Full Step-Up: More than a setup

Full Step-Up Refinement

GOLD TOP. SATIN FINISH. COIL TAPPING. The whole philosophy of Alpharetta Electric Co is that guitars that feel better in your hands get played a LOT more. This guitar delivers on that promise. The neck relief has been dialed in to a super flat .0035 inches. The action is set to 3/64ths on the treble side and 4/64ths on the bass side and there. is. no. fret. buzz. And if that weren’t enough, this super comfortable mahogany neck has a satin finish that feels like velvet and silk had a love child. This guitar doesn’t just feel great, though. It sounds the part, too. These humbuckers come factory-wired for coil tapping goodness. This means that not only will you get those luscious dual-coil neck tones and biting crunchy bridge tones, but with a quick tug on the volume knobs and you can get the smooth single coil neck tone, the twangy(ish) bridge tone, and if you get it just right… you can flip the switch to the middle position, close your eyes, and pretend you’re milking the out of phase quack from a strat. Why take a risk playing the marketplace lottery? This guitar has been cleaned, inspected, and “brought up to code” at the Alpharetta Electric Co. You might save a couple of bucks spending a few hours hunting for the right deal, but you won’t find another one like this at the $400 price point. And that includes a gig bag! Don’t want the gig bag? I’ll sell it for $380!

Full Step-Up Refinement

God save the Case Queen! I picked this guitar up from a lovely retired woman who purchased it with the intent of learning to play. She only ended up playing it for about 6 hours and you can tell that’s probably true based on 1) the outstanding condition it was in and 2)the extremely high action and neck relief that made it a guitar that was really unpleasant to play. That’s where we come in. This guitar has been fully inspected and “brought up to code.” The neck relief was set to .004 inches. The action is now 3/64ths on the treble side and 4/64ths on the bass side. She’s been given a full naptha wipe down as well and the rosewood fretboard has been conditioned with F1 oil to breathe smoothness and life back into it. This thing plays like a dream with brand new String Joy Soft-Touch 9.5-44 gauge strings. And after some light filing of the nut and some nut a lot oil application, you know it’s going to stay in tune! They literally don’t make them like this any more (the Epiphone Dot line has been replaced by the Inspired by Gibson 335 line). Don’t miss your chance to own this classic beauty. This guitar is in near mint condition but does have a few dings that look like typical wear from a guitar store floor. It comes with a nice arch top hardshell case so you can keep it looking like the day it was sold in the store.

Full Step-Up Refinement

This isn’t just another used Strat — it’s been through my Guitar Step‑Up process, the same hands‑on refinement I use to turn factory guitars into instruments that feel alive. Action: Set to 4/64” treble and 5/64” bass for easy, buzz‑free playability. Model: Made‑in‑China Affinity Stratocaster with rosewood fretboard. Step‑Up work: • Spot‑leveled and crowned two problem frets • Electronics cleaned and checked • Full body and hardware deep‑cleaned • Frets polished to mirror shine • Fretboard conditioned and hydrated This guitar now plays smoother, bends cleaner, and feels more responsive than most stock Affinities. It’s the kind of setup that helps beginners fall in love with playing instead of fighting their instrument. Factory guitars often leave the shop with uneven frets and stiff setups that make learning frustrating. My Step‑Up process fixes those details — so your first chords ring true, your bends glide, and your progress feels natural. If you’re starting out and want a guitar that actually helps you improve, this one’s ready.

