Make Your CHEAP Guitar Play Like a MILLION Bucks!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2019
- Time to pull that old beater out of its case and give it a good setup!
In today's video I go step-by-step to show how I set up my guitars so that they play like a high-end instrument!
If you enjoyed this video, be sure to like and subscribe :)
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I can make a million dollar guitar sounds like a cheap one.
Ditto! I hear that.....lmao
Why would you want to
It’s ok buddy...😁👍
Lol. Made me chuckle 🤭
Me too 😆😆😆😆😆
Now try making a million bucks sound like a guitar
Thats easy, just buy a line 6 spider III amp and shoot it with a 12g
Give it to me I can make you a guitar
Hai rudy sensei
It's you... again 😂
Easy. Build a guitar with 1m in rare materials like diamonds and platinum etc. OR take 1m in currency and some resin and cast it for the body. Next challenge!
"The nut is one of the most important areas on your instrument"
Can't argue with that
And don't forget to lubricate them regularly
the nut on the guitar, or the nut holding it. Me, the nut.
I nut on my guitar
And you never wanna just a nut!
I saw the “i can make a million dollar guitar sound like a cheap guitar” comments from a mile away
I know there's one in every crowd....my question is why do you play
Well
It's me
Cus
I'm just learning
And my guitar is older than my dad i think
YaBoiDrake make sure no one subscribes to you cause you have sixty nine subs :p
Commit fully to music 🎶 and you will get better
1.6 kilometers
Definitely going to have to delete my browsing history after searching for that nut lube...
ha, ha ha!!! Your womans gonna find out your using graphite on your nuts
Kevin Stones 🤣
Haha lol
pervin'!, @@stkbkr1lmao!
Lol
Remember this: you can get a crappy guitar and make it sound great but you can also get an amazing guitar and make it sound crappy
David Segovia indeed
i have many cheap and midrange guitars i make sound crappy
I’m living proof of that statement.
Lol. The best players can play the worst guitars , but the rest of us make good guitars sound cheap lol
Ok😀
Man, I picked up the guitar at about the age of 14 and I started gigging in bars when I was 16 years old. I am now 28 and you are the first person to really take the time to explain all of this in a way that I could understand. So my intonation has been off for nearly 15 years now, but not anymore lol. My cheap electric guitar sounds so much better now! Thanks so much. Liked and subscribed
The Internet was full of this stuff when you were 14 I'm sorry to tell you
@@bonkeydollocks1879 15 years and no purchase of a better guitar
@@clammaster4 what? I was replying to Brock
@@clammaster4 He made the distinction of his cheap guitar sounds better now. Meaning he probably has a more expensive one? No? Because any good guitar over $1000 is not going to have these problems, so he could only make his cheap guitar better using the techniques in the video.
Aw u just made my day. I'm 29. I mean this wasn't the first video I heard of these things personally it's just been a struggle for me to get everything 100% perfect !
Just bought a cheap Glarry electric that I want to teach myself on... this is the first video I have watched that hasn't assumed I am an expert (even on beginner titled videos) or just consisted of some dude playing riffs over and over again. Thank you for being accessible to all levels and helping me feel a bit less helpless!
I went and got a Glarry just to see if a cheap guitar could be modded into a descent guitar. I just ordered #10. These things are amazing and can get 10 of em for the price of a MIM Strat. Sand of the Glarry and get a decal off ebay, whala it's a Fender 67 Strat that your nieve friends won't believe you own! Here's to Glarry! ~Cheers!
I just bought a Cozart of of Ebay which will arrive next week and I'll begin my guitar journey with it. Good luck on your journey. Hopefully you're still practicing!
@@andrewyoung9516 I had COZARTS when they first emerged. They are made in VietNam and now the IYV guitars are as well, cheap to buy, and are rather nice!
How's the playing coming along?
There’s already to many people playing guitar. Do something else. You’re just gonna end up fantasizing that you’re some rockstar anyways . You’re going to be driving down Street sounds going to come on and you’re going to Act like it’s you playing to a large crowd of people. Just stick to watching TV. It doesn’t look cool playing guitar with short hair.
