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How to Build & Setup Guitar Kits Like a Pro: An Easy Guide for Bolt-On Neck Guitars (ebook/paperback)

“A one-stop-shop for all the electric guitar building basics you need to know.”

Part of Jonny Blackwood’s “Easy Guide” Series, “How to Build and Setup Guitar Kits like a Pro” is a clear, concise, step-by-step guitar assembly manual written for those with little-to-no guitar building experience. Learn how to build a bolt-on neck electric guitar (or bass) with simple instructions and over 130 photos. You will gain the understanding needed to assemble and set up guitar kits with great results!

Included in the book:

A 9-step method on assembling bolt-on style guitars
Tips and tricks to save you time and headaches
Guidance on sanding, finishing & more
Proper soldering technique explained
Scale length explained
Guitar electronics explained
How to effectively shield the instrument
Popular wiring modification suggestions
Online wiring and setup methods from Fender guitars and others
Simple guitar setup instructions for strat and tele-style guitars
How to restring the guitar properly
How to adjust truss rods for optimal neck bow
How to shim necks and adjust neck tilt
How to adjust bridge angle on tremolo equipped guitars
How to adjust intonation
How to file nut slots and more!

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION 5
PARTS OF THE GUITAR 6
CHECKLIST 7
SUPPLIES & TOOLS YOU WILL NEED 9
BEFORE GETTING STARTED 10
USING THIS GUIDE 10
TIPS ON SANDING 10
TIPS ON FINISHING 10
TIPS ON DRILLING 13
TIPS ON ASSEMBLING HARDWARE 14
GETTING STARTED 15
THE ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE 16
1. PREPARE NECK: 17
A) INSTALL TUNERS 17
B) INSTALL NUT 19
2. INSTALL HARDWARE ON BACK OF GUITAR 20
A. INSTALL STRING GROMMETS 20
B. INSTALL TREMOLO CLAW 21
3. FIT THE NECK ONTO THE BODY 22
4. INSTALL THE BRIDGE (rough in) 23
SCALE LENGTH – WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO MEASURE IT 23
5. FINALIZE NECK AND BRIDGE POSITION 26
6. CUSTOMIZATIONS 28
7. SHIELDING 29
COPPER TAPE SHIELDING TIPS 30
8. WIRING & ELECTRONICS 32
GUITAR ELECTRONICS 101 32
WIRING GUITAR ELECTRONICS 36
SOLDERING 101 36
9. RESTRING & FINAL CHECKOVER 38
GUITAR SETUP INSTRUCTIONS 39
WHAT YOU WILL NEED 40
RESTRING AND TUNE TO PITCH 41
TRUSS ROD ADJUSTMENT 44
STRING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT 47
TREMOLO BRIDGES 47
ADJUSTING BRIDGE TILT 48
NECK ANGLE ADJUSTMENTS / SHIMMING 50
HOW TO SHIM A BOLT-ON NECK 51
ADJUST STRING HEIGHT AT NUT 52
PICKUP HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT 55
INTONATION ADJUSTMENT 56
ADDENDUM 57
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS 58
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 60