of course, stop the string at the twelfth fret to check intonation. The reason I use the harmonic at the 12th fret is because the electronic tuners seem to be able to "hear" harmonics easier than open strings.

[@howardmaryon]

Good idea

[@newgunguy4176]

@@howardmaryon If I remember correctly, I got that from a Harvey Citron instructional video on guitar setups.

[@archeryandstuffwithstevela3423]

Great stuff! One thing that I’ve found, is that it’s a good idea, to recheck the intonations after adjusting the pickups. I’ve occasionally noticed slight changes, after doing pickup adjustments.

[@Ottophil]

Magnetic pull! Its real

[@martinobrien2765]

I am a new guitar player and have just purchase a cheap Harley Benton TE70 and then found your channel. Thank you so much for this, your style of teaching/informing people is amazing. sent a tip as an appreciation of this video

[@AskZac]

Thank you!!

[@joshuajaimes121]

Awesome guitars dude, I just bought the te 52 by Harley Benton, and let me tell you I’ve been playing for 5 years and I love it just as much as my 1,200 Fender Performer. Cheers 🍻

[@billkallas1762]

I have a TE70 also. I did a few mods on it like changing the tuners to basic Kluson and changing the strung trees to a single old school, round type one. My tuning is so stable, I only have to do some small adjustments, once every week. Every other day I practice with my "Tele", and then my Strat. I used to gig back in the 60's but sold all my stuff and quit for 45 years. Started again after I retired. I usually practice with headphones because my wife always will say...."Turn that damn thing down".

[@joshuajaimes121]

@@billkallas1762 HAHA Awesome man!

[@paulgreen2303]

Hey Zac, great video. I'm setting up a partscaster I just put together and this helped. I just found your channel today, but you and I go back a number of years to when I owned the TDPRI. Good to see you.

[@AskZac]

I absolutely remember you, Paul. Thanks for making a fun hang out. Still have the Crook body with an old neck?

[@paulgreen2303]

@@AskZac I sold it to Redd Volkaert. I put that '73 neck on a Silver Sparkle body that a TDPer made and sent me gratis about 20-years ago. But I'm having setup problems with it. Neck pocket seems cut right but everything is too high.

[@MrGibsn1960]

That's exactly how I used to set up my guitars. Hogy over with komet amps told me I had it too close and the pickup was pulling the string slightly out of tune. I just never noticed it. It was right after I replaced a bridge pickup in a Les Paul deluxe to a lollar p90. Loving the content.

[@L.C.Sweeney]

Trust Zac to do the best video I've seen on this. Personally, I love your approach. I don't get why some techs have an army of tools. I just don't think it's necessary. If _I_ can set up a guitar with three tools then anybody can.

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: I appreciate you sharing your experience. No method is wrong if it works and causes no damage. The beauty of a Telecaster is that it is pretty straight forward to keep playing right.

[@producerman10030]

I replaced the string trees on my strat and tele with graphtech string trees. Made a difference in tuning.

[@PeterDad60]

Nothing a little oil could not have accomplished.

[@stuartblack6803]

this helped me so much more then the vids of guys fannying around with all the gadjets n stuff, Now my tele feels great , Cheers.

[@AskZac]

Cheers!!

[@robhead22]

I love your show zac!! Thank you! Your show on “what a stratocaster is for “ was excellent as well!!

[@Glicksman1]

Other than a tuner I have never used any tools or guitar setups either. When it feels good to me and reasonably in tune, I'm done. A local guitar store has a Pleck machine. I haven't taken a guitar there to do that yet, but I would if the frets needed leveling and still had, as you said, sufficient "meat" on them. As we know, Leo Fender designed the bolt-on neck with the idea that when the frets got too worn you could replace the neck rather than worry about getting a fret job. New Tele necks are around $300 and complete fret jobs go for around the same or more, so Leo actually got it right after all. Of course, this doesn't apply to vintage guitars. Absolutely correct about not using harmonics for intonation and that sharp sounds better than flat. The high E and B strings in particular can intone a cent or two or three sharp and will sound fine. I have learned over the years that the best electric guitar tone comes from light gauge strings, playing light, low output low set pickups, and slightly higher action. SIngle-coil pickups pull magnetically harder on the strings than do humbuckers. This magnetic pull kills tone, resonance, and sustain and is naturally mostly so for the thicker strings. If you find that you're getting "wolf tones" from the lower string strings when they are played at the upper frets, lower the pickups on that side until they go away. Also, for distortion, crunch, or whatever, set your amp to a clean sound and use compressors, boosters, and OD pedals on your board rather than turning your amp up. You'll save your ears, your lease, your gig, and your marriage.