I get asked about guitar setup a lot! - So here's how I do it!
Here's what I cover in today's video:
Polishing nut - 1:45
String trees - 6:27
Fret ends - 9:04
Action - 12:11
Saddle radius - 15:46
Intonation - 20:00
Playing test - 21:20
Enjoy!
I refrain form nut polishing ; )
@Darrell Braun Guitar Have you ever wanted to start a band?
Darrell Braun Guitar I believe the intonation is around 20:00 not 23, typo! Thanks for the vid
Thanks for the heads up!
What was the tool used to set the saddles for the radius?
I have absolutely no idea why I watched this. I don't play guitar, have never played and have no real interest to start playing. But I still found it interesting.
Believe me, you never get back when you start playing it
go listen to your favorite song with guitar in it. That song you air guitar too. Imagine air guitar.. only YOUR making the sound.. and it feels 10,000 times better.
@@cdreid9999 accurate underrated reply
Me too!
Username checks out
This was worth watching just for the water freezing thing!
Freezeworks!
i used to watch you years ago playing bo2 zombies
So may "learn to play" programs miss out on this -- "before you even start playing" set-up. Serious thumbs up.
Thank you for all this knowledge without asking for a thing!
The string trees tip worked WONDERS on my Tele, after removing it from the 3-4th strings and putting it to replace the 1-2nd's one I was able to lower my action a lot and remove the slight (but noticeable) fret buzz it had! Now it plays like a dream, holy hell, thanks a bunch Darrell!
You experienced no tuning issues whatsoever after that?
I only have one on my Strat for the 1-2 strings. A second one kills your tone. My S type I built up in 1982 has none and never needed any.
@@shikhindahikar8488 Sorry I never answered, my Tele has always been pretty stable tuning-wise and doing the string trees swap did not affect that at all, even with the stock american tuners. If that's the one concern you have, I'd just say go for it, it's an amazing tip fr.
"nut slot" sounds like an insult.
sounds painful
I'm going to hang onto that one.
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 please don’t hang on to my nut slot
Sounds like something you’d say to degrade a gay bottom or a straight woman
You can just imagine the trailerpark scene:
Him: "I'm going out for a beer."
Her: You better not go to that nut slot again!"
Doesn't matter how little money you spend or how expensive the guitar is... the point of this video is clear. Guitar maintenance is a MUST! You've earned a subscription.
I've been working on and setting up guitars for 25 years. Spot on Darrell. It's great you guys exist for modern shredders!
All these years I never realised the additional role of the string tree - to stop the Sitar buzz. Thanks man - now my guitar no longer sounds like a Sitar with a silent H ;-)
Teaching people to appreciate our instrument... Darrell, I sincerely thank you for reconciling me with my cheap equipment.
This is an info packed vid Darrell. You’re a great teacher that doesn’t come off egotistical at all. Thank you so much
100%!
I was looking for a guutar case on Amazon. I ran across a telecaster style guitar by sawtooth. 159.00 out the door. I figured what the heck, decent case with a 59.00 guitar. So I bought a new nut from graphtech, new tuners wilkensons, roller string trees, roller saddles, alnico pickups with western flower engraving bridge and control panel, which all came with 3 contact switch, alnico 5 pups, and large pots, and a new scratch gaurd perloid, along with nice leather strap. Everything cost 114.00 and the guitar went from blah to holy crap, in playing and looks. This is my second cheap guitar build up. Thanks to videos like this one really make it possible. I have two wonderfully playing guitars, all for half the cost of a MIM guitar all done in about 10 hours of work and a very small upgrade price. Thanks videos like these give so much info and joy to watch and put into practice.
I've never pain more than $129 for SKB or Gator cases off Amazon. One is a TSA approved Flight case for my 57 P bass. Good deals if you look for them. GC charges more for crap.
Dude, make another and a video. Sawtooth is Michael Angelo Baito,?
I dont even play guitar. This is just interesting as hell
I used to, but i like to feel nostalgic for my 15 yo self
Me either but these damn fenders keep ending up on my wall and my bank account is always missing money... Its damn annoying yesterday a new wah pedal appeared on my floor smh... If it keeps it up ima have to learn how to play this stuff eventually.
