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MOD EDIT TITLE: Setup questions from newbie

I didn't mean to offend anyone. I bought the Glarry Burning FIre style with 'sunset' I called a local guitar shop and they told me that to setup the guitar will cost $80.oo is this too much money? SHould I try doing it myself?
 
I'm going to edit your thread title to reflect the content of your post. The fact that you've had two threads shut down now but felt like you had to vent about that could be considered questioning moderation publicly, which is a rules violation.

I'm also going to move your thread to the Hardware, Setup, & Repair subforum, because those nice folks will know exactly how to walk you through this.
 
I didn't mean to offend anyone. I bought the Glarry Burning FIre style with 'sunset' I called a local guitar shop and they told me that to setup the guitar will cost $80.oo is this too much money? SHould I try doing it myself?

No reason you can't do it yourself. Check the forum "stickies" for tutorials...IOW, do the prerequisite reading first. You'll also need a handful of commonly-available tools including hex keys, feeler gauges, screwdrivers, etc.

Riis
 
I'm going to edit your thread title to reflect the content of your post. The fact that you've had two threads shut down now but felt like you had to vent about that could be considered questioning moderation publicly, which is a rules violation.

I'm also going to move your thread to the Hardware, Setup, & Repair subforum, because those nice folks will know exactly how to walk you through this.
I was trying to say I'm sorry. Not trying to question your moderation. (I have asperger's syndrome and I have trouble saying what I mean and being understood.)

I have memory issues as well. (I can't remember what all I bought from Sweetwater.) I'm not hating on anyone here. If it seems that way please ignore it. I don't know how to recover from blocked threads. Please help me. I found this video after i bought the guitar and bass. It looks like the upgrade is worth it.

I also bought a Bass guitar. Is it worth an upgrade with pickups on the bass? (I don't even have it yet and I am worried that I will not be satisfied with what I bought.((It's in the mail and I bought it online based on shape of the body...))

Here is what I bought. whatIboughtbass.png Is this the best style pickups? Should I consider swapping them out for whatever an 'active' pickup is? How do I know if I want to swap them out? Does it not really matter with a bass unless I Switch to 'active' pickups? I'm assuming that pickups are going to be themost important thing aside from tuners...

Am I asking the wrong questions?

Thanks
 
Setup costs can vary a lot depending on location, reputation / work load of the shop, and a number of other factors. $80 would probably be on the upper end here (although I don't really know because I do all my own work) but might be a bargain in New York or LA.

As far as what to change on your not yet received bass I'd recommend getting a good set up probably with new, quality strings, play it for a while and see if there's something you don't like or that needs to be replaced.

As stated above you can do setups at home but it requires a handful of tools and some practice.
 
Setup costs can vary a lot depending on location, reputation / work load of the shop, and a number of other factors. $80 would probably be on the upper end here (although I don't really know because I do all my own work) but might be a bargain in New York or LA.

As far as what to change on your not yet received bass I'd recommend getting a good set up probably with new, quality strings, play it for a while and see if there's something you don't like or that needs to be replaced.

As stated above you can do setups at home but it requires a handful of tools and some practice.
Thanks. I thought that the guitar came with everything needed to set it up. Is there a list somewhere of all the needed tools? I'm worried that I won't do it any good. what are my chances of breaking the guitar?
 
Thanks. I thought that the guitar came with everything needed to set it up. Is there a list somewhere of all the needed tools? I'm worried that I won't do it any good. what are my chances of breaking the guitar?

There are kits that are sold, but often they're overpriced for what they are. The good news is, the tools you'll need are common household tools that will have many uses other than setups.

Buy this for $13.49 and you'll have any allen key you'll need for truss rod or saddle adjustments

Buy this for $15.83 and you'll be able to adjust pretty much any bridge's intonation.

Lastly, buy this for $6.89 to be able to check the relief and string height.

There are plenty of videos on youtube that will guide you through the process. Is it possible to break something? Sure. It's not likely as long as you go slow and are careful.

I couldn't fathom spending $80 for a setup on a bass that wasn't much more expensive.
 
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I don't know about Glarry but if an instrument comes with tools I'd expect them to be the wrenches needed to adjust the bridge and truss rod. You'll probably need a Phillips screw driver in addition. As pointed out, a decent set of Metric and SAE hex keys doesn't cost much and you'll know you have the right one. Mostly the additional tools needed are measuring devices. Feeler gauges, the gauge linked above has some of that marked on it but I prefer feeler gauges for relief, and a scale that measures in 64"ths or .5 or .1mm which that gauge does have and can work well. You'll also need a capo to check relief. That would get you through the basics unless the frets or nut slots need work which wouldn't be surprising on an inexpensive instrument.
 
Thanks. I thought that the guitar came with everything needed to set it up. Is there a list somewhere of all the needed tools? I'm worried that I won't do it any good. what are my chances of breaking the guitar?

