Re: Poor Set-ups in Music stores

[honeyboy]

I was just thinking how folks like to criticize big music chain stores like Guitar Centre, Sam Ash, even smaller stores for the poor set ups of such instruments as Fenders. "If only these stores would set up those Fenders properly, than people would have better opinions about American Fenders." etc, etc.
Well, it seems to me that it is more Fender's responsibility to do that, not the store that sells it.
You might say," Everybody likes their set- up a little different, so why should Fender bother?"
Well, I think they should at least leave the factory set at their own recommended settings- string height, pick-up height, relief, and intonation. Even with shipping issues which might alter these settings a little, at least the instrument would be somewhat playable and give the purchaser a better idea of what they are capable of.
I used to work at a Fender dealer and would unpack 20 guitars in a day at times. On a particularly slow day I decided to set up all the new guitars to Fender specs. I am not exagerating here- they ALL needed some adjustments- most more than others.Some actions were so high that the string would go under my fingernails when I bent them.
I'm not just dissing Fender here, I tried a brand new Music ManSterling at G.C. last week with a beautiful clear ash top. The action had to be at least 1/4 of an inch off the fingerboard- brand new- right out of the box! It was almost unplayable.(usually the Music Man basses are set up better than this, I will say.) My point is, even a quality company can let poorly set up instruments out. It would take a Fender factory employee just as long to set it up properly as it would a Guitar Center Employee to do so (assuming they knew how to do it.) Maybe Fender sells so many as is that they don't really care?

 

[spudmaster34]

but the fender instruments are changing humidity so much (from mexico, to wherever) that is of course going to change the set-up considerably, with that in mind, why bother? once they get to a gc, there isnt gonna be much change so they can do a decent set-up.

 

[Sound Chaser]

I've played 3 new instruments that were well set-up in all the time I've been going to music stores: a Ric 4003, a Warwick Corvette Proline 4, and a Warwick SSII 5.

 

[tplyons]

They do come from the factory set up. It's just a matter of all of the temperature/humidity changes incurred while shipping.

Fender can't avoid this.

 

[SamJ]

I just played a Warwick last week at a Sam Ash that had the strings 1/2" off the fretboard.. I had an easier time playing their double bass than this thing! So it's not limited to just Fender. Fender bares only this responsibility.. they need to demand that their authorized dealers properly represent their instruments by requiring instruments on display to have a good setup and fresh strings.. Otherwise yank their dealership.. it's that simple. This where Fender is slacking.

 

[honeyboy]

but the fender instruments are changing humidity so much (from mexico, to wherever) that is of course going to change the set-up considerably, with that in mind, why bother? once they get to a gc, there isnt gonna be much change so they can do a decent set-up.

I live in Phoenix and the climate here is just about the same as in Mexico,maybe just warmer in the summer. Musicman basses generally are better set up from the factory than Fenders, based on my observations.If they can do it, so can Fender.

 

[SamJ]

I live in Phoenix and the climate here is just about the same as in Mexico,maybe just warmer in the summer. Musicman basses generally are better set up from the factory than Fenders, based on my observations.If they can do it, so can Fender.

So do I (live in Phoenix), and the GC at Scottsdale has a bunch of EBMM's, I just played several only last week, all in bad need of a setup.

Temps and humidity change from corner to corner of the state of AZ, much less Mexico or Corona Ca to Phoenix.. Then you have the time it spends in transit in the back of a truck, or on a plane, followed by the environment of the particular store.. AC, swamp cooler, etc..

too many variables.. which is why the setup MUST be done at the final destination. Nobody expects a master luthier to spend 3 hours perfecting it, just a trusrod/bridge adjustment for pete's sake!

 

[Fretless5verfan]

They do come from the factory set up. It's just a matter of all of the temperature/humidity changes incurred while shipping.

Fender can't avoid this.

I hear this said a lot, but, as i've said before, why do the Yamahas, MMs, KSDs, etc. not have this prob as much? They're being shipped from just as far away if not farther...

