Do you set up your own guitars?

[GuitarIV]

Yes. One of the most useful skills I ever learned. Being broke was one reason, but I also never understood why I'd pay someone else to do basic maintenance that I could easily learn myself (thanks to Youtube and trial and error on cheaper guitars). In my opinion once you understand how the instrument works and you know how to fine tune it, you benefit from it as a player as well because the guitar doesn't fight you. A guitar that doesn't fight you leaves more time to be creative and play/write.

I can do everything including electronics apart from crucial things like frets and major woodwork. For that I pay a professional, but then again who knows, I might get a few cheap beaters and practice. Only need to invest in some proper tools from StewMac.

It has been mentioned in this thread as well: everytime I go to my local music store and I pick up an instrument I leave dissapointed 99% of the time. I get back, grab one of my own guitars I did a setup on and think to myself "this feels like home". I am fairly certain stores would sell a lot more gear if they'd take the time to do proper setups to the wallhangers.

 

[WellBurnTheSky]

I've been doing my setups for a few years now, am currently in the process of building my first partscaster and gearing up to experiment basic fret work (I have 2 cheapos on which to experiment). I've also been doing my own soldering and parts swapping pretty much forever too (I build my own pedals and wired pedalboards and racks for myself and some friends, but for a soundguy being able to solder half-decently is part of the job anyway).

Main reason was being broke, another was knowing exactly what I like (and playing lots of guitars with varying setups helped me find out what I like and what I don't), and last one was, at one point I couldn't find any tech that had a fast enough turnaround that I wouldn't need to gig without my main guitar (I don't have many guitars).
And yeah, it's a good skill to have, if only for getting a better understanding of how the instrument works. It's not rocket science anyway, and it's pretty hard to really mess things up badly.
I intend to learn how to refret in the close future, if only so I can experiment with fret sizes without having to spend a fortune. Might end up going to a luthier to have my FR Strat refretted if I can't do a good enough job, but I definitely intend to try.

 

[ricksdisconnected]

everybody should know how to set up their own guitars.
i use to keep setup measurements for each guitar on a index card.
made things much faster too.

 

[tce63]

I do it myself, as I always have done

 

[Georgiatec]

Always done my own and any one else's who doesn't know what they are doing. They only have to provide a new set of strings with the guitar....I don't charge for it. I'm retired now so have time on my hands. Gives me something to do and I benefit as much as the person who owns the guitar.
I love it when the owner appreciates the difference between before and after.

 

[Lo-Tek]

This applies to every vehicle, tool or item that you enjoy using. A full understanding of it's workings brings the complete satisfaction of ownership (Always read the manual too )

As an older guy and former mechanic who still does some at home wrenching when required I can tell you this- I bond the most with cars that never require any attention. I will do my bonding on the open road not under the hood, thank you very much. Same with guitars. lol

 

[rick16v]

I got a notched straight edge, tweaked the truss rod and the action for the first time. The guitar sounds so much better. I'm now not sure why I'd pay someone unless the nut needed work.

 

[ricksdisconnected]

As an older guy and former mechanic who still does some at home wrenching when required I can tell you this- I bond the most with cars that never require any attention. I will do my bonding on the open road not under the hood, thank you very much. Same with guitars. lol

what did you mechanic on?

 

[ricksdisconnected]

I got a notched straight edge, tweaked the truss rod and the action for the first time. The guitar sounds so much better. I'm now not sure why I'd pay someone unless the nut needed work.

now you know your next step.

 

[rick16v]

now you know your next step.

Funny you should say this. I think the slots are a tiny bit too deep.

 

[Lo-Tek]

what did you mechanic on?

I started late in life. Began at a Saab dealer. When we moved "up north" I worked primarily as a Toyota mechanic but also some used car work so a little of everything.

 

[ricksdisconnected]

I started late in life. Began at a Saab dealer. When we moved "up north" I worked primarily as a Toyota mechanic but also some used car work so a little of everything.

yes, Toyota

 

[ricksdisconnected]

Funny you should say this. I think the slots are a tiny bit too deep.

put the feeler gauges down to stop the fret files from going to deep.

 

[PaulHikeS2]

Always done my own and any one else's who doesn't know what they are doing. They only have to provide a new set of strings with the guitar....I don't charge for it. I'm retired now so have time on my hands. Gives me something to do and I benefit as much as the person who owns the guitar.
I love it when the owner appreciates the difference between before and after.

Yeah - I do the same. Also repair/rebuild/upgrade for friends and charge only for the parts plus I get to keep it for a week or three and enjoy a new guitar for a bit. The longer it takes to return it means the better job I did. Plus I get a lot out of it and especially get some good experience.

 

[axe4me]

https://www.google.com/search?q=gui...me&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=_5AlxYOzqFfKhggfAurjwDA18

 

[Old Punker]

I actually expected less of you to do it yourself but fascinated by everyone's 2 cents.

I agree with the "no one can set it up quite like yourself" but I don't knock the "save my time" aspect others have also.

With my 5 guitars I have with me now, if it weren't frigging $75 I wouldn't mind dropping them off and getting them ballparked by a tech and fine tuning myself BUT how little work it really is ain't jiving with that price. I'd pay $15-$20 a guitar which I think is 100% fair 99% of the time, I know there is always those occasional PIA ones that need extra attention.

Now those that have tech/luthier set ups, what are you paying? No judgment here, I know time is money, I'm a mechanic but admit I'll pay another for jobs I don't feel like doing on my own vehicle. Can I do it better myself? I'll atleast have that peace of mind but sometimes I just don't care to do extra "work", I use the money I earned, a great tool sometimes!

