What do you expect from a pro setup?

[larsjr]

What do you expect from a pro setup?

 

[mcmurray]

Nut slots cut correctly, neck relief set, bridge height set, strings centered in saddles, and a bloody good tune/intonation. All very easy to set from the factory, I don't know why Gibson still can not do it. All Les Pauls I've seen have rediculously high nut slots - inexcusable imho though they're not the only manufacturers that ship guitars with dodgy setups.

What do you expect from a pro setup larsjr?

 

[Webtroll]

Not only do I want my slots cut for low action, but I do a bit of bending on both sides to check for binding. If the guitar won't stay in tune after a bend the action alone isn't enough to call it a decent setup.

 

[dspelman]

It depends. At the top end (around $200), Gary Brawer just finished setting up a brand new Agile LP for me. The frets were superglued, leveled (on the PLEK) and crowned/polished and the Floyd nut and bridge were adjusted for correct height and for the correct radius (16" on that guitar) for very low action with 9's, and the guitar was intonated.

I don't bother with a "pro" setup unless I know that the nut or frets need work or that there's something else amiss with the guitar. I usually set up my own guitars, and I've done that for decades. But I'll often have new guitars gone through by a good tech, if for no other reason than to spot potential problems early on and to have a really good baseline setup to start with.

An 18" straightedge and a 4" straightedge are useful for finding low/high frets. Often a leather or rubber mallet will put high frets back in place and that's all that's needed. If you can afford a fret press (StewMac has them for individual frets), that's probably a better tool. I usually need to start with level frets with all the strings off the guitar (yup!) and the truss rod in a neutral position (if it's a double action). Once all the frets are known level, you can inspect them for wear and then polish them up a bit. I'll occasionally give them a once-over with a crowning file, but if there's real fret work to be done, I'll hand that off to the tech. That's usually above and beyond "setup," as is cutting the nut.

It's a good idea to have a set of understring radius gauges -- your bridge and nut should follow the radius of the fretboard. When you're setting up the bridge to set the action height, these come in pretty handy for doing the initial saddle heights. If you like your bass strings a bit farther off the frets than the treble, then you can simply raise the bass side of the entire bridge.

It's a good idea to inspect bridge saddles for burrs when the strings are off as well.

An accurate action gauge helps, here, to set your action consistently. I've also got a set of feeler gauges that allow me to set the relief (truss rod adjustment) where I like it.

I'd consider all of the above (including a re-string) part of a pro setup. Some pros leave the frets as is (no polishing) and almost all will consider anything beyond a mild fret re-seating an extra charge.

Honestly, I'd suggest that you get a copy of "How to make your electric guitar play great" by Dan Erlewine ($14 at Amazon). Best investment you can make in your guitar. Second best investment would be a set of basic tools. These, from StewMac, run about $86 (and you'll need a few other things as well):

I think these are pricey, but will be paid for if you can do most of your own routine setups rather than hauling the guitar to a tech who may or may not do a good job.

 

[larsjr]

Great stuff! I have the book! Thanks alot

 

[dspelman]

Nut slots cut correctly, neck relief set, bridge height set, strings centered in saddles, and a bloody good tune/intonation. All very easy to set from the factory, I don't know why Gibson still can not do it. All Les Pauls I've seen have rediculously high nut slots - inexcusable imho though they're not the only manufacturers that ship guitars with dodgy setups.