[@jerrytee2688]

I have been using those same "radius guages" out of Dan's book for years. 👍😎

[@bsherbine]

Zac this episode is so helpful. There arent alot of guys who really know how to set up vintage tele... really- thank yoh

[@Jacqie]

First video I have found that actually explains how to set-up your guitar, or at least the first one I easily understand

[@johndogwater]

Now that's a unique use for a Memory Man.

[@shield400]

I agree 100% with your setup method. I also use my eyes, hands and ears as my guide.

[@AskZac]

Perfect

[@Ben_Mdws]

Interesting to hear your approach, thank you. I agree that doing what you feel comfortable with is best; I’ve watched so many Dave’s World of Fun Stuff videos that his advice is pretty much ingrained in me!

[@jackiedixon5076]

Thank you very much. I enjoy your videos. The pickup height adjustment hack is what I was needing. Fender's height adjustment is 1/8 " from bottom of the bass side of the pickup to the top of the magnet. The opposite little e is 1l16". I like you hack, because it has to cooperate with the top of the fret.

[@blueatlantisguitar]

I love the 10/38 set... got 'em on every thing

[@hybridnoisebloom]

Absolutely right--do not use the harmonic to set intonation. When I first tried setting intonation, I read somewhere that I should set open note, fretted 12, harmonic 12. Boy what a mistake that was--it put me on an endless loop, chasing that elusive center point that kept changing every time I went to the next step. For a long time I gave up trying and just settled for 'close enough.' Much later, I found out I should omit the harmonic step, and that light bulb finally switched on--it was no longer an unsolvable mystery. Sometimes you get told the wrong thing, and it can be frustrating.

[@christophergallagher531]

In the '60s all I had was an arch top with a floating bridge. No such thing as an electronic tuner. we all used harmonics, in set up. I am not grasping what the problem with this is. I have often wondered if scale length formulas , that look good on paper, are actually any good in the real world. I think Parker Guitars have a different take, on that. I set my guitars to run flat, rather than sharp if possiable. Chris

[@surfneptune]

Fantastic Zac, fantastic demo. I am glad you don't advocate much relief. I was fortunate enough to work for Santa Cruz Guitar company in a marketing capacity for a very brief period. And asked a boatload of questions about how guitars work. One of the most skill craftsman there Stephen Strahm was doing warranty repairs and set ups, he told me that the neck should be as straight as you can possibly get it. I played the guitars before and after he did his thing. And the difference was always astounding. The physics behind resonance and a straight neck not only make for a better playing instrument but a better sounding instrument. I think a straight neck takes away less vibration from the guitar than a relieved one. My two cents.

[@AskZac]

I agree 100%

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

Excellent advice on pickup height adjustment by ear. Compensation for pickup output string to string and pickup to pickup will maximize available tonal range within the limits of the electronics installed. Every instrument is a system and needs to assessed and adjusted as such ( including the player it is set up for).

[@glenkepic3208]

Love the content, Zac. My 20th Anniversary ('82-02) Squire Fat Tele sat for awhile. Smitten, bought it in '05. Partial mill and dress, much like the '95 G400 i bought new then sold. Repair guy said he hard balled Fender so i didn't pay anything. Still plays great. Those were the days,,,,Store's gone now.

[@georgecrawford8231]

Feel works for me ! At Clawsons and George's Music it was all by feel.

[@AskZac]

Perfect! I found some of your picks in my stash!

[@HuiswerkGitaarles]

I just followed your method for PU height setting (from 16:08 in the video). In my case, this resulted in settings which differ strongly from the general recommendations given by PU manufacturers (even Fender). My neck is now much higher, my bridge is much lower, and the PU's are balanced now, for the first time. Also, that neck starts giving me some of that voluptuous tone which I know was hiding there. Very successful hack, thanks Zac. (one day I'll try getting the neck off that tone pot too..)

