$45 on a full 5 string bass set up?

[Jtaing562]

Called a few shops and was quoted for $45 for a full bass set up for my 5 string. Was told that they will polish, apply dressing to the fretboard, work on the truss rod, bridge, and tighten the tuning pegs.

Pass or go for it?

 

[NicJimBass]

If it also includes intonation and setting the action, that's a good price.

 

[lburton2]

$45 is pretty fair. I usually do a complete set-up, intonation and action included for like $20... But that's because I'm dirt cheap

 

[Dave W]

That's dirt cheap for around my neck of the woods. I'd figure around $100, with some places in the city charging $130.

 

[Jtaing562]

If it also includes intonation and setting the action, that's a good price.

The guy over the phone mentioned that those two are included as well. I can't believe I forgot to mention that, lol. Thanks, and I will take it in later today.

 

[NicJimBass]

The guy over the phone mentioned that those two are included as well. I can't believe I forgot to mention that, lol. Thanks, and I will take it in later today.

I only asked because, technically speaking, those are what I would consider a setup. The other stuff is icing on the cake.

 

[Technotitclan]

If it also includes intonation and setting the action, that's a good price.

^ exactly

 

[SirMjac28]

That's what I pay

 

[KaseOfBass]

Not a bad price but, as I'm sure someone would've chimed in, learn to do it yourself. It's easy, there are plenty of instructional materials on the interwebz, saves you money and, best of all, you get it set up exactly the way you want it.

 

[Nev375]

Or, you could do it yourself and spend the $45 on a couple packs of fresh strings.

Basically you are paying the guy to use little more than a screwdriver on your bass, wipe it off and tune it. Mind you, his time is well worth the money, but you can use a screwdriver can't you? All you really need to learn is which direction. It's that easy.

 

[strappa]

$45 is a good deal assuming they do a good job
i got a setup at guitar center once
when i got the bass home the intonation was not right and the strings were an uneven height

but if its someone good, then yeah $45 is good
i pay like 75 for a decent setup so i usually do them myself

 

[aguacateojos]

I would totally get a setup for that much... I was quoted around $80 last time I was in San Francisco.

 

[KaseOfBass]

...and the strings were an uneven height...

Since I'm not sure the OP knows and in the interest of not wanting anyone to leave the thread confused - the strings aren't supposed to be at an even height with each other. Perhaps you meant that different than I perceived it though.

 

[bryan gibson]

Took my 5'er to Gravity Strings in St. Louis over the winter for a good setup. I can do the basics myself, but this one needed a few frets leveled, and I don't have the proper files, etc. I told 'em to "make the neck as nice as humanly possible on a $100 budget," because tendonitis is kicking my a.... arm, yeah, that's it. Anyhoo, got it back in absolutely perfect shape for $45-even left the newish strings on it. Point being, ask around first and find the "hot dude" in the area and you should be ok.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

$45 is a fair price but it is still a waste of money.

Go spend $5 on a set of feeler gauges and keep the $40 for a set of DR's with change. I recommend Jerzy Drozd'd guide to my student, but I recommend using the radius gauges from tunemybass.com.

Plus, setups always settle after a day, knowing how to do it yourself allows you to stay on top of it.

 

[steelbed45]

Not a bad price but, as I'm sure someone would've chimed in, learn to do it yourself. It's easy, there are plenty of instructional materials on the interwebz, saves you money and, best of all, you get it set up exactly the way you want it.

You know it. I went to a highly regarded tech there in Austin, someone who works for a lot of famous people in the biz...he wanted $160 to restring my bass and set it up.

I declined and ordered a setup kit from Stew Mac the same day. Glad I did.

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

I got my bass back after paying for a setup only to have to go through it all myself again. Bottom line is only YOU know exactly how you want your bass to feel. So even if the guy does a good job, it may not suit you.
Ever pick up someone else's bass and think "man, this thing doesn't play well at all," well it's entirely subjective because I might pickup that same bass and think "this thing plays so well!" Does that make one of us wrong? Nope!
Long story short, who better to tailor a setup to your needs than you?

 

[Marial]

If it also includes intonation and setting the action, that's a good price.

It's a great price. Around here a full set up runs closer to $80-$90.

 

[gpx1200]

I recently had 2 new Ibanez bases I got at cg setup by jay at gordon music in lemonster mass, it cost me $45 for the 4 string and $50 for the 5 including new ernie ball strings.
this included full action/intonation setup,oiled the wood and even cleaned up ibanezes crapy finish work on the frets.
jay is the man,he sold me my first bass about 25 yrs ago and he was the best around back then as well, if you live in the area you should be taking your bases and guitars to him.

 

[CrewsControl]

GC charges $60, so $45 sounds like a good deal to me.

I have a favorite tech at a particular GC store, who is also happens to be a working bassist, and his setups are really good. He knows I'm just an amateur playing for fun, but he treats me like I was a pro.