 

[SamJ]

I hear this said a lot, but, as i've said before, why do the Yamahas, MMs, KSDs, etc. not have this prob as much? They're being shipped from just as far away if not farther...

but they do, we'll never put this one to bed though since for what ever reason the one's you've played have had good setups, and the ones I've played haven't.. such as this Warwick I mentioned above with the action 1/2" off the fretboard! It's universal that most GC's / Sam Ash have crappy setups on all basses, but especially bolt on neck models.

 

[Fretless5verfan]

but they do, we'll never put this one to bed though since for what ever reason the one's you've played have had good setups, and the ones I've played haven't.. such as this Warwick I mentioned above with the action 1/2" off the fretboard! It's universal that most GC's / Sam Ash have crappy setups on all basses, but especially bolt on neck models.

Maybe it's the philadelphia humidity. It might be more non-fender bass friendly than AZ. Or it could be the fact that GC's and Sam Ashes in your area treat all basses like crap

 

[SamJ]

Or it could be the fact that GC's and Sam Ashes in your area treat all basses like crap

I would buy that.

Here in SF (where I currently am), both Gelb Music, and Guitar Center had nicely set up Fender's and EBMM's.. I also played a super nice Sadowsky that was a trade in... NYC model.. quite nice, but $3500 "used" is a bit much for me.

 

[king_biscuit]

I live in the southeastern US and the EBMMs I pick up generally have way too much relief in the necks (read, really high action). So do Fenders btw. Its the difference in humidity between California and here and its affect on these poor necks

 

[tkarter]

Wooden instruments change daily no matter who made them or set them up. Understanding what you have in your hands and how it is setup is not only fun but rewarding if you wish to be happy with an instrument constructed of wood and steel.

tk

 

[honeyboy]

I live in the southeastern US and the EBMMs I pick up generally have way too much relief in the necks (read, really high action). So do Fenders btw. Its the difference in humidity between California and here and its affect on these poor necks

I'd expect that from the rubbery Carvin necks, but not the sturdy Fenders!

 

[king_biscuit]

I'd expect that from the rubbery Carvin necks, but not the sturdy Fenders!

Now that sounds like sarcasim Actually, the current Fender necks I have seen, and own, are quite stable once the initial adjustment sets in. EBMMs too.

 

[honeyboy]

Now that sounds like sarcasim Actually, the current Fender necks I have seen, and own, are quite stable once the initial adjustment sets in. EBMMs too.

Sorry,I couldn't help the sarcastic remark, after reading the Carvin neck and the custom Carvin threads.

 

[king_biscuit]

Sorry,I couldn't help the sarcastic remark, after reading the Carvin neck and the custom Carvin threads.

I'll have to read that tomorrow when I have time.

 

[Mystic Michael]

I live in the southeastern US and the EBMMs I pick up generally have way too much relief in the necks (read, really high action). So do Fenders btw. Its the difference in humidity between California and here and its affect on these poor necks

Actually, since high humidity tends to create a back bow - taking relief out of the neck set-up - if anything those necks ought to have lower action than when they left California. Maybe that means they had even higher action when they left the plant...

MM

 

[seansbrew]

As I am reading this I am thinking..." I have never purchased an instrument that was set up to play out of the box." (o.k,except for my Modulus) Some of my instruments were ordered and picked-up the day they arrived at the music store. Lakland 55-94, Warwick thumb, Musicman stringray, Fender p bass. None of these instruments were set up to play sweet. I am going to have to agree with those who think climate is the major facto (but not the only factor)r. When I received my 55-94, the fret wire was protruding from the edges of the fret board. The store owner said that all the Laklands he recieves during certain months of the year will have this condition.

 

[king_biscuit]

Actually, since high humidity tends to create a back bow - taking relief out of the neck set-up - if anything those necks ought to have lower action than when they left California. Maybe that means they had even higher action when they left the plant...

MM

Good point. I think it has more to do with the fact that the necks are not settled in before the basses leave the factory -- they probably play fine right before they go into the shipping boxes. The humidity is quite low here in the winter and plain oppressive in the summer, so it certainly has a tendency to tweak a new neck a bit, in both directions depending on the time of year. You are correct about the high humidity/heat creating backbow, though. I have to add relief to my basses in the summer and straighten the necks in the winter. The good news is that EB fretwork is generally so good that you can set the strings right down on the frets if you like with very little string buzz.