Moving on…..
I detune and cut the strings off and pitch them. We don’t reuse strings unless it’s a bass guitar and the strings are still good.
When we set-up an instrument we want to use new strings AND the exact same strings that the client intends to use going forward.
Why? Because different brands of strings intonate in different places on the saddles and of course strings that have been detuned and tuned repeatedly are more prone to breaking.
When I detune I am sure to stop my turns of the tuner knobs with the knobs horizontal so they are easy to swipe clean in the next steps. Efficiencies my friends. Like wise if I pick up a tool to tighten something I use it everywhere it will be used on the instrument before putting it down. It just makes all of this go faster and easier.
If the instrument has locking tuners I stop the detuning with the holes in the tuner shafts in line with how I insert the new strings. Or, in other words these little things that save me time and effort really add up to time savings when you do 7 - 8 set-ups in a day. It also permits me the extra time if and when I need it on a problem job to make it right even if it takes longer.
Next I use Howards Feed-n-wax to clean and condition the board. If the board is really bad I will use a single edge razor blade not flexed but straight so I don’t create groves in the board and so I can butt right up to a fret with no gap and get the gunk in there. Two passes with the scraper and all the crud is removed.
Perhaps practice with the razor blade on a beater there is a chatter possibility that goes away with practice and holding it firmly and low.
If it is moderately bad I will take precautions and deploy the steel wool. I know some of you hate steel wool and there is some risk to it’s use, true. But we take precautions and have never had a steel wool contamination problem. I tape off electronics, shield the guitar top and use a vacuum before removing the tape.
For a clean or new fret board Howards is sufficient and will pop figure and make it look and feel great.
Howard’s does not seem to build-up over time either with repeated use. I’ve used it on my personal guitars for nearly 20 years with no build-up. It seems to penetrate the wood to the extent that it can and the excess is wiped off. If it can’t penetrate any further it won’t and can be wiped off.
For a maple board naphtha works great and be sure to let your paper towel completely dry before throwing it in the trash since naphtha is flammable. Naphtha will not harm finish.
So to review a board with a lot of finger jam and gunk it’s scraper, steel wool and Howards.
A moderately dirty board it’s Steel wool and Howards and a new or clean board it’s simply Howard’s unless it’s maple and then no Howard’s, scraper, steel wool, etc just naphtha.
Next I tighten the tuners meaning the posts and the knobs and the screws on the back if there are any. This goes very quickly, see video and I again try to not put the screw driver down until I have used it everywhere I intend to.
When you tighten the tuner shaft nuts topside only snug them up and don’t go for tight you can crack or delaminate finish on the headstock.
At some point I have felt and twisted both strap buttons and if they are loose I hit them with a number 2 screw driver if applicable.
If it has a bolt-on neck that number II screwdriver is also used before I put it down on the bolts to ensure the neck is both seated correctly and the bolts are snug.
Although the idea of using the tool everywhere one will use it on a guitar before putting it down may seem wrapped too tight for some who don’t mind any extra time there is one other justification. I work toward a clean bench meaning when I use a tool on a guitar because there is a scratch risk when I am done with the tool I put it away and do not leave it on my bench. If I use the tool everywhere once I put it away I do not have to get it out one more time and the guitar does not get damaged because I flipped it on my bench and did not see that screw driver….
https://youtu.be/5b_HMY283pghttps://youtu.be/Eg8tIhsxtk8https://youtu.be/NricxxPPF9s