0:11 that action is giving me nightmares
I want you to be teacher for everything, not just guitars. So calm, straightforward, and well-spoken. Thanks for the vid
Thank you for making videos like this, cheap guitars can sound good if you make an effort to change, replace with decent parts that don't have to break the bank(unless you want to!), and my favorite, simple understanding instructions on how to fix,tune, and setup popular
100% agreed
True! I have a vintage V6 reissued(strat) that I love lil more than my American special strat...I just have to put the work into the v6 and it would be killer!
My favorite guitar channel for certain.
And sir you just created a multi million view video
Yeah, I expect this to become a cult video for those looking to get the most out of their budget instrument.
Ah re que no.
This is why I’m subscribed to this channel. Your knowledge and expertise on guitar and your ability to teach it is simply unparalleled. Can’t believe after hours of searching for these answers you’re the only one that helped me fully understand how to set up a guitar. Ty!
I know this is an old video now already, but I found you by coincidence through researching for my first guitar and am watching all your videos now. This channel is just gold, especially for all newbies like me!
(If you are reading this and new, too, and about to buy your first one, go for " 5 Things to Check BEFORE Buying a Guitar! ")
Thank you very much Darrel!
You should of done a before and after sound playing the same cords that show I problems and how they are fixed
*should've
@@senza4591 *should have
@@ks5553 both should've and should have are a gramatically correct
Hey, I think I did something wrong.
I flossed my nuts with guitar strings, but I got wheeled off in a padded ambulance. Any solutions!
Get lighter gauge strings
nativeboi907 thanks, appreciate it. They tasted really good, but I’m in an even tighter secured cell now. I have to drink my own piss
Did you try doing it in public? That way other people might be able to help.
Had it been an ordinary ambulance I would just have said "wrong nuts", obviously! Being a padded one, maybe next time you just shouldn't tell everyone near you about your venture......they just don't understand your urge to obtain perfectly smooth nuts.....LOL!
Chris Cross thanks, I appreciate it 👌
Out of all the guitar setup videos, this is the only one that actually allowed me to grasp the info. Thank you!
I never learned so much in 23 minutes in my life.
Loved this 3 part series. This is exactly what I do. Modify budget Strats into great instruments. Very helpful information for everyone.
Polar Vortex=No Mosquitos
😂 That's the spirit!
@@DarrellBraunGuitar Until you are facing your 60th Canadian prairie winter, then its charm has long since worn off! ;(
I noticed that when you moved the string tree over, the angle of the tree made the string only contact the leading edge of the tree. Does that cause any problems with snagging and making a sitar type sound? If your turned it 180 degrees, it looks like it would make contact all along the underside of the tree and provide a smooth and robust surface for the strings.
Also, why not just use a roller style tree? They are so inexpensive (about $5.00 for 4 roller trees) I think everyone should just chuck the trees and use the rollers.
I like the idea of lubing the nut slots and also of saving a short length of your old strings to use as a make-shift file to smooth out the slots in the nut! Very clever and economical!
Plus apparently kills emerald ash borer. So I got that goin for me
No mosquitos here in Vegas either.
Ok but in the summer it’s a buffet for the blood suckers
Thanks for the video! I still have my first electric from over 10 years ago, a squier strat in sunburst. I didn’t want to get rid of it, but of course never played it. I saw a mix of your videos on updating cheap guitars along with this video and fell in love with it all over again! I rounded the neck better, bought vintage style locking tuners, Tex-mex pickups, upgraded wiring and pots, bone nut, string tree, and gave it a good set-up. Then exaggerated the already many dings and scratches found on any old high-school kids guitar (some relic) and BAM! It has new life! I had sanded off the squier logo back then so I also added some cheeky 60s style American strat waterslide decals. It looks and plays better than some of the high-ends if owned. Incredible! Considering shielding the body and upgrading tremolo next.
This is the best video I've seen on this subject. I've watched quite a few. Really easy to understand and Darrell does this with such a pleasant demeanor. I have been subscribed for a while and so glad I made that decision. Thank you Darrell for this video and all of your videos.