It's rare to find guitars that have been set up decently from the factory. Schecters supposedly get set up in California on their way to the dealers from the offshore manufacturers. Carvins usually arrive direct from the factory in tune with a ridiculously good setup. But they're factory direct, and that makes a big difference. Gibsons often arrive as a sort of a "kit" -- they need a major setup before they're really playable (though their marketing people consistently suggest that you get better tone with a higher-than-you'd-think action height). As you note, nuts are sometimes barely cut. And they hang on a wall in a sometimes very dry environment (air conditioned store) for months and even years before they're sold. That's why it's difficult for me to understand the whole business of insisting that you "play the guitar before buying" to find the one that "sings to you." Most of the time the only one that's really playable is the one that some employee has half-heartedly set up so that he could demo it or play it himself. Even the ones that were PLEK'd before leaving the factory sometimes need to be re-PLEK'd and set up properly before they're really where you want them. I personally think that anyone buying one of these guitars should expect to budget as much as $200 beyond the purchase price for a really good initial setup. But with the caution that most dealers can't provide that level of service...

 

[larsjr]

It's rare to find guitars that have been set up decently from the factory. Schecters supposedly get set up in California on their way to the dealers from the offshore manufacturers. Carvins usually arrive direct from the factory in tune with a ridiculously good setup. But they're factory direct, and that makes a big difference. Gibsons often arrive as a sort of a "kit" -- they need a major setup before they're really playable (though their marketing people consistently suggest that you get better tone with a higher-than-you'd-think action height). As you note, nuts are sometimes barely cut. And they hang on a wall in a sometimes very dry environment (air conditioned store) for months and even years before they're sold. That's why it's difficult for me to understand the whole business of insisting that you "play the guitar before buying" to find the one that "sings to you." Most of the time the only one that's really playable is the one that some employee has half-heartedly set up so that he could demo it or play it himself. Even the ones that were PLEK'd before leaving the factory sometimes need to be re-PLEK'd and set up properly before they're really where you want them. I personally think that anyone buying one of these guitars should expect to budget as much as $200 beyond the purchase price for a really good initial setup. But with the caution that most dealers can't provide that level of service...

I agree with what you are saying about that most guitars need a set up for them to play their best, but imho i do think that you could still find a guitar that "sings to you" without having a pro setup done one it! its about seeing the guitars potential. I for instance have a major issue with strings that are thinner then 0.11, but i can still look through that when i try it out at the store! being a do-it-myselfer i change nuts and do fretwork and stuff to all the guitars i buy. I recently bought a usa les paul jr and that was a real crap guitar until i did some work on it, but i was able to see through the whole "bad nut, sloppy fretwork, thin strings, too low action" thing when i played it at the store. It just had a vibe. really resonant. and felt good in my hands. i've modded the crap out of it and now it plays to its potential. Ive tried alot of other non-customshop juniors, but they just dont have the same vibe.

 

[Mr Insane]

Me thinking "Holy Crap this is so much better."

 

[Yaff]

Gibsons often arrive as a sort of a "kit" -- they need a major setup before they're really playable (though their marketing people consistently suggest that you get better tone with a higher-than-you'd-think action height).

Although the action on my new Gibson Les Paul is higher than my Strat (I had a pro set up on the Strat, including lowering the action), it sounds and feels fantastic.

My dilemma is, will a pro setup and lowering the action resulting in killing the tone or feel I fell in love with? I know lower action equals easier playability, but not sure at what cost.

I suppose the only way to find out is to give it a go. Apart from some nut work (6th string sitting high, but plays OK) and possibly a lower action, I think my setup is pretty good.

 

[dspelman]

My dilemma is, will a pro setup and lowering the action resulting in killing the tone or feel I fell in love with? I know lower action equals easier playability, but not sure at what cost.

I suppose the only way to find out is to give it a go. Apart from some nut work (6th string sitting high, but plays OK) and possibly a lower action, I think my setup is pretty good.

That's really tough -- it depends so much on your playing style. Obviously if you're a "digger-inner" or a flailer, a high action is probably better for you. I like action just above the point where a stiff breeze will fret the note for you, and I have a light touch.

 

[dspelman]

I agree with what you are saying about that most guitars need a set up for them to play their best, but imho i do think that you could still find a guitar that "sings to you" without having a pro setup done one it! its about seeing the guitars potential.

That's absolutely true, and in my experience, you're the exceptional guitar buyer, not the norm.

