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Too much?

Soundchaser11460

Soundchaser11460

Feb 8, 2005
767
205
65
Audubon Park
#1
Guys I just got a brand new bass,and took it to my guitar tech.He said it needed a little setup,and it would be $55.Does this sound like a lot to anyone besides me? Actually I kind of thought the bass would have been set up from the company.Hmm silly me.Thanks ahead of time.:hmm:
 
#3
That's not too bad of a price. I've got a guy that does it for $35 (not including strings). He'll make sure the frets are all good, oil the fretboard, adjust the truss rod, string height, and intonation. It's up to you what you want to do. I've tried working with my stuff in the past and just end up getting frustrated. It's worth it to me to take it and drop it off for a couple hours and not have to deal with the stress. $55 isn't outrageous though.
 
#9
Had a friend that charged $25 just to change strings when he worked at a music store. I told him that was a lot. He said, yes, but for $25 he will teach you how to change strings and do a basic setup (saddle height, intonation, truss). If you paid him more than once, then that was your choice.
 
#10
Michael Henson said:
That's not too bad of a price. I've got a guy that does it for $35 (not including strings). He'll make sure the frets are all good, oil the fretboard, adjust the truss rod, string height, and intonation.
Click to expand...

$35 is a great deal for all that no matter where you live. I don't know where the OP lives but if it's a major metropolitan area then $55 is probably fair. If it's a decent bass and the player takes care of it, you really don't need to have it setup very often. Even if you change strings a lot (unless you change the gauge, which may affect the intonation). Getting the intonation right is especially important... nothing worse than rocking out in the lower registers and then you go up high to do something and it's way flat or sharp.

I do agree this should have been done at no-charge by the retailer before the OP took it home, though.
 
#11
Thanks for the input guys. Jaywa this is kind of what I thought too.I got the bass brand new on line through a reputable dealer,so I naturally thought before it left the store,it would have been set up and ready to go.I realize everyone has a different idea of string height according to taste,but I assumed everthing else would have been their responsibility? Thanks again.
 
#12
Not to sound weird but fwiw Cruz Tools sells a great set up tool with everything you need. And if you setup up your bass 2x a year it has already paid for itself. Plus you get to set up a bass to your particular preference. fWIW.
 
#16
Soundchaser11460 said:
Guys I just got a brand new bass,and took it to my guitar tech.He said it needed a little setup,and it would be $55.Does this sound like a lot to anyone besides me? Actually I kind of thought the bass would have been set up from the company.Hmm silly me.Thanks ahead of time.:meh:
Click to expand...

Hey Soundchaser

What you also have to realize is that - the instrument may have had the perfect setup when it left the factory but there are many circumstances that can affect the set up along the way. The bass could have been stored in a warehouse for a time - whether at the manufacturer or at the dealer - and temperature, humidity and climate changes in general can have an effect on the action, intonation and playability - and can even effect the frets, creating sharp edges where there previously were none.

Shipping a good long ways to a local dealer can take the instrument though several different time zones and climate changes even if it hasn't been warehoused for long. If it sits in the back of a truck for a good while on it's way to retail - or is transported via air freight - both could easily have an effect on the set up you see coming out of the box. Sometimes, if the store sets it up right away - before the wood has a chance to settle in and adapt to the local climate - the set up can change once again - at least until the wood settles in.

Sometimes you get lucky and pull one out of the box and it is heaven. Even the stellar setups I have gotten from Sweetwater needed some tweaking after a few days - once the bass adapted to the New York climate, things changed a bit - at least for me.

YMMV

BassHappy
 
#19
ImageUploadedByTalkBass1413943188.415259.jpg



Musicman Bongo club #175
 
#20
I get a free setup with every new bass and guitar I buy, when the existing strings need replacing. I just pay for strings. usually they charge $70 but he will do any of mine for $35 after the free one. He dresses the frets,tweaks the truss rod if needed,oils the fretboard,checks the action, polishes the whole bass. Pretty good value IMHO. I'll probably take each instrument to him once a year or so. Once the action is nice and low,I don't need to tweak it at all.
 

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