Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

[Diego]

My Ibanez will be ready on Tuesday.
First time that any of my electrics gets a pro setup!

A new bone nut, fret leveling and crowning, and a good cleaning/tightening of electronics and hardware.
And setup for 9-46 strings tuned to E.

There wasn't much wrong with it besides the nut, but still.
Should be as soft as butter to play, and as reliable as an old Labrador.

Any of you held on this and regret it after having a pro setup?
I think I will.

[St_Genesius]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

I've had mixed experiences with pro setups. Sometimes they're great and make the guitar feel and sound totally better than it did and other times I don't notice much difference at all and wonder why I didn't just do it myself, since I've got some knowledge and ability.

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

I do my own. I'm happy enough with set-ups, electrics, truss-rod adjustments and all the usual jazz, including fret levelling. Over time, I've acquired all the tools I need to do what I want to do. I'd not want to start any major surgery though (broken head-stock anyone?). I've only needed that once and I took it to someone who knew what they were doing.

I still haven't got round to doing the 513 though, it'll need its nut slots cutting a little, just like all guitars seem to need out of the box.

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

I've played on some guitars before and after a local "pro" set em up. I thought they play fantastically afterward. It should be worth your while.

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

I recently got my Sg set up by a pro and it plays completely different. A much better guitar.

I recommend it if you can find someone good.

[Crane]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

I don't trust anyone.
So - I attempted to bring in my 'clunker' to a real nice shop - and they told me they wouldn't get to it in 2 months. Plus he sounded like he didn't want to do it.
That was it. I do my own work.
But if I found a good tech. here in Pennsyltucky, I would bring them all in !

[BloodRose]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

I really need to be serviced by a pro....... I know ID feel better!! ooops, er, um... I meant my guitars would prob benefit from a pro set up too..

Diego, look forward to your review of the after

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

I'd love to,you buyin'?
Got no monies for set-ups,p/up swaps,nuthin...
(Blues in E)...

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

I only have a guitar center tech available- so I won't be doing that any time soon.

[BloodRose]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

I will say that there is a dude named Mikey at my local GC that I would trust.. He built up a poorly slotted nut in a hot Dean ML I had once.. Doubt he does refrets and such, but. There is another dude locally that I fully trust, but I dont think he does fretwork and stuff either. Chip from Chips Music..

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

What does me not taking it to a pro have to do with being lazy? I would say most people who dont take their stuff to a pro either dont cause they do it themselves or they dont want to spend the cash. I'm sorta both. Unless I have a guitar that I cant get to set up right I dont see the need to spend the money. Im like most in that ive had mixed results with "pro" set ups.

[Aceman]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

Don't be lazy - go buy the GP Repair guide (Erlwine) and learn to do it yourself.

ONLY you can make it perfect for you. It will be cheaper, and it will be better.

NO ONE but you will take the time to tweek it to perfection. A tech can only tweek it to a spec and then you get it back. To really set it up takes: adjust height, play, adjust trust, play, adjust intonation, play, adjust height, play, tweek pickup, play adjust height, play, retweek truss, play, etc...

No tech will do this whole back and forth deal with you. and that's the only way to really get it right.

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

^^^ and thats what ive found. The techs idea of "perfect" wasnt my idea of perfect

[Diego]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

Don't be lazy - go buy the GP Repair guide (Erlwine) and learn to do it yourself.

ONLY you can make it perfect for you. It will be cheaper, and it will be better.

NO ONE but you will take the time to tweek it to perfection. A tech can only tweek it to a spec and then you get it back. To really set it up takes: adjust height, play, adjust trust, play, adjust intonation, play, adjust height, play, tweek pickup, play adjust height, play, retweek truss, play, etc...

No tech will do this whole back and forth deal with you. and that's the only way to really get it right.

Believe it or not, this tech will do exactly that!
He told me "Come here on Tuesday, check my setup and if you want them lower or higher or a different neck relief, I'll do it for free".
I did tell him to keep a similar string action, he wrote everything down so...

The guy's terrific and enormously popular in the local guitar world.
And he's the nicest guy I've ever met as well.

I normally adjust everything by myself, but I don't know how to fix frets.

We'll see how it goes but I'm confident.

And Edgecrusher, don't be sensitive it's just an expression you know. No attack intended.

[baritone]

Re: Don't be lazy, take that poor guitar to a tech!

I got my Squier set up at Ed Roman's many years ago, and it came back perfect. I took my Epiphone to a funky place called Cowtown (awesome guitar shop, actually), and the guy did a sloppy job on my graphite nut. Since then, I've been doing my own setups, and I've been getting more of what I want. I'm sure I have a long way to go, and I am considering getting my hands on on of the Erlewine books.