[@NashvilleJB]

this was just an eyeopener of a show, thanks so much Zac! Put a capo on the first fret of my guitar... now I want to leave it there! Enjoyed the 'Hacks'!

[@357armen]

Great show. Juice Newton Queen of Hearts awesome song. Hal Ketchum small town reminds me of watching TNN the Nashville Network before high school in the 90s. They wd always play Sammy Kershaw Hal Ketchum Travis Tritt. Miss it!!

[@bryantcoleman5619]

Nice anecdote about the multitalented steel player, Hank DiVito. . Like Pete Kleinow. Sneaky Pete was an award winning special effects artist in the movie industry the whole time he was playing with the Burritos and other West Coast bands.

[@MattStricklandBand]

So glad I found this channel. I love the intro to these videos. It makes me feel like I'm watching Mr. Rogers neighborhood as a kid again every time I watch a new episode.

[@TeleCaster66]

Ha, I've been setting up my own guitars since 1981 and never have I used a tool either. My guitars play and sound great. Pickup height by ear and not a measument can't be stressed enough in my opinion. Also, I make the same gauge strings sets as you expect a 9 on top and a 40 on th low E. The G string being a 15 is the most important thing to me, sounds less in- your-face and blends in better plus it's easier to bend as a bonus.

[@AskZac]

Very cool!

[@johnulrich5572]

Watching your video I feel vindicated in the way I've been setting up my guitars since I was a kid, Back in San Antonio in the late 60's me and my friends had to figure out how to make our guitars play like we wanted them to ourselves. Thanks for the video, Zac. The walk down part of the lick you're playing is exactly how i've been playing the intro to Mr. Bojangles for 0ver 50 years. RIP Jerry Jeff Walker. BTW, I bought my first MusicKraft neck 20 years ago and they've been very good to me. They make a nice product.

[@AskZac]

Hello to a fellow South Texan

[@BeesWaxMinder]

The song at the beginning and at the end sounds like a really cool version of “a whiter shade of pale“ to me!

[@johnfeole1971]

Thanks Zak, useful tips for dialing in my tele..much appreciated.

[@joeurbanowski321]

Love your down to earth,common sense tips.! I’m an old bassist and we always did the work on our own equipment.. couldn’t afford it otherwise.. lol.. I had a real “duh moment “ when you said to listen for a buzz when you’re using the radius gauge..!! Hah.! I can’t believe I never thought of that..! Live n learn,ay…? Thanks much!👍🏼

[@hoagyguitarmichael]

Thanks for the Hank DeVito rundown - he has given me much pleasure, including the album cover of that great record. I saw him back in the day with The New York Rock and Roll Ensemble.

[@wesd3370]

Yeah I for sure set my truss rod and saddle height based on where the string above hits my finger when I bend.

[@justinpaquette224]

Every time I get a guitar back from the shop, I feel like the action is way to low. For me I raise it till it feels good to bend on the high e, then I set the rest from there. The other advantage to this kind of set up is that the strings ring really free. The guitar ends up with a great unplugged sound. I feel like if a guitar sounds good unplugged, then you got a good chance of everything else working well. I play with 9.5 - 44 strings, so the action being a little high is no problem for me, it is also still in tune at the 12th fret

[@philliplee1193]

From your intro - now we know where the stone’s can’t you hear me knock’n came from

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

I got a lot out of this video. I’ve used the tiny piece of paper under the string at the nut many times before. It’s good to show ways of dialing in your Tele without a lot of equipment. Simple is best for me every time.

[@robertprice5039]

Love the truss rod adjustment hack. Most of the Fenders that I am using mostly have the adjustment at the bottom of the neck.

[@StratsRUs]

Thank you for the straightforward advice that makes so much sense.

[@dustdevilz4771]

I find that I over bend the high E when it’s smaller then .010. I like your ideas on pickups and their setup. Thanks

[@brianemrick7232]

Please check out the Bensonite screw kit for telecaster. Gets rid of sharp saddle adjustment screws, round body screws, and way too longer intonation screws that can be so long it hits your hand. Palm mute with no sharp edges!!!

