Solo ST - Adjusting Neck Relief; Setting Guitar Intonation; Adjusting Pickup Height

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Solo ST Style DIY Electric Guitar Kit

The height at the first fret can be adjusted by cutting deeper slots for string s at the nut. However, it

needs a very precise job not to spoil the nut. If you are not sure that you can do it properly, stay with a

factory pre-cut nut.

A higher string action makes the guitar harder to play, yet some musicians may prefer it. Tailpiece height

can regulate string pressure over the bridge, changing both tone and sustain.

Adjusting Neck Relief:

The truss rod compensates for string tension and allows adjusting the neck relief. You may need such

adjustment due to changes of humidity and temperature (or if you switch strings to a different gauge).

Lay a straight edge on the frets of a properly tuned guitar and measure the clearance at the 8

fret

(alternatively you can put a capo on the first fret and press down 6

string at 16

fret – then the height

of the string at the 8th fret will show you the clearance). Optimal relief for an electric guitar neck must

be very small – around .001”- 002” (0.25 - 0.5mm). Turning the truss rod nut (with the included Allen

key) clockwise will reduce neck relief and turning it counterclockwise will increase the relief. Be very

careful with truss rod adjustments and never turn the nut more than ¼ of a turn at a time.

Adjusting Intonation:

The “speaking length” (or “working length”) of each string can be adj usted by turning the saddle position

adjustment screw. The best intonation can be achieved when the string fretted at the 12 fret sounds

precisely an octave higher than the open string. If the fretted string sounds sharper you need to increase

the working length of the string by moving the saddle away from the neck. If it sounds flat, you need to

shorten the working length of the string by moving the saddle towards the neck. The alternative way to

intonate your guitar is to compare a natural octave harmonic of the open string (you can get it by

touching the string exactly above the 12th and picking it) to the pitch of the string fretted at the 12th fret

and adjusting the saddle position so that they sound the same. This method is less accurate because the

fretted string sounds a bit sharper due to the height of the string, and the higher the action, the sharper

it gets.

Adjusting Pickup Height:

Before adjusting the pickup height, make sure that both the volume and tone controls on your guitar are set

to the full (“10”) position. Get your amp set to a medium/low volume and all tone controls to the middle.

You will get a better picture of the pickup’s tone change during its height adjustment with a clear sound.

There is no universal “optimal” pickup height position in a setup – it depends on playing style and personal

preferences of a guitarist. Remember: bringing a pickup closer to the strings makes it sound brighter, but

bringing it too close will make the magnetic field of the pickup interfere with the vibration of a string which

will, not only result in reduced sustain, but may also cause complex harmonics sound rather unpleasant.

Moving a pickup too far from the strings will result in loss of its output signal and some higher frequencies.

It’s not necessary to maintain an even height of the pickup – you may find it more satisfactory sounding by

setting it somewhat angled, depending on what you are looking for in the output sound. There are a few