Not every setup issue is solved by turning a screw. After neck relief, action, and intonation are set, most remaining problems fall into one of three categories: A small adjustment that needs patience A tool-related limitation A problem that shouldn’t be forced This guide explains which tools are actually used during electric guitar setup, how…
Once neck relief and action feel right, the final step in a proper electric guitar setup is intonation. Intonation determines whether your guitar plays in tune across the entire fretboard, not just at open strings. A guitar can be perfectly tuned at the nut and still sound sharp or flat higher up the neck if…
Once neck relief is set correctly, the next step in an electric guitar setup is action — the height of the strings above the frets. Action has more influence on how a guitar feels than almost any other adjustment. Too high, and the guitar feels stiff and tiring to play. Too low, and buzzing, choking…
Setting up an electric guitar starts with the neck.Before you adjust string height, touch the bridge, or think about intonation, neck relief has to be right. Neck relief refers to the slight forward curve built into a guitar neck to allow strings to vibrate cleanly. Too much relief makes a guitar feel stiff and hard…
Even when wiring looks correct, problems can still show up once a guitar is fully assembled. Weak output, crackling noise, intermittent signal loss, or unexpected hum usually aren’t caused by bad pickups — they’re caused by something that needs to be tested. That’s where troubleshooting and testing tools come in. This guide focuses specifically on…
After solder joints are made, wiring and routing tools are what keep signals quiet, stable, and reliable inside the guitar. Good wiring isn’t just about electrical connections — it’s about how wires are cut, routed, secured, and protected once those connections exist. Sloppy routing often leads to noise, intermittent signals, or components that fail over…
Wiring an electric guitar kit is less about electronics theory and more about making clean, reliable connections. That reliability comes almost entirely from using the right soldering tools. Poor tools create cold joints, excess heat, and unreliable signals — even if the wiring diagram is correct. This guide focuses specifically on soldering tools used during…
Once parts are cut and shaped, fitting and finishing tools are what make everything sit correctly, feel comfortable, and look intentional. This stage isn’t about changing dimensions — it’s about final alignment and readiness. Small issues left unaddressed here often show up later as discomfort, cosmetic flaws, or parts that never quite feel “right.” This…
After parts are cut to size, shaping and sanding tools are what turn rough components into pieces that fit comfortably and look intentional. This stage isn’t about removing a lot of material — it’s about control. Small changes here affect neck feel, fret comfort, and how cleanly parts come together later in the build. This…
Building an electric guitar kit isn’t always a bolt-together process.In many builds, parts need to be trimmed, shortened, or adjusted before they’ll fit correctly. That’s where cutting tools come in. This guide focuses specifically on cutting tools used during electric guitar kit builds, what each one is used for, and where they fit in the…