Would you have your guitar set up at a major chain or a local guitar shop?

[Phantasmagoria]

No major chains here ..so local shop

Most locals sops have 3-4 outlets in different major cities, does that make them chains? Maybe?

I will say that they all have pretty competent folk setting up their guitars.. The last two guitars I bought had awesome setup's..

I usually set up all my guitars myself (and they play like butter/sound awesome). But these dudes did an even better job than I could have done..

[GuitarDoc]

I wish I had the patience/tools/experience/space to perfect this. Unfortunately I find measuring and cutting to exact sizes with very little margin for error to be something of a tedious process.

Also it's a bit like trying to onshore electronics production again after decades of offshoring. Hard to get that going when it's so much cheaper to import.

I completely understand custom guitar prices being what they are from a labor standpoint of a handmade instrument. Most labor costs are beyond any worker's control. And a high price for a custom instrument makes sense if that is one's only guitar.

But when it comes to mass production, a Corolla gets you from point A to B just as much as a Lamborghini. Maybe not in the style one would like, but it does.

Also, I feel like for angular/pointy/aggressive shapes, that tends to be a thing that is very Japanese domestic market oriented. I feel like Stateside luthiers have their CnC machines programmed/tooled for Strats and LPs largely and don't want to change that.

Doing complex shapes with CnC machines, power tools, and other dedicated equipment must be hard enough.

My guess is doing a pointy guitar by carving it by hand would be a seriously tedious process requiring precise measurement of difficult angles and many long hours.

Yes, it takes a lot of patience and the right tools for the job, but it's not beyond the "ability" of most people. I totally get it that it's not for everyone, however. But the very basic stuff should be doable by just about everyone.

I don't use any CNC machines, but I make all of my templates by hand and use a router to cut the outer shapes as well as the inner chambering, neck pocket, and pickup holes, neck shape, and truss rod groove.

Everything still has to be final-shaped, formed, and sanded by hand (it's impossible to rout a guitar, even using a template, and get a perfectly smooth shape).

[Phantasmagoria]

^^^

[Inflames626]

^^^

I can assemble the box and tube. But I'll probably need to take it to a specialist to apply the wrapping.

[Mincer]

I do recommend spending money on 'How To Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great' and a few simple tools, rather than going to GC or SA.