A burl-top LTD EC-1000 came in for a setup. The nut was uneven, the pickups sat too low, and the truss rod, bridge height and intonation were out. Cleaned, nut filed level, set up and pickups raised in 50 minutes.
- Instrument
- LTD EC-1000, burl top
- Tech
- Dave Eastwood
- Customer complaint
- Setup
- Diagnosis
- Guitar dirty; truss rod, bridge height and intonation out; nut uneven; pickups too low
- Work performed
- Cleaned; truss rod set; nut filed even; bridge height and intonation set; pickups raised
- Parts
- None
- Bench time
- 50 minutes
- Outcome
- Much cleaner and better playing than before, in Dave's words
What Came In
An LTD EC-1000 with a burl top, in for a setup.
What We Found
The guitar needed a cleaning. The truss rod, bridge height and intonation all needed adjusting. The nut was uneven and needed filing, and the pickups were too low.
What We Did
Cleaned the guitar. Set the truss rod and filed the nut even. Set the bridge height and intonation, then raised the pickups to suit. About 50 minutes on the bench.
Result
Much cleaner and playing better than it came in, in Dave's words.
What does an uneven nut do to a guitar?
Each slot is cut to its own depth, so an uneven nut leaves some strings high and stiff at the first frets while others sit low enough to buzz. Filing the slots level is what makes open chords play in tune and feel even under the hand. Pickups set too low cost output and a little clarity, so raising them is an easy win on a setup.
Related
- The Repair Vault
- Guitar Setups at Paul's Guitar Hideout
- What a Guitar Setup Includes and Why It Matters
- LTD EC-1000 (Purple): Setup for the Move from 11s to 10s
- Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster: Setup After a Home Attempt
Bring It In
Guitar that feels stiff at the first frets and weak through the amp? Often it is the nut and the pickup height, both setup work. Setups at the Hideout.
Paul's Guitar Hideout is located at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY. Use the Cooper Street entrance and take the stairs up. If stairs are difficult or you're bringing in something you don't want to carry up, call or text us and we'll arrange access.
The Shirt Factory
71 Lawrence St., Suite 201B, 2nd Floor
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Wednesday–Sunday, 12–5 PM
(518) 217-8695 · info@paulsguitarhideout.com