So here's a question -- if you're a good do-it-yourselfer with guitars, mind if I'm asking why you were inquiring what everyone looks for in a pro setup? Are you considering doing it for others?

 

[AXE]

What do you expect from a pro setup?

A happy ending...:

 

[BCRGreg]

As a Schecter dealer, I am constantly amazed at how well set up the guitars are when they arrive. Breedlove, Robin, Nik Huber, US Masters and Takamine also send us PERFECTLY set up guitars. That little bit of attention is worth it.

In our shop, a "basic setup" consists of

-restring
-oil fretboard(when applicable)
-polish frets
-clean electronics
-clean up nut slots and saddle slots
-tighten 10mm tuner bolts on peghead(nobody has ever brought in a guitar with them tight the first time we saw their guitar)
-set intonation/action,bridge radius
-wipedown and polish
-vacuum out case

$50 + strings.


We do a LOT of these.

 

[larsjr]

That's absolutely true, and in my experience, you're the exceptional guitar buyer, not the norm.

So here's a question -- if you're a good do-it-yourselfer with guitars, mind if I'm asking why you were inquiring what everyone looks for in a pro setup? Are you considering doing it for others?

I might do it for some of my friends and see where that takes me
I'm just wondering what they charge you for when you take you guitar to a professional shop

 

[larsjr]

As a Schecter dealer, I am constantly amazed at how well set up the guitars are when they arrive. Breedlove, Robin, Nik Huber, US Masters and Takamine also send us PERFECTLY set up guitars. That little bit of attention is worth it.

In our shop, a "basic setup" consists of

-restring
-oil fretboard(when applicable)
-polish frets
-clean electronics
-clean up nut slots and saddle slots
-tighten 10mm tuner bolts on peghead(nobody has ever brought in a guitar with them tight the first time we saw their guitar)
-set intonation/action,bridge radius
-wipedown and polish
-vacuum out case

$50 + strings.


We do a LOT of these.

Nice! so thats the basic set up... What about a pro setup?! I know dan erlewine offers something he calls a deluxe setup! any idea what that sort of setup might include?

Thanks alot for replying

 

[livingonaRock]

Nut slots cut correctly, neck relief set, bridge height set, strings centered in saddles, and a bloody good tune/intonation. All very easy to set from the factory, I don't know why Gibson still can not do it. All Les Pauls I've seen have rediculously high nut slots - inexcusable imho though they're not the only manufacturers that ship guitars with dodgy setups.

What do you expect from a pro setup larsjr?

I agree...they say quality this quality that but they can't even get the setup how it should be from the beginning...if that's the case they should be selling the guitars for 20% or so off...I still love my Les Paul very much though XD

 

[livingonaRock]

As a Schecter dealer, I am constantly amazed at how well set up the guitars are when they arrive. Breedlove, Robin, Nik Huber, US Masters and Takamine also send us PERFECTLY set up guitars. That little bit of attention is worth it.

In our shop, a "basic setup" consists of

-restring
-oil fretboard(when applicable)
-polish frets
-clean electronics
-clean up nut slots and saddle slots
-tighten 10mm tuner bolts on peghead(nobody has ever brought in a guitar with them tight the first time we saw their guitar)
-set intonation/action,bridge radius
-wipedown and polish
-vacuum out case

$50 + strings.


We do a LOT of these.

darn, I wish we had a Schecter dealer in Oahu...

 

[BCRGreg]

darn, I wish we had a Schecter dealer in Oahu...

I ship.

 

[dennistruckdriver]

....In our shop, a "basic setup" consists of....We do a LOT of these.

That's a good price!

 

[Jason]

I still need to find a good tech. Last guy I took a guitar to charged me $70, and I'm pretty sure all he did was adjust the trussrod, oil the board, and polish the frets. The buzzing on my low E was still there, much better but still there. And this guy actually is a certified luthier...