Are these normal prices for a good luthier?

CoffeeJanitor · #1 01-05-2010, 05:53 PM

My teacher referred me to these guys.

Ok I know these things vary, but I made the mistake of telling the guys I'm a newbie (I've played for around a year). Not sure if these are really high prices or not.

Set up-$65 (I've go a bowed neck right now, intonation is way off on the upper fretboard).

Slotting for my Badass Bridge II (he said that I'm more or less throwing money away if I don't get it slotted by a pro) - 30$

Do those seem like too high of prices? I don't know much about this stuff.

hdracer · #2 01-05-2010, 05:55 PM

reeedjbass · #3 01-05-2010, 05:57 PM

he's right about the bridge but depending on if your talking about the neck being damaged because its bowed way too much there is absolutely no reason why you couldnt set your bass up yourself by looking at a few how to videos on you tube

Demonator · #4 01-05-2010, 06:01 PM

sounds pretty resonable.

gidbass · #5 01-05-2010, 06:03 PM

I guess it depends where you are. I got a setup for under $20 on my 5 string (before i learned to do it myself), and for $75, i got a fret level and crown on my 4 string jazz.

$65 sounds high to me for a set up, unless that includes a fret level and crown.

Good Luck.

CoffeeJanitor · #6 01-05-2010, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidbass

I guess it depends where you are. I got a setup for under $20 on my 5 string (before i learned to do it myself), and for $75, i got a fret level and crown on my 4 string jazz.

$65 sounds high to me for a set up, unless that includes a fret level and crown.

Good Luck.

I think I'll have to give them a call tomorrow. I really never asked about what a "set-up" included.

This is my first time gong to a luthier/getting a set-up so this is all new to me.

One Bad Monkey · #7 01-05-2010, 06:16 PM

+1 on depending where you are. That adage of location, location, location comes into play.

I had a setup and Badass II string slotting on my SX jazz a couple of years ago for $35 in town. And I like to think my hometown has a plethora of old luthiers that are fairly experienced.

Frettage · #8 01-05-2010, 06:19 PM

The local luthier here in Boulder, Colorado (Woodsong Lutherie) charges $70 for a setup, but everything tends to cost more around here.

ghostjs · #9 01-05-2010, 06:21 PM

i got my OLP set up for $20. i dunno how major your situation was, but my neck looked like a ski slope.

James Judson · #10 01-05-2010, 06:29 PM

Every time I take an axe to my luthier the cost tends to be $100.

M0ses · #11 01-05-2010, 06:38 PM

I set up my bass myself, and since I already owned the necessary screwdrivers, it was free. Every time I did it.

oldrocker · #12 01-05-2010, 08:19 PM

Does the set up include the price of a new set of strings?

CoffeeJanitor · #13 01-05-2010, 09:56 PM

Not sure.

Just talked to my teacher. He says these guys are real professionals and do everything for a "setup".

202dy · #14 01-06-2010, 07:02 AM

In 2010, any professional repair tech who charges less than fifty dollars (does not include strings) for a set-up needs to take some business classes. It is obvious to anyone with any business experience that they do not understand the concepts of overhead and profit. They are slowly going broke and do not know it.

This comment is exclusive of the music retailer who uses a low price set up as a loss leader to attract business and service his clients. Just like the big box stores they force the price down in the marketplace. That only serves to eliminate the independent craftsman who cannot fold his overhead into a larger profit scenario. However, it does call into question the abilities of the craftsman doing the work. Only so much overhead can be allowed to cut into profits before cuts in payroll become necessary.

Any client of a good and competent tech who is pricing this way should have a chat with him and explain the above if they want this resource to be available to them long term. If they do not, sooner or later, the client will find themselves seeking a new tech.

Headless Llama · #15 01-06-2010, 07:10 AM

The luthier that does my setups charges around $40 for a setup. Does not include strings. I also buy all of my instruments there, so perhaps I am getting a slight discount. I'd say shop around.

Rickett Customs · #16 01-06-2010, 07:27 AM

No, that price seems fine (it's in the neighborhood what i'd charge, strings not included). Of course, I check the frets for wear, how level the frets are across a straightedge, whether or not the neck needs relief, polish it up and the intonation I do currently, is on a Peterson R490, makes a big difference.

JLS · #17 01-06-2010, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 202dy

In 2010, any professional repair tech who charges less that fifty dollars (does not include strings) for a set-up needs to take some business classes. It is obvious to anyone with any business experience that they do not understand the concepts of overhead and profit. They are slowly going broke and do not know it.

This is comment exclusive of the music retailer who uses a low priced set up as a loss leader to attract business and service his clients. Just like the big box stores they force the price down in the marketplace. That only serves to eliminate the independent craftsman who cannot fold his overhead into a larger profit scenario.

Any client of a good and competent tech who is pricing this way should have a chat with him and explain the above if they want this resource to be available to them long term. If they do not, sooner or later, the client will find themselves seeking a new tech.

If you need a setup bad enough, you can always find someone bad enough to do it. In my area, there's some lowball
clowns on CL...you get what you pay for.

electracoyote · #18 01-06-2010, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoffeeJanitor

My teacher referred me to these guys.

Ok I know these things vary, but I made the mistake of telling the guys I'm a newbie (I've played for around a year). Not sure if these are really high prices or not.

Set up-$65 (I've go a bowed neck right now, intonation is way off on the upper fretboard).

Slotting for my Badass Bridge II (he said that I'm more or less throwing money away if I don't get it slotted by a pro) - 30$

Do those seem like too high of prices? I don't know much about this stuff.

Those prices sound fair to me. $95.00, and if that's all your bass really needs (no fret dress, nut work, etc.), then your bass will play much better. Well worth what he's charging, my local techs are in the same ballpark.

EDIT: BTW, he's absolutely right about the Badass. Get it professionally slotted and it might actually work for your bass.

**iriegnome** · #19 01-06-2010, 09:06 AM

$65 for a good setup is a very fair price. Especially if your bass plays like the wind when they are done. A set up should not only include neck adjustments, but bridge and pickup adjustments as well. Plus, you should get to take it home, play it for a day or several and be able to bring it back if the set up was not to your particular liking. I know in my case, the action on a couple of my basses was a little to low and I had to bring it back. My luthier called me crazy (we go back a long way) but adjusted it, readjusted the the neck for the higher string height (I think it was like less than a mm) and now it plays like a dream.
$65 is a good price for someone who knows what they are doing and do it well. Luthiers usually care about the job they do so the money is usually pretty well worth it.

Benjamin Strange · #20 01-06-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidbass

I guess it depends where you are. I got a setup for under $20 on my 5 string (before i learned to do it myself), and for $75, i got a fret level and crown on my 4 string jazz.

$65 sounds high to me for a set up, unless that includes a fret level and crown.

Good Luck.

$65 does not sound high at all - and I'd question the quality of work for anybody offering fret levels for $75. A proper fret level and setup takes a minimum of three hours to get right - charging that little makes me think that whoever is doing it is either desperate or has no idea what they're doing.

To give you an example, my shop charges $90 for a THOROUGH setup, and $250 for a level and dress. We're about the same price as most of the reputable shops in our area (note: not just some dude in his mom's garage). Without going into some major spiel that may seem like a sales pitch, let's just say that you get what you pay for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLS

If you need a setup bad enough, you can always find someone bad enough to do it. In my area, there's some lowball
clowns on CL...you get what you pay for.

Exactly - like the "no frills fret level" guy. "Crowning frets is only cosmetic"? Say what?