[@telecasterbear]

Growing up quite poor, was my vehicle to take cheap guitars apart and put them back together. That started in 1975. I never did that with cars, but guitars always intrigued me. Word spread, and others would bring guitars to me for action and intonation set ups. I have made nuts from bone. My only fancy set up tools are a set of nut files 9-42.

[@AskZac]

Perfect

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

My first electric was a used Japanese fake Jaguar some navy guy's kid brought back to Hawaii. The nut was so low I put a food bag twister (with a wire inside) under each string. this gave it a very funky buzzy sound on open strings.

[@bldallas]

Another great video Zak, I really love the way you develop and deliver a story, all the way down to the tone and cadence of you voice. This might sound weird, but you remind me so much of Bob Phillips, the Texas Country Reporter. If I didn’t know any better I’d say you two have to be related. If you don’t know who I mean, Google him and check out a story or two. Bob has been traveling the back roads of Texas telling fascinating stories of people and businesses he finds along the way. Stories that define Texas. Anyhow, I hope you take the comparison as the compliment it’s meant to be. Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re very entertaining and informative.

[@AskZac]

I watched Bob for years when I lived in Texas. Thanks!

[@jameswagner5098]

The lesson part was reminiscent of the song Husbands and wives recorded by Brooks and Dunn

[@JonathonMarshall12]

Very helpful video. I too use the Stewmac tool and remove the pick guard to adjust the neck relief. I’m pretty sure the nut is too high on all of my guitars. I never realised. Very enlightening, great hacks. Many thanks.

[@roberthdahlquist]

Another good one Zac, and your lesson this time almost sounds like a nod to Jerry Jeff Walker. If you haven’t tried that little StewMac truss rod tool, it really is a good thing!

[@francov8363]

Best set up video, thanks Zac!

[@harleylewis5974]

Been waiting on this one and enjoyed it. I've done setups by measuring and by feel and by feel wins every time to my ear and hand. Great Info!

[@AskZac]

Thanks, Harley!

[@marksc1929]

..nice opening 👍...also nice to hear someone setting up a guitar by feel ....like Zac

[@derin111]

This is great advice. I have this problem on frets 1 to about 3 where when I’m fretting say open chords at this area the guitar was quite out of tune despite being near perfectly intonated 0 vs 12 fret. I kept deepening the slots in the nut to get it in tune at those frets…but now on a couple of the strings I’ve gone too far and introduced sting buzz! 😢 I’v bought a replacement nut but the trouble is, I don’t really have a half decent nut-files and I can’t afford or justify the exorbitant that I’ve some on Amazon for just one guitar. I’m not a professional guitar tech or luthier. In fact, I’m not even much of a guitarist either! 😅

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

i'm billy gibbon's .07s ... i love a two tone bend. I mainly finger/hybrid pick though.

[@markst676]

Thanks...great video on setting up a Tele. The neck pickup has always been a question for me as far as height is concerned but now I know where to start.

[@myeyesarewaiting]

Great video - myself, and all my guitarist friends set our guitars up similar to this. by feel, not by measurements. Great video to show people that you don't have to be a technical wizard to get your guitar playing good.

[@jeremystrickland348]

I use tools to start and get it to the "standard numbers" but from there i tweak it to what feels good for me. There reslly is no substitute to playing it and making it feel good to you.

[@Dbj5555555]

I kinda agree make sure the magnet pull is not effecting your intonation. Too close and you can run into problems. More with strats though.

[@maxwhitten8376]

Your knowledge is priceless.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

Neck relief checking fret selection procedure is: which ever highest fret you have minus the first fret then divide by two will identify the fret to nearly not be touching. Be sure to look at both the thinnest and thickest strings. This allows you to also compensate for any neck twist.

[@henryhunter5026]

Interesting video. Back in the day I think that we all set up our guitars by eye, ear and, more importantly, feel. I remember taking ages adjusting intonation by ear before electronic tuners became easily available. These days I do own one of those string action measuring rulers but still do things by ear, eye, and feel.

[@AskZac]

Well said!

