7-String Setup Info

[Kevan]

There were some issues regarding properly setting up your 7-string/UV in a different thread. *I figured this would be a good time to start a thread about it.

First, some guidelines:
•1. {in Vince Neil voice} NEVER EVER EVER NEVER NEVER EVER NEVER let the "tech" at Guitar Center or Sam Ash or Mars or [insert chain store name here] setup your 7-string guitar. *Never. *They will charge you more than a professional luthier would for a really crappy job and $5 says they don't even change the strings. *I have many friends that work at chain stores but, I wouldn't let them tune any of my guitars, let alone set them up....they're still my friends.

Take your guitar to a PROFESSIONAL luthier (lu*thi*er (noun) [French, from luth lute (from Middle French lut)] *First appeared 1879: one who makes stringed musical instruments (as violins or guitars). *If you don't know of any local luthiers, either ask a really old guy at the chain store, or ask here on the Forum. *I'll bet ya $20 I could find a wicked luthier in Brazil via the Forum. *(check the PRS Forum too; smart cookies there as well)

•2. *Tear your guitar apart and put it back together. *Get to know it inside and out. *I know that not everyone wants to do this, but....as a guitarist, you should know how to setup your own gear and doing this will help. *Take a day and "learn" your guitar. *Trust me. *

For the BEST setup area on the 'net (ask anyone), CLICK HERE. *In the famous words of Jeff Spicolli, "Read it. *Learn it. *Live it. *Whoohhhoa."

Feel free to post other suggestions here. *(Try not to bitch too much. *Thanks.)

[Christopher Chen]

Also Read the Setup section of Jemsite, it has been my faithful companion and key to my setups ever since I started coming to this site. It provides you with a wealth of information and furthermore in super simple steps, with every single nick nack that you're gonna need clearly stated there! WOOHOOO GLEN!

And another thing I've noticed about 7 string setups is that it takes a longer time for the setup to break in. I don't know whether this is true for all but when I first recieved my UV777BK, it took me about a week for it to settle in, in comparsion to my jem which took me 2 hours! LOL!

Another super stupid thing I encountered was that I could not keep my UV in tune...I noticed that I tightened the bridge so much that it caused the windings on the wound strings to be totally flattened! LOL! Hence they started to slip. Be kind and gentle to your guitars boys and girls.

And I totally agree with Kevan, GET TO KNOW your guitar inside and out. Up to this day my friend at the music store tells me about this guy who comes back every 2 weeks for them to restring his guitar.

[tomizm]

Just reinforcing what was already mentioned about tearing your guitar apart and putting it back together.

Short story---I was in a music store and a woman with a young daughter walked in with a guitar in a gig bag. *Store attendee offered assistance and I overheard the mom say that she had just broke a string and needed someone to fix that for her.
I hope the help she recieved was a string change and a string change lesson as well.

[alienx]

I agree, learn to help yourself. I'm doing the setup of all of my guitars. The UV is the most complicated one among them. In 91 as I had bought it there were no internet (that makes me sound damn' old huh :biggrin and to learn to set it up I had done exactly what Kevan recommends above. Disassemble and then reassemble the guitar. I think 2 years ago I've found the setup instructions on Jemsite. Since that time I look in every now and then. They are still a good guide to me. *

[Christopher Chen]

Yes I'd go with the Jedi advice of the "Moderator from hell" LOL!!!!

Eric Cartman Voice...
*You will respect ma authority!*

[ChrisReedSmith]

This place helped me so much. Before I came to Jemsite, back when I had my good 'ol Ibanez EX. I had NO idea what a locking trem was. I tried to set it up myself but I did a terrible job. The strings were like an inch off the fretboard and I just made all the saddles in line with each other. I played like that for months untill I came across the tech section here and BAM. Intonation. What a wonderful thing when setup right.

[wyzenhymer]

I'm getting ready to "make the big jump" to a UV (after dreaming for a few years). I have a really stupid question that I've never seen addressed. Do you buy strings in a 7 set, or just buy a bunch of low Bs seperately?
I've never seen 7 sets anywhere, but then again, I've never looked!
G.M.
p.s. If anyone knows of a good deal on a UV777BK, please email me.

[Christopher Chen]

THis string thing was quite a big problem for me when I first got my 7. I live in Singapore and none of the stores at the time sold 7 set. At that time I used a normal 6 string set, and bought the low B from a bass string set.

But right now 7 string sets are, dare I say; everywhere. I believe, D'addario, ErnieBall, Ibanez, Schecter, DR...and quite a few other string companies have made 7 string sets available. They shouldn't be hard to find now