This guide will use photographs, diagrams and sketches made by the author and some provided by various manufacturers to teach how to clean, condition, adjust the action and properly intonate your acoustic guitar, as well as: John's trade secrets on hand-carving bone nuts and bridge saddles, wiring and fretwork. John has also included a chapter on identifying and diagnosing problem guitars. It even includes a forward written by Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars. This book is perfect to teach a beginner or a reference for the guitar repair professional.

Chapter 1 - Tools and Materials

Guitar Maintenance Kit - Basic tools needed to perform setups.
Materials - Materials and supplies you'll need
Recommended Tools - List of luthrie tools.
Sources - Where to purchase tools and materials.

Chapter 2 - General Maintenance

Hygiene - Keep it clean.
Cleaning and Conditioning - Proper care of your instrument.
Restringing - Professional tips and techniques.
Transporting and Shipping - Tips on packing and shipping a guitar.
Humidity Effects - Too much, too little or too late.

Chapter 3 - Adjusting the Neck

Diagram of Components - Frets, fingerboard and trussrod.
Measurements - Before and after.
Sighting the Neck - Foolproof techniques.
Proper Adjustments - Adjusting for playing style and design.
Types of Trussrods - Single-action and double-action.
Troubleshooting - Identifying stripped and frozen trussrods.

Chapter 4 - Adjusting the Action at the Bridge

Diagram of Components - Parts of a guitar bridge.
Measurements - Before and after.
Acoustic Bridge Saddles - Concept, materials and common problems.
Tunematic
Hard Tail Bridge
Floating Tremolo Systems

Chapter 5 - Adjusting the Action at the Nut

Diagram of Components - Different shapes, sizes and materials.
Measurements - Before and after.
Angles, Width and Spacing - How to correctly cut string slots.
Proper Adjustments - Calculating the correct height for each string.
Replacement and Repair - Do I film, shim or replace the nut?

Chapter 6 - Adjusting the Pickups

Diagram of Components - Parts of an electric pickup.
Proper Heights and Effects - Pole pieces, adjustable and fixed.

Chapter 7 - Intonation

Definitions - What is intonation?
Tools Needed - Tuners, hex keys and screwdrivers.
Sharp, Flat and Hopeless
Variables and Tempering - Fret placement, nut placement and Bach.

Chapter 8 - Basic Fretwork

Diagram of Components - Tools, jigs and materials.
Fret Leveling - My steel bar and buckshot method.
Recrowning Frets - A tight crown is better than a flathead.
Partial Refretting - How many should you replace?
Burnishing the Edges - Final buff and polish.

Chapter 9 - Basic Electric Guitar Wiring

Diagram of Components - Anatomy of a pickup.
Pickup Harness Color Codes - So many colors, so little time
RW/RP, LFT/W - Fun with acronyms.
Pots, Switches and Jacks - How they work? And what do they do?
Wiring Diagrams - The proper way to read a wiring diagram.
Acoustic Pickup Systems - Application and function.
Troubleshooting - Pickup failure causes.

Chapter 10 - Top 10 Signs of a Problematic Guitar

Electric - Common Problems.
Acoustic - Common Roblems.

Chapter 11 - Miscellaneous Upgrades and Repair

Strap Buttons - Drilling, countersinks and felt washers.
Tuning Keys - Replacement and repair.
Bridge Pins - Too loose, too tight and just right.

Chapter 12 - Other Training Resources

Apprenticeships - Understudy programs.
Factory Training - Crash courses in real guitar repair.
Workshops - ASIA, GGAL and schools on guitar building.