[@deemdoubleu]

Talking of setting up, I have a work colleague who is top dollar at repairing and setting up guitars but he cannot play at all so relies on my feedback for final test. I laughed when he said "I've measured my fingers with a vernier caliper and they won't physically fit on the fingerboard". I should show him a pic of Redd Volkaert - he has fingers like pork sausages.

[@guitarsofold100]

@Matthew Scott, right on Matthew your fingers and eyes tell the story of how it plays not a feeler guage

[@cacarver1982]

This is awesome! Great job simplifying something that’s always felt really complicated to me.

[@AskZac]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnw4659]

Thanks Zac. This channel is an oasis.

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@MrPanchoak]

Thanks, im getting on my pickups right now. I never had any idea.

[@christophergallagher531]

Thanks, I see this is a year old. Good material never goes out of date. Our set up approach is very much alike. I am a fan of zero frets. If they are a heathy 3/8s" from the nut, bends in first position are more comfortable. When intonating I prefer to run flat. I am a clumsy player and often mash the strings sharp as it is. If the string is running sharp, there is nothing I can do about it. Running flat, I can bend up to pitch. My actions are set , by feel. I do not follow the radius. The high and low Es are higher , the rest are averaged to match. I like a lot of relief, for my heavy right hand. With all this I run out of adjustment room. I like your pick up set up. I will try it next go. If the bridge is louder it's ok with me. Muddy necks , no! Love the sound of string windings there. Have you tried a Fender 'Twisted Tele Neck'? Good Luck. Chris

[@AskZac]

I like the twisted neck

[@christophergallagher531]

@@AskZac Paired with a JD back the JB is a mile from the strings. I have a project where the Neck pu gets moved from under the harmonic node. I had an ASAT like that. Most likely a twisted neck for that. I have been enjoying your vids. I have a camp fire story about meeting up with Danny Gatton in late 71. He was using a Gibson SG with a BF Vibrolux at the time. Thanks Chris

[@uptopmikep7065]

Thanks Zac. Interesting perspective on setup. Honestly I don’t have enough experience with the process to “wing it” or e”eye ball it” while setting up my Teles. I fear it would be a mess. It would be fantastic if you would take your measurements then share them with us to use as guidance while setting up our guitars. After the set up then we can tweak the settings for feel. You could also submit them for possible inclusion in Dan Erlewines book. You obviously know Dan included setup specs for instruments. Belonging to several renowned players. Thanks again Zac!

[@ajsrhodes]

Great video! I'd like to see some more Zac's hacks!

[@timothy5974]

This was a Great Video, I just picked up a Squier Affinity Telecaster yesterday to wet my Telecaster taste. Its not a fancy expensive guitar, but might be a stepping stone to another guitar later.

[@AskZac]

Very cool!

[@lifeandliberty0172]

I also got an Affinity tele , about a year ago, just to see if I liked the tele feel and sound, never had one before. It's a great platform for upgrades, the neck is fine. I thought it had enough potential, it's at the shop right not getting new pickups and pots, a switch and a new nut. Excited to get it back , it will literally be a whole new guitar. Counting purchase price, used, I'll only be in it for 3-350 total. With Seymour Duncan hot tele pickups. Win win.

[@jeffbriggs4268]

Impressive video with great tips- especially the pickup height. You're truly an inspiration! Thanks Zac!

[@AskZac]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@notbraindead7298]

@@AskZac It seemed to me that your method for Pup height would place the Pups too close to the string. This would possibly cause magnetic interference. ? ? ?

[@maxwhitten8376]

No idea how I missed this. Your playing is awesome. Thanks for being!💙

[@blueshorecreative3146]

Thanks, Zac! for the free helpful information. I'm tryna deal with a too-trebly bridge pickup so I think this might be helpful. Good luck and good times!

[@AskZac]

You bet!

[@Jonathandavidk]

Big fan of the channel Zac. I’m new to teles and the section on pickup height was really helpful.

[@fleadoggreen9062]

That’s a cool intro, I always liked those descending notes while keeping the treble same , gonna have to try and steal that if that’s ok !🙂

[@raymondgreathouseiii7948]

I’m with you on the feel and no special tools that’s how I setup my telecasters I know where I want it to be for how I play your setups is just about step by step the way I setup my guitars I’m with you feel and sound