Do you setup your bass?

[SplinteredSkull]

I've always had my bass setup by a local shop since the day I got it. They're a likeable bunch of fellas in there, they know their stuff, and I knew nothing about setups, so I always kind of assumed their setup was "right" for lack of a better word. But something was always off with the playability, and it finally bothered me enough that I decided to re-setup my bass myself. Long story short, I watched a bunch of YouTube videos and fiddled for about an hour or so and now the setup on my bass is Perfect for me . So now I wonder; How many of you guys and gals setup your own bass? How many take it to a shop or someone else?

 

[KingRazor]

I do everything myself except cutting the nut and fret leveling.

 

[vmabus]

You are the only one who can determine the best playability for you. Pros are great, but they don't spend the hours playing your instrument necessary to fine-tune it for your style. Tweak and re-tweak, in small increments, until it's right.

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

I used to do it myself all the time, but I'm lazy now and just take it to my local guy and he does it for $25 and polishes, cleans, takes his time, and he knows what I like, so easy enough for me. He cleans dirty pots, too, and will even on occasion fix something like a loose tuner or replace broken screw.
My bass is usually pretty happy when it comes back.

 

[thunder_dan]

I primarily use my J-Basses for every project I work on so they have to be in a constant state of ready. Due to the ease of truss rod/saddle adjustments of these specific guitars, I can set them up rather quickly and not have to wait for turn around time from a luthier or a guitar pro shop. The only time I take it to someone else is when it's my vintage Rickenbacker or the Bass VI, or if I need any major work done, i.e. nut repair, cracks, etc. Google bass guitar setups, there's a few good links that can help you out if you want to DIY.

 

[TBird1958]

Mike Lull is way better at it than I'll ever be........He get my basses. We have a mild climate so a decent set up will last a long time.

 

[Duckwater]

I adjust my action and intonation a few times a week, and I can do a mediocre wiring job when I need to. But when it comes to doing something where I have a risk of ruining my instrument, I have some great friends that are also part time luthiers to help me out.

 

[Jefff]

I learned the hard way by doing my own set ups then taking them to a guy to fix it.

After a while I got good at it. This saves me a some time and money but the biggest advantage is I can set my bass up EXACTLY how I want it. Not how someone else thinks it should be.

 

[Kmonk]

I do my own setups. Even though every manufacturer has recommended setup, we all have our own preferences. Some of us like low action, some like high. I would rather do it myself and know that it will be the way that I like it.

 

[Dave W]

I do it all myself. When I first started I was very interested in learning how to do the work so I taught myself and never looked back.

It would cost me a small fortune to pay someone to keep all if my instruments in playing condition.

 

[bssist]

I used to take it to a "specialist" until I got up to about four instruments, then I couldn't afford it anymore. I quickly learned that there wasn't anything magical about it & learned how to do everything short of carving it out of raw materials. It saves big $$$$ & you will always get it just how you need it.

 

[SplinteredSkull]

Mike Lull is way better at it than I'll ever be........He get my basses. We have a mild climate so a decent set up will last a long time.

I would take my basses to Mike just to have an excuse to talk to the man about basses

 

[Johnny StingRay]

Learned how to take care of and set up my basses way back in the 80s....don't need and don't trust techs these days.............

 

[SplinteredSkull]

The only time I take it to someone else is when it's my vintage Rickenbacker or the Bass VI, or if I need any major work done, i.e. nut repair, cracks, etc.

But when it comes to doing something where I have a risk of ruining my instrument, I have some great friends that are also part time luthiers to help me out.

Yeah, for something like that I would definitely take it to someone more knowledgable than me. But I think I'll be doing my own setups from now on

 

[mcnach]

I adjust my action and intonation a few times a week, and I can do a mediocre wiring job when I need to. But when it comes to doing something where I have a risk of ruining my instrument, I have some great friends that are also part time luthiers to help me out.

A few times a week? Really?

 

[Firesalt]

I would take my basses to Mike just to have an excuse to talk to the man about basses

+1

 

[vince a]

You are the only one who can determine the best playability for you. Pros are great, but they don't spend the hours playing your instrument necessary to fine-tune it for your style. Tweak and re-tweak, in small increments, until it's right.

+1 . . .

 

[AaronVonRock]

I take my bass to someone who has more skill and years of experience than I do when it comes to properly setting up a bass. I've seen too many guys who think they know what they're doing completely screw up their instruments, so for me, it's worth the $25 to have it done right.

 

[marko138]

I do my own. And the bass player in my band's guitars. I enjoy doing it. Just started last summer when I got my jazz bass. Decided to give it a crack myself and never looked back. I can do a set up fairly quickly now. It's really not difficult. And my basses play AWESOME.

 

[Rich McCoy]

I set them up, wire them up, polish them up, dress the frets up, string them up...yep.