This is one of the best videos I've seen that offers those essential tips... Good video work, good voice-over. Nicely done, Darrell.
Thanks so much Marc!
I've found on a couple of guitars I can't move the 6th string saddle back far enough to intonate properly because the saddle bolt was starting to hit the string. So I unscrew the saddle bolt completely, and put a small washer or 2 on it before screwing it back in. It effectively makes the bolt shorter (by the width of the washers) allowing you to pull that saddle back further.
I've removed the springs several times. The saddles don't move.
You just totally motivated me to learn about guitar set-up and maintenance. I've been happy to toss Guitar Center 65 bucks every time an ax was in need. But now I want to start diving into this myself. Thank you!
If you made model cars or RC airplanes as a kid, you have the hands to do this stuff. It is not complicated, but takes basic tools and learning how. The best method is be pals with a real pro guitar builder or setup guy and ask questions and follow his example!
My compliments. No waste of time and straight to the point, as well as, a clear presentation. I have, through a number of guitars and much time and experimentation, worked out most of the procedure, but for acoustic guitars. Here I learned the smoothing of the nut and fret ends. I never thought of lubricating the nut. I also learned how the mechanical system at the bridge works. Thank you. I'll be watching more.
Pro tip: the correct order of adjustments when setting up a guitar.
1) truss rod
2) saddle height
3) nut height
4) intonation.
Just figured that would help. Does you no good if you set the nut height and then make all the other adjustments. :)
There’s a lot of back and forth adjusting when setting up a guitar to the highest quality.
Thanks Darrell. You’re an amazing teacher & presenter. One of the best guitar channels around. Subscribed!
This was such a great video! You took a complex topic and made it so simple to understand and work through. Thank you!
Far and away the best video of this type that I have watched, and... I've pretty much watched them all. Thank you, Darrell!
I just bought a cheap Harley Benton "T-Style guitar kit" just to have something to test new stuff on.
Turns out it's an amazing guitar! Sure, the electronics are cheap and it needs a bit of adjustment but I'm floored by how good it is :D
From Leo: Pretty helpful. Even though I have every size fret file StewMac sells, most people cannot justify that much money. Those wire gauge "files" can be found in a hardware or welding supply store as welding tip cleaners ($7.00). Cheap. Wrap a little strip of 400 grit sandpaper around one if you want more material removed. I found tiny tubes if graphite grease in the gun shop called gunslik for triggers. I have lubed maybe 150 guitar nuts a year for a couple of years from the same tube and it works great. Also hobby shops that sell RC models have moly grease in tiny tubes. I use a feeler gauge set from the auto parts store ($6.00) to measure 1st fret string height and neck relief at the 7th fret . A 6" stainless steel machinist scale ($4.00) is great for string and pickup height.
I agree with you, a lot of "ok" guitars can be made to play nice with at least a basic setup. You did a great job teaching the basics.
I have a set of those torch tip cleaning files, they work well enough for occasional use. I removed the bulky pressed metal cover they came in (to avoid scratching the guitar). The thin ones bend easily, they need a very light touch. I use both hands to steady these tools. Good tip about the moly grease, I have some and will give that a try, the tiniest amount under the string (it is a rather messy black grease).
About 7-8 months ago I decided to pick the guitar back up again, with that being said this video was one of the first ones I watched regarding maintenance, great video and thank you 🤙
This is an awesome video not just for cheap guitars, but any guitar you get out of a box or whatever. As a kid I just didn't understand why the action or tuning was never quite right, this information just wasn't accessible - this video & your fun presentation helped me a lot and I realized what was not setup right with my Strat back in the 90s.
Awesome video! Learned tons! Thanks so much for taking the time to make these and teach other people 🎸 🎼
I’ve got to say it’s great that there are guys like you sharing these set up
Tips!!! I was quite intimidated when I first started setting up my guitars...wish we would have had TH-cam when I started....
Great vid Darrell! Looking forward to trying these adjustments on my guitars. Very clear explanations and sweet playing at the end!
