Do you even need a handmade guitar?

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Summary

A handmade guitar can be the right answer for some players. It is not always the first answer.

Sometimes the problem is not your guitar. It is the way the guitar is set up. An instrument that has never been professionally adjusted may not yet have shown what it can really do.

A good setup can change the sound, the feel, the playability, and the player’s relationship with the instrument. It may make the guitar worth keeping. It may also make clear that it is not the right instrument after all.

That matters. Before asking a maker to build something new, it is useful to know what your present instrument can and cannot give you.

Core Idea

Before deciding you need a handmade guitar, make sure you have heard and felt your current guitar at its best.

The Instrument May Not Be the Problem

It is easy to assume that dissatisfaction with a guitar means the guitar is wrong.

That may be true. But it may also be that the instrument has never been properly set up. A guitar can feel stiff, awkward, dull, or unresponsive. Sometimes that’s baked into the instrument. Other times, its just a matter of setting it up correctly.

The difference can be surprisingly large. A professional setup can alter how the guitar plays, how it sounds, how it responds.

That does not make every guitar good. It does mean that judgement is difficult when the instrument is not working as well as it can.

What a Professional Setup Can Include

A setup is not one fixed operation. It depends on what the instrument needs.

Sometimes it may be very simple. A small truss rod adjustment may be enough. Sometimes the fret ends need attention. There may be light fret work, a fret dress, or adjustment at the nut.

The amount of work varies, and so does the cost. It may be a small job. It may be more substantial. If a lot of work is needed, it can cost a few hundred pounds or dollars.

The point is not that every setup is expensive. The point is that the work is worth doing properly if the instrument is of sufficient value.

Why It Should Be Done by Someone Experienced

There are many guides online showing how to set up a guitar. That does not mean you should do it.

A good setup depends on experience. It helps to have someone who has done many setups and understands how small adjustments affect the whole instrument.

This is practical work. It is not just following a list of measurements. The person doing it needs to know what they are looking at, what can safely be changed, and what the instrument is capable of becoming.

For that reason, a professional setup is usually the sensible first step.

What You May Learn From the Setup

After a proper setup, one of three things may happen.

You may fall in love with the instrument for the first time. You may discover that it was better than you thought.

You may fall back in love with it. Sometimes an instrument has slowly drifted out of adjustment, and the player forgets why they liked it in the first place.

Or you may realise that the two of you are never going to get along. That is still useful. It gives you a clearer understanding of what you do not want.

Why This Matters Before Commissioning a Guitar

If you are considering a handmade instrument, this is valuable.

A maker can work more intelligently when you can explain what is missing from your current guitar. It is also useful to explain what you have ruled out.

A setup helps separate faults of adjustment from deeper issues of size, response, tone, feel, or design. Without that step, it is easy to ask a maker to solve a problem that did not require a new instrument at all.

A handmade guitar should not be a guess. It should be a considered decision.

If You Decide to Sell the Instrument

A professional setup is useful to decide if the guitar is not for you.

You can sell it honestly as an instrument that has recently been set up and is playing at its best. That is better for the seller and fairer to the next player.

It also means your decision to move on is based on the instrument itself, not on a problem that could have been corrected.

Practical Conclusion

Before fantasising about having something made, have your current guitar professionally set up.

It might solve the problem. It might remind you why you liked the instrument. It might also confirm that it is not the right guitar for you.

All three outcomes are useful.

A handmade guitar may still be the right choice. But it should come after you know what your present instrument can really do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a handmade guitar to improve my playing?

No. Practice is what improves your playing. A handmade guitar may suit some players very well, but poor playability is often caused by setup issues rather than the absence of a handmade instrument.

Can a setup really change the feel of a guitar?

Yes. Adjustments to the neck, frets, saddle and nut can make a guitar feel very different.

Should I learn to set up my own guitar from online videos?

For most players, a professional setup is the better choice. Experience matters, and setup work is easy to misunderstand. If you can’t afford a professional set up, can you afford a handmade instrument?

Is a professional setup always expensive?

No. Sometimes the work is minor. Sometimes more is required. The cost depends on the condition of the instrument and the amount of work needed.

What if I still do not like the guitar after a setup?

That is useful information. It tells you the problem is probably not just adjustment, and it gives you clearer language when discussing a future instrument with a maker.