Set-up and Maintenance - Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery
  • SPECIALTY CLASSES

    roberto venn specialty setup maintenance 1920x700 Set up and Maintenance

Setup and Maintenance Workshop

Musicians often experience changes to their guitar set-up caused by changing string gauges, different weather environments and aging. Understanding the fundamental operation of the guitar allows the player to keep their instrument playing and sounding great for years to come. This will also help to minimize any problems before they can cause long term damage.

Have you ever wished you could do this for yourself? Set up your own guitar for your playing style. There are a many things you can do which will influence the way it plays and sounds.

This is a hands-on workshop where you will be setting up two of your own instruments, an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar or bass. The acoustic must be a steel string with a truss rod. The electric can be a guitar or bass also with a truss rod. No Floyd Rose type tremolos will be allowed for this course. Tools will be provided for your use during the course. Also, a complete tool list will be provided along with vendors so you can build your own toolbox.

You will leave with basic knowledge of the geometry and physics of the guitar, why it works and its inherent imperfections, along with the different types of setups for different playing styles. Your instructor for this course will be Robert Mazzullo with 30 years’ experience in lutherie.

Lodging

For those coming from out of state:  You can drive in or fly in and stay at hotels within walking distance to the school.  Fly in on a Friday night and stay at a hotel, then fly out Sunday night after the class finishes at 5:00 pm.  I suggest Ubering to and from the airport and Staying at one of these hotels:

The Egyptian Motor Hotel (this hotel is a 2 min walk to the school)
765 Grand Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 807 5225

This hotel offers a discounted rates to Roberto-Venn students and visitors.
Egyptian Motor Hotel, BW Signature Collection | Hotel Rooms (bestwestern.com)

Holiday Inn Express (this hotel is a 2-3 min walk to the school)
950 W Van Buren St. Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 675-2894

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Phoenix Dwtn – State Capitol – Phoenix, United States (ihg.com)

Hotel San Carlos (this hotel is a 10 min walk to the school)
202 N. Central Ave. Phoenix AZ 85004
(602) 253 4121
Home | HotelSanCarlos (historichotelsancarlos.com)

Winter Class – December 7-8, 2024 5 of 8 Seats Left Available

Saturday 8am – 2pm
Sunday 8am – 2pm

This is an avocational class and is not within the scope of the school’s accreditation.

2 day

Open to the public

$499

(including materials)

Electric Topics Include:

  • Neck relief
  • Neck pitch (Bolt on)
  • String action
  • Nut action
  • Intonation/saddle compensation
  • Fretboard radius/saddle Arch
  • Truss rod adjustments
  • String break angles
  • Selecting string type and gauges
  • Nut considerations
  • Fret wire condition and sizes
  • Fretboard care and cleaning
  • Tuning machine adjustments and maintenance
  • Pickup height adjustments
  • Various bridges
  • Finish care
  • Humidity concerns
  • Tool list