Fantastic advice. Took the fear out of adjusting my cheap guitar. The volume and sound are so much improved. Thank you Darrell.
Fear of adjusting sounds like you may have a religious background. 😢 hope you have moved away from that mental block 🚫
@@less2worryaboutreligous background? What? Seems like he was just scared of ruining his guitar lmfao
Art: Wouldn't knock anyone for trying to pass on knowledge to anyone, but wow what a superb basic instructional video set up for the guitar. So simply explained and got all the content across. The intonation where I have struggled to get in the past went straight in.( maybe i'm a bit thick).
I know a few tuition videos are out there which I may not have seen and are good, but I really enjoyed this and what a nice gent. Look forward to seeing more.
Very underrated guitar channel. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and producing high-quality videos.
A million thanks for this video! Some things you explained I knew about, but didn't know so well that I could perfect it. A couple of things like smoothening fretboard edges, the superV and swapping the string trees were just new to me..
Thank you so much for making such high quality videos! As a new player it is so helpful to get a basic understanding for of how the guitars work, and how to keep them working in the days ahead.
Thanks Darrell. This video is GREAT. These tips are so important and every guitarist can do this.
I can't leave this video without put an amazing like for an amazing work Thank you for all the details
Thanks for the video. These were skills I had but it's been ages. You do a great job of breaking down the mechanics of getting a guitar setup.
Great stuff! Excellent delivery of information & instructions!! Thank you
Nice work, Darrell. Pickup height should be addressed at some point as well. I love setting up guitars. It's so much nicer doing it yourself versus paying someone and it's remarkably easy after a little practice.
Bro because of this video i fixed my guitar yoour a life saver
Man, I remember watching this video when it came out and being so broke I couldn't afford a guitar. I have a full blown studio in my house now, a drum set for recording and all. It gets better people
The intonation on that cheapie was spot on beautiful after the work you did. Very inspiring. Thank you.
That string tree one is very helpful
Thank you, Darrell. I wish there were videos like this when I started to learn guitar over 15 years ago. I guess I need to buy one and try it again.
Thank you Darrell! That was a priceless video to watch.
Awesome series - never knew my guitar before and now I understand what's going on. Thank you!
I've made it a mission in life to take cheap guitars and basses and make them play like high-caliber instruments.
It only takes a few tweaks, as long as you understand the fundamentals of how each adjustment functions.
I agree
Although, given my no young age, many things I already knew I find your videos very interesting (I follow you for a long time) and a great help for beginners and more. Greetings from Italy!
This is the best set up video I have seen so far. Even step order seems good :) Thank You Darrell.
Definitely one of the best easy set up videos I have seen. Many are people that either can't communicate at all or do it wrong in the first place. You tube has a lot of good stuff but sometimes you have to wade through a lot of crap to get the good stuff. Yours is good stuff!
Your videos are worth a million bucks! Thanks for all your teachings. ❤
Great stuff, I've never heard of flossing with the strings, polishing the neck sides and the super glide stuff, thanks!
I've been following your videos for a few months now and I really like how well you explain things. I just learned how to setup a Floyd Rose and my next string change, I'm definitely going to try this. I got my Schecter SLS Elite black fade burst from watching your videos. Thanks for all your tips.
This is really excellent information, clearly presented. I love to play blues, and only had an acoustic, having inherited a tired fender squier, I have uprated the pickups as you featured on this channel, ordered some new strings, and will now check setup. Many thanks!
Good tips...i love tricking out old beater guitars...i put a Duncan in a squire...it howls better than my SG!!
You don't need to detune the strings to set intonation, just tune to the note after each adjustment. The bridge height adjustment screws probably don't need detuning either. This is much more of an issue for basses.
Thanks Darrell. This has been a very helpful and easy to follow tutorial - Kudos
Great advice! Every guitarist should know the basics, how to adjust the neck relief, the action at the bridge and the nut, set the intonation, and adjust the pickups to balance the string output. I own a number of guitars and I live in a place that's hot and humid in the summer and very cold and dry in winter. All my guitars need adjustments from season to season, even my acoustics, in order to play their best. This video covers electric guitars very well. For my acoustics I have two saddles for each guitar, one for summer and a lower one for winter when the action gets higher because of the drying out of the fingerboard. Great instructional, Darryl!
