Setup Not 1st Priority In All Cases

[NovaSDF]

I've read a number of suggestions on here that a pro setup should be your #1 priority - and in many cases I think your right but not always.

When I bought my Epi Les Paul, it was with the intention of turning it from what it was into what I really wanted. I bought the Goth model because I loved the way it looked overall as the basis for a project - but knew I would want to swap out a lot of the parts - pickups, pots, bridge, tuners and so forth. Cosmetic changes as well as hardware.

I agree that a pro setup is a crucial step, but for me it make a lot more sense to put that at the end rather than the beginning of the process. I couldn't see the wisdom in paying for a pro setup just to swap things around after. To me, it makes more sense to build it the way I envision it, and then as a final step drop it off at a very reputable Luthier for a pro setup and final tweaking.

The guitar isn't perfect, but it is playable in the meantime. I've adjusted the action and intonation, thanks to articles on here and the internet as a guide. Didn't have to pay anyone a nickle to work on it so far - and I have zero experience with guitars. The instrument is vastly improved from when I bought it from a kid in a dark alley for $200, and the pro setup will be the cherry on top.

So I think it really depends on your vision. If you basically are satisfied with all the hardware on the guitar and the only issue is maximum playability, then a pro setup is the next step. If you are planning on changing up a lot of the guitar - I think that logically the setup should be the final step once you are happy with the overall instrument, particularly the hardware.

Apples and oranges - just my experience.

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

If you can set it up yourself, then a pro setup certainly is not needed.

 

[smorgdonkey]

I completely disagree with the pro set-up if you have the ability to straighten a neck with the truss rod, set action and set intonation. These three things are the simplest of 'guitar tech' adjustments and should ben learned as soon as one is comfortable changing one's own strings.

After you are comfortable doing those 3 things you'll likely never get a pro set-up again and you'll actually have a hard time getting a pro to set it up better FOR YOU than you can do yourself.

I've had plenty of pro set-ups and most very very good, some were excellent but I haven't had one in many years now. I have had many guitars come through my home and rarely are they even set up half decent when they come to me - they always leave set up very well and the ones that stay are set up very well.

 

[michaelinokc]

I would imagine most of us buy guitars we expect to be happy with. I know I do. Therefore a pro setup is my number one priority because I'm not buying projects.

 

[capt_goodvibes]

I bought it from a kid in a dark alley for $200.

Just hope it wasnt stolen cause that would suck big time

 

[zontar]

I don't think anybody who seriously suggests/recommends a set up would say to do one if you're going to do a bunch of mods--the set up comes after that, sure.

that's why my LP copy didn't get one until after I got the new pickups and the nut was adjusted

 

[NovaSDF]

Just hope it wasnt stolen cause that would suck big time

No worries - I was exaggerating a bit.

I found it listed on Criag's List for $200. The Epi LP Goth used normally sell for around $350, so it was a good deal but not stolen. He seemed like a decent kid, and we met outside his house. It was dark out, however, so I did buy it relatively sight-unseen.

He had claimed it had a Floyd Rose - which it didn't. He claimed it was near mint - it wasn't. There was a small ding in the headstock that I didn't notice in the dark, but mostly toward the back. He had also covered it with Marilyn Manson stickers on the back and on the fretboard, which I spent hours tenderly and gently removing. Go figure - kids and their damn stickers

He also said it had barely been played - which I think was true.

I was a little put off by his exaggerating the condition, but since I'd driven all the way across LA to see it in my 70's Trans Am that gets 7.5 miles to the gallon and since he only wanted $200 for it - I bought it.

The overall guitar was in good shape. Neck is nice and straight. Everything worked.

I had really wanted a project, and had a specific vision in mind. Using the Epi Goth as the base, I had a custom metal pickguard made by a friend in Germany who does awesome work. She cuts everything by hand and it's a one-of spiderweb design. Shopping around, I found some really cool Goth pickup rings and a cool little goth ring to replace the cheesy one Gibson uses on the pickup selector switch. I also wanted to completely black out the pickups, which is what drew me to the X2N design.

Putting in the new pickups, I decided it was easier to replace the volume pots as well and went with Gibson's own brand, since that's all they had at the local Guitar Center on a Sunday night. Eventually, I want to do a complete rewire, maybe with one of Jonsey's setups.

Wasn't happy with the bridge so I swapped it out with a Tonepros (Nashville style.) Have ordered some locking tuners for it that should be in the post by first of the week (since the Grovers on it feel very crude, particularly the low E string - almost like grinding sand inside it.)

When I first bought it, I knew nothing about guitars other than how to strum a few chords. Part of the reason I bought a cheap Epi was that I wouldn't be afraid to tear into it. If I had paid $1,000 or more for a Gibson, I would be afraid to touch it - whereas my beat-up $200 Epi made me feel safe with a soldering iron.

So far, I've invested about $325 in parts into the original $200 used guitar. (Would have been another $120 if I had used actual DiMarzio pickups, but I ordered the Dragonfire clones off Ebay for $40 total. Figured at $20 a pickup I wouldn't be out too much if I didn't like them. They actually turned out to be fairly decent pickups, especially for $20 a piece - and the point of the exercise was to learn to install pickups. I can always swap them out with brand name again later if I want.)

I also had to invest about $100 - $150 in tools and supplies (Soldering iron and such.) I see this as an investment, because now I have the tools to use in the future.

If the kid could see his old Epi Goth LP now, I have no doubt he would cry and want it back. For less than $600 - I've got a pretty sweet guitar that a lot of my professional guitar player friends love to pick up. One even went so far as to say he wouldn't hesitate to record with it - which was quite a compliment. (Of course, he also asked if he could borrow it to play gigs around Halloween!)

I'll try and find a cool place to take a couple of photos of it and post them in the next week or two.

I totally agree - however, that you can pay someone to do a setup or learn to do it yourself. Best thing is to buy a cheap guitar and have at it. Nothing like learning hands-on, and you won't risk much. Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day, teach him to fish....

I also think it's great if you tend to buy guitars that are already exactly the way you like, but guitars are much like classic cars. Some of us like them stock, and some like to customize. Either way - I think the setup is the last step to take once you are absolutely happy with everything about the guitar - particularly the hardware like the bridge and pickups. Otherwise it's a bit like painting your car and then doing the bodywork.

 

[axepilot]

I buy my guitars on the premise that they will need a setup. I do it myself.