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How much will a "setup" cost me at Guitar Center??
- Thread starter brink22
- Start date
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
GC is a total crapshoot as to the quality of their techs. You would be better off doing it yourself. It ain't rocket science...
ArtisanLuthiers
Commercial User
- Feb 21, 2019
- 49
- 43
- Disclosures
- Artisan Luthiers is a guitar repair and maintenance shop in Kennesaw, GA
But, as you see, people still visit this page to get info. Even if it's only one person helped it's a good thing.
Yep but it needs updating. K’bosh the Garry Willis manual. Here’s something without the odd statements. http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/akcndfr54jdhrei567/Ultimate_Guide_ver100.pdf
It’s better to learn how to set up your basses because in my experience I am always “fiddling “ with them. I can’t imagine how much time and money going to GC would be. AND also hoping they would do it correctly.
ArtisanLuthiers
Commercial User
- Feb 21, 2019
- 49
- 43
- Disclosures
- Artisan Luthiers is a guitar repair and maintenance shop in Kennesaw, GA
knowledge is power. free youself from the tryanny of incompetent technicians, get a book, some tools, and diy.
Couple of things...
1. Depending on where you are? Yeah, $50-$60 (excluding the new strings) seems about right. I've never taken an instrument to either of the Guitar Centers here (we have two), but that's really only because there's a Sam Ash and Cowtown Guitars (where I usually go) much closer to home. But, that's what the places I do go to charge, so...
2. All the stuff everybody always says about Guitar Center here, is... problematic. Yeah, you can have a really bad experience there - and a fair number of people probably have - or, it can be a positive one. It just depends on the store. Assuming they still work there, there are/were a couple of very competent techs that worked at one of the GC's here. I'd have no problem taking an instrument to either of those guys - if they weren't so far away. The tech at the local Sam Ash has been to school for this kind of stuff, and has lots of experience. He's very good at it. Cowtown Guitars is closer, though, and Chris is an actual luthier; I've been going to him for years, for things I can't do myself. And, speaking of doing for myself...
3. Yeah, it's a real good ides to learn to do at least basic set ups yourself. That's what I usually do; and save visits to a tech for things I don't have the tools for (like fret work). As others have said; it really isn't rocket science. And, if for no other reason, if you know how a set up is supposed to be done, you'll know when someone else - who has your instrument and your money - has done it wrong...
ArtisanLuthiers
Commercial User
- Feb 21, 2019
- 49
- 43
- Disclosures
- Artisan Luthiers is a guitar repair and maintenance shop in Kennesaw, GA
I agree with the gist of your message but “get some tools” is a gross simplification of what is required to do professional work. A quality rack mounted digital tuner alone will cost around $100 (we use Korg Pitchblack PB/05 tuners. Add botched straightedges, string action gauge, fret radius gauges, and truss rod wrenches puts you another 3 figures. Then consider tools you will sometimes need for nut work, fret work and such which runs you another 3 figure sum. Then think about how many hours you need to actually learn guitar specifications, how to use the tools, and how it all interacts. Honestly, most people can’t get their head around it.
