FirstGuitar Inspection and Custom Adjustment Process

Acoustic and Classical Guitars – 26 Step Process

One of our many goals at FirstGuitar is to set you up for success in developing your skills and enjoyment for a lifetime of music making on your acoustic guitar.

This is a very unusual procedure especially for guitars at this price point but this allows us to fulfill our goals in helping you to experience every opportunity for success.

1. Unpack and visually inspect guitar for shipping damage
2. Inspect guitar for unacceptable finish blemishes
3. Tune guitar to standard pitch.
4. Check tuning machines for proper operation
5. Check to be sure strings are properly wound around tuning post to maximize tone and insure less wear on tuning machines.
6. Check ring nut on each tuning machine to make sure they are secure.
7. Do a preliminary inspection of action and overall playability.
8. Check neck joint
9. Check to see if bridge is securely glued to guitar top with no open gaps.
10. Tap top and back to listen for possibility of loose braces.
11. Check inside of guitar with an inspection light and mirror as necessary.
12. Inspect neck angle with a straight edge.
13. Inspect bridge and fingerboard height. Fingerboard and bridge should be about the same height above the guitar top. A bridge that is to high or to low can indicate a poor neck angle.
14. Inspect string height or action at the nut.
15. Inspect string height or action at the saddle on the bridge.
16. Inspect truss rod adjustment
    
    Perform the following work as necessary:
    
    
17. Adjust truss rod for overall playability or action.
18. Cut, shape and file bridge saddle to bring overall string height closer to the fingerboard for ease of playing.
19. Cut string nut slots deeper to adjust the height of each string appropriately above the first fret. This is for ease of playing in first position.
20. File nut slot back angle to keep the string from buzzing inside the nut and help insure proper intonation and tone.
21. Hone frets if they are uneven and affect playability.
22. Oil open tuning gears on three quarter, standard size and classical guitars.
23. Apply fingerboard oil to fingerboard and bridge if the wood appears or feels dry.
24. Re-tune guitar to pitch and check overall playability. Repeat steps above if further adjustments are needed.
25. Polish as necessary.
26. Detune guitar to lower pitch so it is not damaged during shipment.