How much should a setup cost?

Kosko · #1 06-07-2006, 07:40 AM

Well theres the question...

$25 for strings
$3 for battery
___ for service

Whats your guys opinion?

jwl · #2 06-07-2006, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KoskoArts

Well theres the question...

$25 for strings
$3 for battery
___ for service

Whats your guys opinion?

for a proper set up, 125.00 to 150.00. jeff

McHack · #3 06-07-2006, 08:45 AM

That sounds a little high to me.

KeithBMI · #4 06-07-2006, 09:05 AM

$30 to $40 for the string action and truss rod is about right.

**WillPlay4Food** · #5 06-07-2006, 09:23 AM

The guy in my area charges $35 (plus new strings if you don't already have a set) for truss rod, string height and intonation.

malicous · #6 06-07-2006, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeithBMI

$30 to $40 for the string action and truss rod is about right.

I pay about the same ($40 for a 4 string and $10 more for every additional string).

Marcus · #7 06-07-2006, 09:32 AM

I'd say ~$40.00 give or take a few bucks appears to be average. I get charged about $40.00 per setup at my local shop and if I so choose, can return the bass within days of the setup for free adjustment if its not to my initial liking.

matrok · #8 06-07-2006, 10:49 AM

I'm paying $25 for intonation, truss rod, & string height.

d8g3jdh · #9 06-07-2006, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwl

for a proper set up, 125.00 to 150.00. jeff

Uh...where do you get your setups done? A country club?

I paid around $30 for my last one. The next will probably be done by myself.

Juneau · #10 06-07-2006, 11:20 AM

Nothing, I do my own setups. Its not rocket science

**Rodent** · #11 06-07-2006, 12:55 PM

Here's an interesting reference for one of Seattle's more famous shops:

http://www.mikelull.com/repair_prices.htm

As you can see, set-up pricing will vary significantly around the globe. It all depends on local demand and what price the market will support

all the best,

R

jive1 · #12 06-07-2006, 01:07 PM

It's Mike Lull that's doing the repair, and that has something to do with the price. I doubt I could ever charge $70 for a setup.

**Rodent** · #13 06-07-2006, 01:23 PM

odds are against it being Mike himself. you're more likely to get one of the techs in the shop doing the set-up. Mike reserves himself for people he personally knows and specific projects he has a personal interest in.

this is not in any way to say that the techs there do inferrior work

all the best,

R

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #14 06-07-2006, 01:31 PM

I do my own setups now, but when I used to have them done they were between $35-$50, both on the east coast and out in Ohio.

If you're paying $125 for a setup, they'd better be giving you a back massage while you wait for your bass to be finished.

SuperDuck · #15 06-07-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juneau

Nothing, I do my own setups. Its not rocket science

It's true - everyone should learn how to do a basic setup. There's no reason not to! Unless you have fretwork that needs to be done, I would say that pretty much anyone can do a setup with minimal investment in tools.

jive1 · #16 06-07-2006, 01:37 PM

Since we're talking setups here, do most of you guys get setups done while you wait, or does it usually take a few days?

**Rodent** · #17 06-07-2006, 01:37 PM

here's a few other pricing links:

http://www.repairguitar.com/price_list.htm

http://www.paceguitarrepair.com/setup.htm

http://www.dallasguitarrepair.com/services.html

http://www.barkwoodguitars.com/guitar_repairs.htm

all the best,

R

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #18 06-07-2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jive1

Since we're talking setups here, do most of you guys get setups done while you wait, or does it usually take a few days?

When I used to get them done, I would have to leave the bass for a couple of days. I'm pretty sure it was to make sure the truss adjustment was still fine the day after it was done.

ric1312 · #19 06-07-2006, 01:43 PM

Probably not the norm, but I've got a local guitar shop I go to, Players, where the guys there charge me about 30 for strings and all and do an outstanding job.

I think $150 would be a huge rip, unless the guitar needed a few hours of work. Even though a good set up takes skill, it taks all of a few minutes

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #20 06-07-2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ric1312

Even though a good set up takes skill, it taks all of a few minutes

Seriously- while the truss rod adjustment is the scariest thing to someone not familiar with it (I used to be scared to death of adjusting it myself- I've been playing over 10 years and I only started doing my own setups a few years ago), the only part of a setup that can be really time-consuming is setting up the intonation on a fretless, which still doesn't take THAT long.