How many do your own "set up" work on your basses?

[Rickett Customs]

Just a curious Question.

I do all my own setup work on all my basses and gee-tards.

Just wanted to get a consensus.

[Papersen]

Although I`d like to, I don`t do it.
I`m simply not "skilled" enough for that. I still rely on luthiers, but I`d really like to do it by myself.

[Doc Labyrinth]

I do it myself. I used to drop off my bass with a luthier coworker of a friend of mine, untill he told me "you know, you can stop giving me your money and just do this yourself." So, I started doing it myself.

[agreatheight]

I do on my inexpensive instruments (like my MIM Jazz), but leave the heavy lifting to the pros.

[bluestarbass]

This sound terrible, but the way I learned was working at a sam ash. I had a friend who was a pretty skilled luthier that would work on the setups and such. When he left I took over. Theres nothing like 10 setups a day to get your skills honed. I still cant like steam a neck, or refret a guitar, but I can do most of the stuff your gonna pay a tech $50 to do. Truss rods are something you should have a healthy fear of though.

[Tony G]

I've been doing it for years, pretty much from the beginning of my bass playing. It really isn't that hard to do. I assume we are talking about adjusting the truss rod, setting intonation and string height? Seriously, this stuff is very simple and takes very little skill.

[Slax]

I setup my own, I just stay away from truss rods. (After reading bluestarbass's post, I'll continue to do that. lol)

[Tony G]

I don't understand the fear of truss rods....just don't go crazy with it. A little bit can go a long way. Just an 1/8 or 1/4 turn is really all you need most of the time.

[cnltb]

I set up my bass my self.
I simply can't afford to pay for a set up, and I enjoy doing it.
What is the problem with the truss rod?
The only time one actually snapped on one of my basses, it was a luthier who this happened to...Hmmm

[jeff62]

Originally Posted by xgabriele

I don't understand the fear of truss rods....just don't go crazy with it. A little bit can go a long way. Just an 1/8 or 1/4 turn is really all you need most of the time.

+1

It always amazes me how folks think that basic set-up is a mixture a of voodoo and chicken blood. I play with two *very* talented guitarists that have some very strange theories about necks and set-ups and why they can't do their own work on their instruments.

[pointbass]

I've been doing my own set-ups for a very long time, but just the basic stuff .... string height, intonation, basic fret dressing when needed, etc. It's really pretty easy once you get a feel for it, even truss rods (as long as you're careful) ...

[cybersnyder]

It's not that hard, I do it myself. Funny thing is that my first real bass was a Steinberger that didn't have a truss rod. After playing that for 12 or so years, I purchased a EBMM SR5. I had no idea how to even change strings
since I had been using double ball strings with the Steiny. The neck on the SR5 has been extremely stable.

Anyways, nothing to fear. Practice on your cheapest bass. Now, if I had a very rare vintage instrument I would probably
have a real pro do any work on that.

[spade2you]

I do most of the setup stuff on my own with the exception of shimming necks, unless the neck pocket has microtilt. I leave the repair and fret work to the repair dudes.

Adjustments aren't that difficult. Truth be told, I'm one of the only guys in town that I know of who uses ultra low action. The local repair dudes don't have much experience working with basses to get it that low.

[bovinehost]

Truss rods are something you should have a healthy fear of though.

"Respect" might be a more sensible approach.

[doctorjazz]

My guitar teacher in high school was an experienced guitar tech and repairman, so I learned by watching him. Pretty much the only thing I don't do on my own instruments is finish repair.

[Synplicity]

Ive been doing set ups on my own basses for a while now, theres nothing too it after abit of research and practice. Hardest thing ive found is finding the small allun keys to adjust the bridge :-/

[Rickett Customs]

Originally Posted by Synplicity

Ive been doing set ups on my own basses for a while now, theres nothing too it after abit of research and practice. Hardest thing ive found is finding the small allun keys to adjust the bridge :-/

I did that for a long time also (hunting for allen keys).
About 10 years ago, I had made an actual "table", with all the necessary tools in a rack mounted shelf and even has a spot for a rack mounted tuner as well. That was definitely money well spent.

[pickles]

No one knows my preferences better than me. I do all my own setup work, anything short of fret dressing, though I've been thinking of getting a couple beater basses to practice that on and get my confidence up.

[FL Knifemaker]

I do just about anything that needs to be done including making pickguards, nuts, knobs and wiring.

[BassBob185]

I do all the basic setup work myself but I would leave refretting to someone more skilled.