Full Step-Up Refinement

The perfect gigging guitar does not exi... Let's get the fine print out the way. This guitar has seen some things. It's structurally sound, but It's not in great cosmetic condition. It's got finish cracks and dings and dents, including the signature fender neck pocket finish crack. A lot of my personal guitars have body wear and tear like this, but I had to pay a lot of money for them to do it on purpose. You're getting the real deal and for a fraction of the price. Some people see these bumps and bruises and say they are flaws. I say that one man's trash is another man's treaure. What makes this guitar so great is that it's the perfect axe for low-stress enjoyment. The fact that it's already earned it's battle scars means that you can take it to the bar, the beach, or the backyard without worrying about it. It's a guitar that invites you to play it, not baby it. So when you take a break between sets at your next gig, you can focus on getting phone numbers instead of worrying about the someone knocking over your guitar and ruining your night. And as with all of our Step Up Select guitars, you can trust it's going to play like a dream. It's been stepped up to respond perfectly under your fingers with the neck relief set to .005 thousandths of an inch. The Stringjoy Soft Touch 9.5 - 44 gauge strings have been set to3/64ths string height on the treble side and 4/64ths on the bass side, which means that instead of fighting the guitar all night, you'll be fighting off the fans after playing all those blistering lead lines, melodic licks, and effortless chords. This guitar doesn't just feel amazing, though, it delivers the tone as well. It's got a rich neck pickup that's stock to the Made-in-Mexico line and delivers those bell-like tones we love Fenders for. It's been upgraded with a Seymour Duncan single coil in the middle and a nice Seymour Duncan humbucker in the bridge as well. Most middle-position single coil pickups on a strat are regarded like an extra in an episode of Friends. But this one shows a surpisingly dynamic response to pickup height adjustment that results in a third strat pickup that's actually useful. It definitely provides that classic strat quack, but it also has a nice midrange growl that can be dialed in with the pickup height. The bridge humbucker is a great complement to the neck pickup and adds a nice punch to your tone when you need it. It's a versatile setup that can cover a wide range of tones, from classic strat cleans to more aggressive rock sounds. If you are (for some strange reason) looking for a pristine Fender Stratocaster, this is not the guitar for you. But if you want a guitar that has character and soul and plays like a dream, this is the one.

Full Step-Up Refinement

Firefly guitars are built for the player who wants the aesthetic of a vintage or boutique instrument and modern high-end appointments—like a roasted maple neck and stainless steel frets—without the boutique investment. We will only say looks like a vintage guitar because the distressed white-over-sunburst is a graphic finish rather than multiple layers of hand-sprayed nitrocellulose lacquer. It’s not what I’d call "pretty" in a traditional sense, but it’s undeniably cool. The tradeoff with these instruments is a reputation for being rough out of the box. That is where the Step-Up process comes in. We’ve handled the technical heavy lifting—leveling the frets, refining the nut, and dialing in the action—to ensure the playability finally matches the look. Don’t risk the "online dud" lottery. This specific guitar has been vetted, sorted, and brought up to code. It’s ready to play the moment you pick it up.

Full Step-Up Refinement

This guitar is the embodiment of my business model. I bought this one from a young man on Facebook Marketplace. He told me it had sat unplayed for several years, and I could totally see why. The input jack was loose and wiggling. It was dusty and grimy. The strings were lined with what I can only assume was tetanus. And the action... oh, the action. It was so high that it was unplayable. I don't blame him for giving up on that guitar. But I hate the idea that he might have given up on the guitar when he did.

After a full Alpharetta Electric Co. Step-Up, though, this thing plays better than it did even when it was a new guitar. The neck is straight, the frets are clean, and the intonation is spot on. It's a great example of how a little bit of love and care can turn a neglected guitar into something special. In fact, this guitar in particular was very special. It's unusual to get an entry-level instrument dialed in at .005" relief with 3/64" action on the treble side and 4/64" action on the bass side. But this neck is so straight, and these factory frets are so good that it plays as good as the $3,500 Iconic Guitars S-Style I have in the shop. It's a testament to the fact that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get a great playing guitar. You just need to know how to step it up properly.

If you're turned off by a Yamaha guitar, you shouldn't be. There is a reason almost every guitar teacher and tech recommends Yamaha. While other budget brands rely on flash, Yamaha focuses on relentless consistency. They are built like tanks, meaning the neck geometry and fretwork are incredibly stable right out of the factory. The tradeoff with a brand-new beginner model is that the factory setup is usually generic—designed to safely survive a shipping container, not to feel like a custom shop instrument. That’s where our Step-Up process comes in. We’ve taken an already rock-solid platform and dialed in the neck relief, refined the nut slots, and polished the frets with precision. Don’t buy a generic factory box online. This Yamaha has been vetted, sorted, and meticulously brought up to code to ensure it is an absolute joy to play from day one.