Any chance you live near a fellow TBer who's familiar with the set-up process and willing to assist? If within driving distance of Virginia Beach, c'mon by!

Riis
 
There are kits that are sold, but often they're overpriced for what they are. The good news is, the tools you'll need are common household tools that will have many uses other than setups.

Buy this for $13.49 and you'll have any allen key you'll need for truss rod or saddle adjustments

Buy this for $15.83 and you'll be able to adjust pretty much any bridge's intonation.

Lastly, buy this for $6.89 to be able to check the relief and string height.

There are plenty of videos on youtube that will guide you through the process. Is it possible to break something? Sure. It's not likely as long as you go slow and are careful.

I couldn't fathom spending $80 for a setup on a bass that wasn't much more expensive.

Pre-fab tool kits? *meh* I'm going to duplicate my array (below) and start selling on E-bay. Multiple opportunities to hurt yourself:

Toolkit.jpg
 
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I don't understand... is there some kind of pre-fab kit? Or were you joking? (I have asperger's syndrome and don't understand.) I also am wondering if someone lives near me. Maybe could teach me a few things and help with my setup? I live in Washington State (Spanaway) I'm definitely willing to help out financially... but then I should progbably just go to a guitar shop if I'm going to spend any money. I just got done talking to a shop that will do set-up for $60.oo on each guitar so I think mabe I'm going to go with that. (I haven't decided yet)

Thanks for your info.

I'm scared of doing the wrong thing and breaking it otherwise I I would go for the $34 and buy the tools. $120.00 is kinda scarry though. It's as much as I paid for one guitar. I guess I will just have GOD guide me in my search for a good sounding and playing action. I love GOD OF the Jews, GOd of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, I believe he set me up with the guitars in the first place. He knew what I wanted as far as body shape.

I think I will have to take the guitars to someone who is talented at doing setups. $120.oo spent on top of the $298.oo for the amps and guitars. I want to write music and share it with everybody though.

Thanks... I hope I'm making the correct decision. Yeah, it's more money, but I have memory issues and might mess something up trying to do it myself. (I forget to turn off the stove after cooking and stuff like that. I might forget to do something and have crap for a setup.)

Thanks again for your information.
 
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I don't understand... is there some kind of pre-fab kit? Or were you joking? (I have asperger's syndrome and don't understand.)

There are pre-fab tool kits available but, for the most part, they are generally lacking and expensive. What you see in my previous post is a compilation of stuff I've accumulated over the years. The coffee cans provide an extra air of elegance. I have other stuff stowed away…never throw anything away! What you see will handle MY gear. I rarely work on that belonging to others…for some strange reason, people expect positive outcomes. Your Glarry had potential for improvement.

Riis
 
There are pre-fab tool kits available but, for the most part, they are generally lacking and expensive. What you see in my previous post is a compilation of stuff I've accumulated over the years. The coffee cans provide an extra air of elegance. I have other stuff stowed away…never throw anything away! What you see will handle MY gear. I rarely work on that belonging to others…for some strange reason, people expect positive outcomes. Your Glarry had potential for improvement.

Riis
What kind of improvement? I'm Lost
 
Any chance I could make the bridge black? turnblackbass.png As you can see it comes with two allen wrenches and a pick. LOL @PICK... but then I imagine that a beginner might not have a pick already.

One of the people reviewing this guitar said it needs better pickups? SHould I spend a lot of money on pickups? (I think maybe since I have lots of money left over after buying the guitar itself maybe I should have someone upgrade the pickups for me?) What are the best pickups you would recommend? Should I go all out on the best pickups? Would it be worth high-end pickups on an $86 guitar, or are there some less expensive ones I should look at?

I just had an idea... look for a bridge that is already black... only one problem, I don't know what this bridge is called and I want to stick with the same kind of bridge just turn it black or buy a black one.

Thanks for any info on both turning the bridge black and pickups.

Timothy McCall
 
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I wouldn't put dime-one into new hardware...it would be like putting hubcaps on a bullock cart (...a little inside humor for my friends in south India). Re-invest your time, effort, and $$ into making it a well-playing, enjoyable instrument.

Riis
 
I wouldn't put dime-one into new hardware...it would be like putting hubcaps on a bullock cart (...a little inside humor for my friends in south India). Re-invest your time, effort, and $$ into making it a well-playing, enjoyable instrument.

Riis
Okay... thanks, how about turning the bridge black? I saw a video where they put high end pickups in a $100.00 four string and they thought they made a $1000.oo bass out of it... I can't tell if they know what they are doing? The result seems good, but I know NOTHING about bass guitars

Are they faking it out, or do they just know what to do? Here is the video... Oh yeah, I forgot, why the 9 volt battery? I don't understand the video. Does my $86 guitar need a battery? or is this something only $1,000.oo guitars have? I haven't seen any batteries in the glarry burning fire reviews

Thanks for the info. Could I just spray paint the bridge or is it not going to stick?

 
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