Setup for the Vintage Signature Crossover Guitar

Introduction
PictureCourtesy Guitarist Magazine
When designing and making my hand-built guitars I have always emphasised the “playability” of the guitar as the most important factor after the sound. Many of the design features I use are incorporated in the “JHS Crossover guitar”.. These include a finely tapered and shaped neck shaft, and a narrow, radiussed fingerboard (?).
 
The addition of a double acting truss-rod means that we can adjust the relief (bend) in the neck to provide anything from a forward bend suitable for a Classical style providing good string clearance for clean notes, to a back-bend for an aggressive Flamenco-style playing action with an excess of fret buzz!  The choice is the players.
 
Some features which affect the tone of the instrument cannot be changed e.g. the Cedar table and Rosewood back and sides which lend a typically “Spanish” tone to the guitar, the choice of strings however can heavily influence the final sound.

I can provide a setup service for those interested at a modest cost, however if you feel able to, and have a few suitable tools, then what follows is a short guide to the setup options available to suit different playing techniques and styles of music.

​What style of music do you want to play, or what sound do you want?

A “Classical style” setup is characterised by a “high” string action (height) with a suitable positive neck relief.  This will provide sufficient string height to enable clean notes to be played at each fret.
 
A Jazz/Folk action can be a little lower to facilitate chord changes, while a Flamenco style can use an action so low that the strings rattle on the frets providing the rasping sound so typical of this music.

The Setup

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​DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE THE ABILITY!  YOU CAN RUIN THE GUITAR WITH IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT!
 
It is essential that you have certain tools to complete a full setup correctly and safely...
  1. A straight-edge about 350mm long to measure the neck relief
  2. A set of Metric feeler gauges
  3. A Metric vernier caliper to measure the saddle
  4. 120 grit abrasive sheet glued to a flat board to level the saddle base
  5. Half-round Nut files of .046, .038 and .028 inches
  6. The 4mm truss-rod key supplied
N.B.  All measurements are made with the strings tuned to the required pitch.
  • ​String height (or action) is measured at the 12th fret (the body join) on the 1st (treble) and the 6th (bass) strings.  It is the gap between the string and the top of the 12th fret.
  • The nut height is measured at the 1st fret under each string
  • The neck relief is best measured with a straight edge, in the playing position, and is the gap under the straight-edge at the 6th fret with the straight-edge sitting between the 1st and the 12th or 13th fret.
​One setup is all that is needed.  With less than a ½ turn of the double-acting truss-rod we can change from a high Classical action to an aggressive, buzzy Flamenco action; here’s how…

  1. All measurements are made with the strings tuned to standard pitch
  2. First check that the saddle top has a radius that matches the fingerboard i.e. 12in radius.
  3. Set the neck relief to 0.3 mm
  4. Set the string height at the nut to 0.6mm on each string
  5. Measure and record the action at the 12th fret
  6. Remove the saddle and adjust the height of the saddle to give an action at the 12th fret of 2.8 / 3.8mm
  7. Tune to pitch again and check the action is correct.
  8. Tighten the truss-rod to give a relief of 0.2mm, the action should now be 2.4 / 3.4
  9. Tighten the truss-rod again until the relief measures 0.1mm, the action should be 2.2 / 3.2
  10. Tighten it yet again until the fingerboard is flat, the action should be 2.0 / 3.0
 
You have now setup the guitar for FOUR playing styles.  All you need to do now is adjust the truss-rod to obtain each one.  You should not need to turn the truss-rod key more than ½ a turn to obtain them all!!!!!!
 
If you change the strings to a different type or tension then check the relief/action settings again as the string tension will change..
 
Your string choice will affect the tone of the guitar a great deal.  Choose conventional Nylon strings (e.g. D’Addario J45) normal tension for a Classical tone or select hard tension Nylon or Carbon strings (e.g.Savarez or La Bella) for that “pingy” Flamenco sound.  Your choice, your music!!  Enjoy!