Building a kit taught me SO much about guitars. Everyone really should do it
Go to Warmoth and get better parts than a kit.
I've said it loads of times but learning how to do these jobs is ESSENTIAL for any serious guitarist 👍
If you take your guitar to your local tech guy, this is what you get when you pay for a set up with your hard earned......and it has to be said that some techies aren't this thorough, skilled, or conscientious and are just happy to take your money. Talking of which, a good set up will cost anything from £35 to £70, which isn't cheap.
At the end of the day,when you become competent at set ups, YOU can be able, if you want to, to advertise your services in the local paper and set up guitars for those guitarists that can't be arsed to do it and earn a bit of extra cash, £40 or so for less than an hours work comes in really handy.
To become competent at this, it'd be handy if you own a few different guitars such as a strat and/or a tele, along with a les paul type of guitar so you can familiarise yourself with different components, ie, tune-o-matic & fender type bridges, 3 +3 & 6 inline headstocks etc. If you only have 1 guitar then you can always set it up and then deliberately undo it so that you can keep setting it up....or just borrow a guitar or 2 from friends and set them up as well.
I find the whole process to be enjoyable and satisfying to do and I think it increases the bond between you and your instrument if you work on it yourself.
Txs for the tips , by far the best detailed explanations at a time that I indeed need such tips as fixing sharp frets
I have my Indio Retro DLX Plus coming this week. Can’t wait to get started learning again. My last instructor failed me. I have already learned more about guitars with your videos than he told me in months.
Very well done and thanks for sharing brother! So helpful to many! Be Well D! Great tips and explanation!
Thanks Steve!
Intonation adjustments should be done after checking pickup height since the magnet can pull the string toward it if it's too high. Also, with the guitar laying on it's back gravity can have an effect on the neck and strings giving a a slightly different tuning reading :)
I'm dyspraxic and have aphantasia so I often find a lot of the videos I've watched difficult to follow but this was really well shown/spoken. I'll be checking more of your videos out.
Thank you Darryl brilliant video. Perfect for us newbies just trying to figure out how to set our guitars up.
My second guitar is going to be Squier, so I believe this could help alot, thank you
Great video Darrell. You do a great service with these well made and very informative videos!!! Great playing as well!!!
Flabbergasting work! Can´t wait for the sound samples. Hearty congratulations.
Darrell, I really enjoy your videos. As I have watched over time, you are learning to play some new and cool licks. I will have to try some of these myself. I am always on the lookout for inspiration. Thanks for that.
Dear Darell,
Thank you for putting so much effort into this video series, it's been a blast to watch and I've learned a lot more from you in a 23:07 minutes video than in years of searching by myself and being "taught" by some friends on how to setup my guitar. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with everybody, I can really see the passion you put into the making of this video and your channel in general, I can't believe I wasn't subscribed to your channel since I watch every single one of your videos, but you definitely earned a new subscriber today! Congratulations on having such a successful career in youtube, you truly are one of my biggest inspirations on pursuing a career in music, and also one of my top favorite youtube guitarists and youtuber in general, kind regards from Mexico! P.S: I'm sorry if my english wasn't very good.
Your english is fine! Better than many natives. My Spanish is awful compared to your english!
This is exactly the video I needed. Just picked a guitar used and needs a setup. Super buzzy, thanks Darrell!!!
Glad to help!
Darrell Braun
Thank you for a thorough,calm demonstration. I wish I knew this at 11 or 15.
Good hints to any beginner and also for a little bit advanced too...thanks for clear explanation.
Maybe a cheap guitar but that guitar from what I’ve seen in your videos over this one, seems like it may not be just marketed to beginners but to those who may want to get a decent cheap one to modify. LOVE THE COLOR!!
This should be compulsory for all guitar students everywhere! Awesome job, thanks!
No doubt!
One of the most useful videos on TH-cam. Thanks for sharing this info