I was really disappointed to find out my favorite local shop charged that much... I've been in the shop when a parent comes in needing a child's guitar restringed. The owner straight up over explained the work involved to justify to the mother the $75 price. I really wanted to butt in and tell the mother I'd do it for free outside, my conscious still bothered I didn't as she accepted the $75 price for a simple restring.

Those must be some fancy strings!

 

[Old Punker]

I always used to just change strings and clean fretboards and take each guitar into the music store for a setup once every 3 or so years. A couple of times though I wasn't happy with the results, one time the neck of my Les Paul came back dripping with fret oil which I had to clean up and another time they raised pickups on my P90 guitar too high and it didn't sound right. Since then no more music store setups.

I also have all my gear in my basement where the temperature is pretty constant year round and I control humidity with humidifier/dehumidifier as the seasons dictate.
* Am I correct in assuming that my guitars won't require setups very often under these conditions?
Most of my guitars haven't been out for a setup in about 8 years.

Thanks to this crappy pandemic I did have to get comfortable doing some stuff myself, since I am keeping direct interactions with others to a minimum. I managed to throw off the action on one guitar while I had all the strings off to treat the fretboard, so I had to adjust that. So now I'm OK with checking/adjusting pickup heights, action height, intonation (but only if it's bad). I can do a quick neck relief check (using card stock like I saw online) BUT I'm not yet comfortable with truss rod adjustments. Luckily I haven't had to yet. I remember reading online a couple of times that if you screw up a truss rod adjustment you could damage your guitar?

I also have a professional luthier living just minutes from me and he has a stellar reputation. He was luthier to Alex Lifeson of RUSH. Maybe I'll take some of my better ones to him for a tune up...once the coronavirus is gone.

 

[JeffMcLeod]

I don't play enough - and certainly not professionally - to justify paying for a setup. I did once, but it wasn't much. Just to see if he could improve a couple things, that's all.

When I change strings, I'll check the intonation, maybe look at the neck bow. I've read that the neck should actually have a little bow in it vs be straight. I don't like adjusting pickup height, because I never get it right and usually make it worse. I guess I really just don't know quite enough to be an expert at it, but I know enough to make a few adjustments (if needed) when I change strings.

I see people talking about nut and fret work, etc. To me, some of these things are more repairs than a setup. I guess it depends on your definition of setup.

Usually, I just change the strings, and get on with it.

 

[Old Punker]

I don't play enough - and certainly not professionally - to justify paying for a setup. I did once, but it wasn't much. Just to see if he could improve a couple things, that's all.

When I change strings, I'll check the intonation, maybe look at the neck bow. I've read that the neck should actually have a little bow in it vs be straight. I don't like adjusting pickup height, because I never get it right and usually make it worse. I guess I really just don't know quite enough to be an expert at it, but I know enough to make a few adjustments (if needed) when I change strings.

I see people talking about nut and fret work, etc. To me, some of these things are more repairs than a setup. I guess it depends on your definition of setup.

Usually, I just change the strings, and get on with it.

Nope...I will never touch my nuts.

 

[geddy]

100%!!!


While I agree that business has overhead, a typical oil change at the shops I've worked at averaged between $35 and $45 all said and done. That includes oil, filter and labor and there is a hell of a lot more work going into changing oil on a modern vehicle.

While it's apples to oranges I still think the integrity of the argument is there. So for $75 all the tech is doing is replacing strings, possibly adjusting neck relief, adjust saddles and set intonation... Unless the guitar is EXTREMELY out of whack, that whole process should take MAYBE 10 minutes if he approaches it flat rate and has all the proper tools and a workbench and knocks it out as quick as possible (with attention to detail). I'd pay $20 max to have someone else do that and thats still kinda crazy in my opinion. Set up and string changes should be to guitars as oil Changes are to cars, it's a low profit service that brings customers and potential up sales into the store. They tell me $75 for this basic maintenence? Craaazy imho... Idk but I find it absolutely insane. I know you pay for the knowledge, wisdom and experience of the tech but not on a basic maintenance, he's not rebuilding the thing. I can see asking premium prices on nearly anything else, re-fretting, soldering/electrical work, modifications, custom nuts and miscellaneous upgrades... Strings and set up? Basic, simple, easy routine maintenance? Use that to get people in! When they bring their guitar(s) in for quick set ups etc you now have the opportunity to recommended an upgrade "oh man, your guitar would sound great with these (X) pickups", "you're tuning would be so much more stable with (X) tuners", "this guitar would sound so great thru (X) pedal and or (X) amp" "lucky for you I have all this at the ready, if you interested this is what I can do (price) installed and ready to rock"

I've worked in the auto repair industry and like any sales oriented market you gotta get some upsales to make money. I've never had a music shop try to upsale me other than GC's insurance plan.

I got kinda off topic but some things I've been thinking about that was kinda related.

Another thing I've noticed at a lot of small shops is they offer a complmentry set up with the purchase of a guitar. I think it would very beneficial to set up every guitar offered for sale, even consignment because so often I'm checking out a guitar and it just buzzes, frets out and plays awful and I immediately lose interest. That would be like a dealership selling used trade ins with a complimentary inspection and wash with a purchase of said vehicle... Nah, the car gets immediatel inspected, repaired/tuned up and washed before being listed (Usually)...

Just thinking out loud with you guys.

we all have a different threshold for these kind of things. I agree that if you can do it, and quickly, then why would you pay. Maybe they dont up sell becasee musicians are historicllay broke? It certainly takes me personally a lot longer than 10 minutes to do a simple setup. With respect to your prices for oil changes, I havent paid that little for an oil change for 30 years. Having said that, I used to do pretty much all my own car maintenance. You wouldnt be able to buy the oil for even for my old, simple car for the price youve suggsted let alone the filter and labour. For the BMW an oil service in a motoring chain is £100. The non dealer specialist is use is more. I think I live in the wrong area :-D