Basic Setup toolkit in JHB? And Fret buzz question

Roadhawg

Hey guys! Noob here.

I've been playing for ever, but I never got round to learning more about guitar setup etc. I'm a fairly handy dude and I know my way around cars and bikes, I figure I should learn to sort my guitars out.

Firstly: Any shops in JHB have a decent sort of basic guitar toolkit? I think my life might be complicated slightly by the fact that I have a Gibson ES137 and a Telecaster, they seem to need different Truss rod tools. Any advice there?

Second: What prompted this was me starting to use my ES137 again, and changing the strings from .12s to .11s. I think I had it setup for .12s ages ago, but I can't remember who did it, but 11s make the thing a lot more manageable.

Anyhow, after going to .11s I have a little fret buzz....mostly the d-string, 9th/10th fret sort of area. My initial thinking is the less tension has allowed the neck to pull back a bit causing less relief. Sound correct? Would a buzz in this area be symptomatic of that? I would need to loosen the Truss rod slightly correct?

Thanks for any advice! It's really appreciated.

V8

Welcome, I had a lot of fun learning about the dark art of tech'ing a guitar - the basics are straightforward, but understanding the finer points takes practice. I put together my own little toolkit - similar to this ludicrously overpriced fender one : http://www.takealot.com/fender-custom-shop-toolkit-electric-guitar/PLID42940749. Used a old pc toollkit for the case and basics and built up from there. In there I've got : Small shifting spanner Small screwdriver Multi purpose screwdriver + many bits Wiresnips Small pliers Craft blade Allen keys for trussrods & bridge saddles (that fit my guitars) Stringwinder a few miscellaneous bits - small pencil to mark things/graphite source for lubricating nuts, spare tuner battery, cable ties, earbuds, wire & solder. And a leatherman, mainly for the pliers and super sharp blades. Don't ask me what the drum key is doing in there...I guess you have to have something to throw at the drummer 8) This is what I'd take to a gig. Probably with a soldering iron and a can of contact cleaner...only because I won't need it if I take it along. This is a subset of what I've found useful when mucking about with guitars though...Also pictured is a drill w/string winder attachment my mate 3D printed - if you plan to work on guitars, something like this drill is a good idea - Imho, it's a must. Truss rods are usually Allen key based, so a set of those would suffice for setting relief - though I'd rather use something like this : https://www.amazon.com/Fender-T-Shaped-Truss-Rod-Tool/dp/B003AYP9B8. Less likely to scar the area around trussrod hole when you adjust. Sure a local hardware store will have something similar. Aaannndd...get a cheapie to practice on. A R500 Cort strat copy/SX/bullet strat, or whatever you find going. The ES137 is valuable enough to have a pro work it? Maybe ask them to give you a tutorial as part of the setup - that would be cool! Occasionally a fret may lift so it might not just be a truss adjustment. Though loosing it a 1/4 turn may help (or a little more, but less is more with truss adjustments). Happy teching!

guidothepimmp

Yup, your synopsis sounds spot on..

Like Meron, i also built up a kit..

I have

Allen keys, all the small sizes, i use them because of my ffloyded guitars, andd hipshot and schaller use different sizes
Fret files
Small flat and star screw drivers
Old makro card, ahem... for scraping frets, wedging under a floyd, checking action, uneven frets blah blah
Small ruler
Half a pencil, for nut height
Small file kit for the errant fret edges
Wire snips.

There are endless gizmos you can get, but for straight up action, allen keys and some screw drivers. Also, you may need to tweak your intonation a bit.

Check out dan erlewines guitaar repair book. best buy i eveer made

Goodluck

domhatch

i, too, have a kit. in it i have:
- 1 (one) grant fouché

seems to be all i've needed so far ? not sure he's still doing that, might have to find me a new genius. i know mando silva (ex andy mcgibbon's, was at music connection randburg) and a few other guys are up to the task. see, i'm not reeeeeally a handy kinda guy, as it were...
dh|

Roadhawg

domhatch wrote: i, too, have a kit. in it i have:
- 1 (one) grant fouché

seems to be all i've needed so far ? not sure he's still doing that, might have to find me a new genius. i know mando silva (ex andy mcgibbon's, was at music connection randburg) and a few other guys are up to the task. see, i'm not reeeeeally a handy kinda guy, as it were...
dh|

How much would Grant charge now days? He did a Tele for me a while ago....but like LONG ago.

TOMS didn't have a Gibson truss rod tool, they say I should try Marshall, or just bring the guitar to them.

nazarene

One can never have too many tools!
Learning to level and crown frets is also great, its really basic when you start doing it.