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"Pro" setup vs DIY setup

#21
walterw said:
i see more guitars than i can count where the owner says "yeah, i set it up myself and it came out pretty good" when it's just hideous, with high nut slots, uneven string heights, intonation nowhere near correct, etc.

after getting it right for them, they're blown away by what an actually set-up guitar plays like.

so sometimes even good players don't know better than the tech how comfortably an instrument can play.

+1 to taking the time to play it in front of the tech, so that he can do final tweaking to fit your style.
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^^^What I'da said...
 
#22
Setting up yourself and getting a pro to check it with feedback is always a good idea.
You just need a pro who is happy to part with the information.
I give lessons and every 4th lesson is on equipment, this includes setting up your guitar or bass properly.
I can save you a small fortune if you can do it well...
But it is not one lesson and you are done, that is for sure...
Generally the use of a pro for me will be a case by case basis....
Would always use a pro for fret levelling...
 
#23
Well, there's no one "real" answer for this. I agree that most players should learn how to adjust neck relief, action and intonation, and I don't really consider that a "setup" but more like normal maintenance.

However, when it comes to things like properly slotting a nut (or bridge saddles in instances like a BAII install), fretwork, etc - these items typically require special tools and knowledge and should be left to the pros - or by all means do a bunch of experimenting on your own, THEN get to know pro very good to fix everything for you :)

Since there are a lot pro techs chiming in here, are you guys starting to see the dollar signs whenever you run across one of GC's Garage ads? Just wondering if you've seen any increase in YOUR business from fixing GC mistakes, cause I know we have. Seeing those ads and knowing who the "certified techs" at my local GC are just puts a GIANT smile on my face! :D
 
#25
cjp3044 said:
Since there are a lot pro techs chiming in here, are you guys starting to see the dollar signs whenever you run across one of GC's Garage ads? Just wondering if you've seen any increase in YOUR business from fixing GC mistakes, cause I know we have. Seeing those ads and knowing who the "certified techs" at my local GC are just puts a GIANT smile on my face! :D
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I actually hate it when that happens. I feel for the bassist who has shelled out to get a job done that ends up unsatisfactory, and I am glad to help out. But inevitably I will get quizzed on what the other shop did wrong and be prompted to take sides in the argument. It's not my concern. If you take your instrument to a shop that does sub-standard work, that's a choice you made. If you come to me, it's also your choice. My hope is that you will continue to come to me, but the argument against "the other guy" is not mine.
 
#26
Turnaround said:
I actually hate it when that happens. I feel for the bassist who has shelled out to get a job done that ends up unsatisfactory, and I am glad to help out. But inevitably I will get quizzed on what the other shop did wrong and be prompted to take sides in the argument. It's not my concern. If you take your instrument to a shop that does sub-standard work, that's a choice you made. If you come to me, it's also your choice. My hope is that you will continue to come to me, but the argument against "the other guy" is not mine.
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In my case it's actually GC sending the stuff to us that they have screwed up most of the time - not the customer.

Whenever a customer does bring us something that another area tech has screwed up (even if it's GC), we just tell them that the other guy just probably had an off day and give them a great deal on whatever "fix" is required i the hopes they will return to us in the future.

My comment about the GC Garage being good for business is just that - it's good for business because as their "repair" business increases, so does ours automatically because we do a lot of their work for them - and the fact that the local guys there that are the "techs" (I'm still trying to figure out what GC means by certified) - well let's just say that I've had to do a considerable amount of repairs for GC on guitars that were taken there for a simple setup - and then royally screwed up by their guys. Am I bashing GC repair guys? Absolutely I am, and at least in my area with VERY good cause. I'm sure there are GCs with decent to good techs too - just not here.
 
#27
I've tried different shops but haven't brought mine anywhere since I learned one own. Now I handle all my friends set ups as well. Only thing I won't tackle is fret work or major re-wiring. While I know I can handle the wiring I'd rather leave that to someone with the right equipment. Same with fret work. I'd actually like to practice as try it out but haven't had the time or drive.
 
#28
Turnaround said:
I actually hate it when that happens. I feel for the bassist who has shelled out to get a job done that ends up unsatisfactory, and I am glad to help out. But inevitably I will get quizzed on what the other shop did wrong and be prompted to take sides in the argument. It's not my concern. If you take your instrument to a shop that does sub-standard work, that's a choice you made. If you come to me, it's also your choice. My hope is that you will continue to come to me, but the argument against "the other guy" is not mine.
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No one wants to be taken advantage of, and no one likes to hear that another shop didn't do their job right. It reflects poorly on all of us.

Stay out of the argument. No matter what is said, we will end up losing both the argument and any chance of creating a repeat customer. What the other guy did, or why, is none of our business. Maybe the guy had a bad day. Maybe he is incompetent. It is all conjecture and has no bearing on our business. It has nothing to do with the business at hand. Nor is it our responsibility to provide discount services to fix someones mistakes. Repair the guitar, charge the usual rate, say "thank you and come back and see us sometime."
 
#29
A set of nut files is less than $70 if its needed, other than that is tools laying around the house so I dont know why all the angst against bassist trying their own setups.. ?

After all, the downside is far cheaper (a $10 nut) than all the other fix/sort/upgrade attempts that are typically undertaken with zero knowledge, no tools and less skill.. such as rewiring pickups, preamps, tone circuits and even repairing amps..all of which have a more costly downside...

folks will play with their toys.. and the world is yet still full of folks that will pay a pro..
 
#30
brumshine said:
Hey guys, need some advice.

I'm kinda the handyman type and like to fix / work on things. I found this guide online and it looks like it is super in depth. http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/akcndfr54jdhrei567/Ultimate_Guide_ver100.pdf

I've always done my own setups over the last 5 years and personally feel like the instruments play well enough after I turn the truss, set the action and intonate. But I don't have any experience playing an instrument setup by a professional.

Is it worth it to shell out the cash for a "professional" to setup your bass?

Thank you,
BRUMSHINE
Click to expand...

Hey thanks for this guide!!!! I've always wanted a precise guide like this to learn and go off of rather than spending the money to have, as you stated, a "pro" do it. I'm not going to go at my bass like a crazy man of course but this is really helping me to understand the setup. Which is, I'm learning, extremely important in a great feeling/playing bass.
 
#32
20db pad said:
I used to get occasional setups by Roger Sadowsky many moons ago when he was still off 48th Street in Manhattan. I do pretty good setups myself, but they never seem to feel as good or perform quite as well as Sadowsky's work.
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It's interesting, but Roger's setup methods have changed over the years, not dramatically, but significantly. And the changes have been consistently well thought out and beneficial. When Roger speaks, I for one listen.
 
#33
I do most of the set up myself...truss rod, intonation, string height and pickup height, but when it comes to fret leveling and nut work I bring it to a pro. My tech works a little magic down the end of the neck to get rid of the ski jump and really knows how to dial in the nut. In fact he has this amazing ability to just dial in and balance an instrument so that it plays much better than anything I could do. Once he does this then I can take it from there and do all of the seasonal adjustments myself.

I was shocked at just how good my P5 played after a Pro Setup by Jim Mouradian!
 

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