Red guitar headstock with strings and tuning pegs

Guitar Setups & String Changes in Redding, CA

Fresh strings, lower action, better intonation, and setups for any tuning or string count.

Call (530) 378-4060 Text us

Most guitars that feel hard to play don’t need a big repair. They need fresh strings and a proper setup. Weather, string changes, and time all move the neck, and that shows up as high action, buzz, and tuning that’s off up the neck.

A setup fixes all of that at once. We adjust neck relief, string height, the nut, intonation, and pickup height, then tighten up loose hardware. If you play in a different tuning, use heavier strings, or have a 5-string bass, 7-string, or 12-string, we set it up for exactly that.

Not sure what it needs? Bring it in. We’ll play it, tell you what’s going on, and get it playing easy and staying in tune.

Strings & Setup services

20 services. Don't see your problem? Call or text, we probably fix it.

String change

Fresh strings installed, stretched, and tuned so they hold pitch. Bring your own set or we can supply them.

Sounds like: old strings, strings sound dead, rusty strings, broke a string, restring my guitar

String gauge change

Switch to lighter or heavier strings and readjust the neck, nut, and action so the guitar plays right with the new tension.

Sounds like: want lighter strings, switching to heavier strings, strings too hard to press, changed string gauge

String type change (flatwound, roundwound, halfwound, tapewound, nylon)

Change to a different string type and set up the instrument to match, since each type changes tension and feel.

Sounds like: switch to flatwounds, want tapewound strings, halfwound bass strings, nylon strings, less finger noise

Neck relief setting

Set the small amount of bow in the neck so the strings clear the frets without feeling high.

Sounds like: neck too bowed, neck too flat, buzz in the first frets, action feels high in the middle

Action adjustment

Raise or lower string height so the guitar is easy to play without buzzing.

Sounds like: strings too high, hard to press strings, action too low, strings buzz, lower my action

Intonation adjustment

Set each saddle so chords and notes stay in tune all the way up the neck.

Sounds like: out of tune up the neck, chords sound off, 12th fret sharp, 12th fret flat, intonation off

Pickup height adjustment

Set pickup height for balanced volume between pickups and strings, and to stop strings pulling or warbling.

Sounds like: one pickup louder, pickup too close to strings, weak pickup, warbling notes, uneven volume

Pole piece height adjustment

Adjust individual pole pieces so every string comes through at an even volume.

Sounds like: one string too loud, one string too quiet, uneven string volume, adjust pole pieces

Full setup

Strings, neck relief, action, nut check, intonation, pickup height, and hardware tightened. The best all-around fix for how a guitar plays.

Sounds like: guitar plays bad, needs a setup, hard to play, won't stay in tune, make it play better

Alternate tuning setup

Set up the guitar for open tunings or other non-standard tunings so it plays and intonates right there.

Sounds like: open g tuning, open d tuning, dadgad, alternate tuning, guitar floppy in open tuning

Drop tuning setup

Adjust strings, nut, and action for drop D, drop C, or lower so the low string doesn't flop or buzz.

Sounds like: drop d setup, drop c tuning, low string floppy, tune down buzz, metal tuning setup

Low B setup

Get a low B string on a bass or 7-string tight, clear, and buzz free, including nut slot and saddle work.

Sounds like: low b floppy, low b buzzes, b string muddy, low b string setup

Slide setup

Raise the action and adjust the nut so a slide rides clean without clacking on the frets.

Sounds like: slide guitar setup, slide hits frets, raise action for slide, lap steel style setup

7-string setup

Full setup for 7-string guitars, with extra attention to the low string, neck relief, and intonation.

Sounds like: 7 string setup, seven string guitar, low b buzz, 7 string intonation

5-string bass setup

Full setup for 5-string basses so the low B is tight and every string plays even.

Sounds like: 5 string bass setup, five string bass, low b buzz, bass hard to play

6-string bass setup

Full setup for 6-string basses, balancing action, relief, and string spacing across the wide neck.

Sounds like: 6 string bass setup, six string bass, wide neck bass, bass buzzing

12-string setup

Setup for 12-string guitars so they're easier to fret and stay in tune across all the courses.

Sounds like: 12 string setup, 12 string hard to play, 12 string out of tune, twelve string guitar

Multi-scale setup

Setup for fanned fret guitars and basses, setting action and intonation across the angled frets.

Sounds like: fanned fret setup, multiscale guitar, multi scale bass, fan fret intonation

Nashville tuning setup

String and set up a guitar for Nashville tuning with the high octave strings, including nut adjustments.

Sounds like: nashville tuning, high strung guitar, nashville strings, octave strings

Fret buzz diagnosis

Find out what's causing the buzz, whether it's the neck, action, a high fret, or a loose part, and tell you the fix.

Sounds like: fret buzz, strings buzz, buzzing on certain frets, rattle when i play, where is the buzz coming from