Need advice on setup price

malicous · #1 07-16-2009, 03:02 PM

Hello all. I am taking up "real" bass again after about ten years of concentrating on bass guitar. My old '58 3/4 Kay is in need of a setup. I contacted a highly respected local bass tech, who quoted me $350 for a new bridge, a set of D'Addario solo gauge strings, and the installation and setup of said. Is this about normal? I have no idea what double bass work cost. Any advice would be very helpful. Thanks.

dchan · #2 07-16-2009, 03:49 PM

Fill out your location so that we'll know where you are.

Prices may depend on your location as well as the specific luthier. Back 6 years ago, my parents were with me when I went to my first luthier. He was still young, and wasn't the best in the business. And my parents, the bargainers they were, were able to agree to about $225 for a new bridge, fingerboard planing, nut re-cutting and re-working, a new soundpost, a new screw for my endpin, and staining a few 'exposed' areas. Strings were extra, which I got online through Quinn (it's usually cheaper that way). His work was pretty good, but still not the best. He was actually quoting about $125 more for everything, and that would have still been below typical luthier prices.

After not touching my current bass for 4 years, since the endpin broke, I went to a more established luthier, who has several famous bassists as his clients. His prices were fair, but still more expensive. And I'm no bargainer, but I still thought his prices were fine. He re-cut my bridge, re-worked the nut, fit in another endpin (I had a spare lying around), and fit a new endpin - all for $180. He also fixed other areas that I didn't specifically request - he epoxied back the broken D-string peg tuner handle, for instance. All in all, his work was absolutely superb.

I should have gotten a fingerboard planing and dressing, but that work alone was quoted as more expensive than the other work combined. And because the fingerboard was serviceable as-was, I declined.

To me, $350 sounds like a fair enough price, especially if it includes the price of new strings. What other setup work are you getting besides a new bridge, a nut re-cutting, and new strings? A fingerboard planing and dressing? A soundpost fitting?

malicous · #3 07-16-2009, 05:56 PM

Sorry, I am in a suburb of Los Angeles. I was referring to a famous bass shop/tech on Vine, in Hollywood. The price quoted was for the installation of the bridge and strings only (includes the prices of the bride and strings).

I was also considering buying my own bridge and getting a professional woodworker friend to jut it using the instructions that come with it, but am not sure if the savings will be worth the risk.

**Matthew Tucker** · #4 07-16-2009, 06:05 PM

Well ...

Strings, say $120
Bridge, say $80

that means only $150 for the luthier's time and into his pocket. Its a couple of hours work at least. He should do a proper job. He'll probably tweak things nicely for you as well. Woodworker friend won't do that. Sounds like a bargain to me.

Andrew McGregor · #5 07-16-2009, 07:09 PM

Sounds perfectly reasonable. Prices do vary from place to place, but I paid a bit more than that a few months ago.

MIKMAN · #6 07-17-2009, 04:36 AM

Well my friend, this price seems more than a bargain in Greece, my country. Here, the so called "luthiers" charge more than $350 for the purchase and fitting of a bridge (without adjusters). And in most of the cases the bridge doesn't fit properly on the top plate.
This situation has awakened the "amateur luthier" inside every Greek double bassist, usually with disastrous results. Anyaway, that's life...

uprightben · #7 07-17-2009, 05:38 AM

While I don't think $350 is unreasonable, you should give lisa gass a call. I was in LA last Jan. doing some session work and had to rent a bass. Lisa was much more reasonable than that place on vine, and she is very professional.

Gary Lynch · #8 07-19-2009, 09:40 AM

It all depends on what you need or want.

My guy usually changes the spacing on the nut which means adding ebony to the bottom of the old one and grinding off the top to new wood and renotching, or, a whole new piece of wood for the nut.

Usually more often than not, planing fingerboard. Maybe a quality sounds post but at least a reset sound post and probably working the ends to match the top/back better.

New bridge with adjusters and carving all excess wood off of bridge like the 'old style' of workmanship.

Changing tail piece cable or at least tuning it to properly length.

Hey, you are not far for the best there is, or many think so. Good luck;

http://www.worldofstrings.net/

salcott · #9 07-19-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malicous

Hello all. I am taking up "real" bass again after about ten years of concentrating on bass guitar. My old '58 3/4 Kay is in need of a setup. I contacted a highly respected local bass tech, who quoted me $350 for a new bridge, a set of D'Addario solo gauge strings, and the installation and setup of said. Is this about normal? I have no idea what double bass work cost. Any advice would be very helpful. Thanks.

Seems reasonable to me.

malicous · #10 07-22-2009, 11:47 AM

Thanks chaps! I appreciate your input. I suppose this is a reasonable price, all things considered.

I contacted Lisa, and she quoted me about the same price. From what I hear, Garry's usual/preferred setup is more my cup of tea.