How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great!

by Dan Erlwine and Dan Erlewine

Book Overview

From shopping for a first electric guitar to setting customized action, this do-it-yourself primer for owning and maintaining an electric guitar explains the ins and outs of choosing the right guitar; cleaning, tools, and basic maintenance; personalizing and improving on a "factory setup;" troubleshooting; basic guitar electronics; choosing and installing replacement pickups, pots, switches, and capacitors; setups of the pros; and much more. This...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879309989
• ISBN13: 9780879309985
• Release Date: July 2011
• Publisher: Backbeat Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.3" x 10.8"

Customer Reviews

This book should be titled "The Electric Guitar Maintenance and Setup Bible"

Dan Erlewine's book is fantastic. The detailed factory spec setups and the setups of the pro's alone, is worth the price of admission. Dan shows how to inspect a guitar before you buy (where was this book 20 years ago, Dan??), and how to properly clean, set-up and maintain your guitar. This is a book specifically for ELECTRIC guitars, the adjustments for various bridges, nuts, tremolo systems,and intonation are thoroughly explained with lots of photos. He also shows how to use or make simple, home-made or hardware store tools. There is an excellent section on tuning and intonation every guitar player should know! The Buzz Feiten Tuning System is discussed and there are tons of tips and tricks to get your guitar in tune, and to help it stay in tune. Dan's writing style is very easy to understand. And his use of graphics, both line art illustrations and photo documentation, help the reader get a clear, real-world sense of the subject matter. This is truly the manual your guitar should have come with. I consider this book, along with the Guitar Player Repair Guide, to be essential to any electric guitar owner, and absolutely required for anyone in the guitar repair business.

What a worthwhile investment!

I've been a guitar player for nearly thirty years, and until today have never really understood setting up my own guitars. Thanks to this book, my guitars play better than they ever have before, and my days of having someone else set them up are over. The book is well written, concise, and delivered in easy-to-understand terms. The pictures are a great help, and the book is all that the title implies. If you're a guitar player at any level, I would strongly suggest this book.

Great Book

This is a great book to learn how to properly setup your guitar. I've only been playing for a couple months, but after installing some strings that claimed to be 9s (but I don't think were) and having them yank my bridge about 3/4" out of the body of the guitar I figured I oughta learn how to properly deal with that (other than just switching strings...)The book takes you through many common problems, fixes, and general setup/maintenance for Strats and Les Pauls (as well as their clones and various other rarer guitars).Much of the book is a narative form, describing particular tough setups for various guitars. Some have complained about this, but I've found there's enough info in there to find what you want. Plus there are more step-by-step setup instructions towards the end.The book got my bridge fixed up nicely, as well as my action set more properly, so the guitar's easier to play and sounds better as well.

Best Guitar Repair Book - Hands Down!

Just when you thought there couldn't be a better guitar player's repair manuel than the 'Guitar Player Repair Guide', Dan Erlewine publishes 'How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great'. Dan has really outdone himself with this one. This book is filled with great info, such as setups, repairs and modifications. As if that's not enough, there's a set a handy dandy radius gauges cleverly attached to the back. I recommend this book for anyone from beginners setting up their first guitar - to seasoned pros. If you own a guitar, this one's a must have! Also recommended: Guitar Player Repair Guide

An instant favorite

I cannot say enough good comments about this book without sounding like I'm being paid. The realiy is this book was my instant favorite. I read it once and could not put it down. I read it a second time with my highlighter in hand. Now, I have an official working copy. I bought this book in HI on my honeymoon without a guitar in sight. When I returned home, I tore into every one of my guitars (easiest first). Guess what? Now, they all play A++. I called a few friends and gave them some advice. I should have waited on the advice and bought them a copy of the book for Christmas. You will feel enlightened after reading this book.