Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

[Gearjoneser]

This has been a nagging question of mine. Almost everytime I look at guitars on Ebay, I notice that there are guitars being sold that may be sold because they're completely outta whack!!! Let's face it, 50% of the guitars on the used market are sold by guys who can't play. How many times have you bought a guitar used, by a guy who seemed like a player, yet when you received the guitar, it had action like the Golden Gate Bridge, and needed a thorough intonation job? Are these people for real? Do these people buy $2000 guitars, mess them up, then say "this thing sucks!" and sell it because they think it can't stay in tune?? What a bunch of morons!!!!!!

Take a look at this guitar, and tell me why it may play like a turd, and not stay in tune?

 

[Mike M.]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd say the saddle lengths look a bit off.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

Exactomundo! Who owns a Fender Custom Shop Classic Player, then has all the saddles set wrong? Maybe I'm being critical, but would a normal person own a
$1500 strat, then sell it because they didn't want to pay $20 for an intonation job?
You see this type of stuff on 20% of the guitars in the used market w/pictures.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

I see it all the time...

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

I scored a barely used (2 months) 04 LP standard which has a very distinct open and clear tone (still strong tho) last November. Got it for $1000 because the guy wanted to sell it fast. I actually told him what the resale value would be, and that $1000.00 is a real good price. So I did not feel bad after the purchase.

Before setting it up I intended to sell it.

The basic problem was that the strings were real low. So that they could not rotate. I increased the gauge to 0.10-0.52's, did the nut, set it up properly. And it became a real good LP standard. I am not selling it anymore. Gotta let go of one of my other guitars, o/w my girlfriend is gonna kill me. :smack:

Here is a pic of it:

B

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

I think that's why I got my Paul for so cheap... (at GC)

Sky high action and still fretbuzz on the E string, but she was a player, I could tell F*cking resonant

A fret job later and I love her.

slade

 

[Curly]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

I agree ... I see it all the time, too. Especially on strats and teles.
Les Pauls are harder to read, but the first thing I'm doing this weekend is taking my new '57 Goldtop to my luthier to have him tweak the setup - basically just check the nut in order to avoid any tuning problems.

and, Doc - nice Standard!

I guess some of us were born to take in the poor "stray dogs" of the guitar world

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

Kind of the reason I sold an I-BEEN-HAD.....I could never get it just right & I hated that friggin' trem.

Aside from the Strat I have & now love, it's hardtails for me!!!!

 

[Docrock]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

Yes!
99.9% of the pawn shop guitars I see have the trem bridge lifted clean up off the body, what really cracks me up is when I want to try a amp and the salesman hands me one of those. "dude, that thing needs a setup!" then they look at me funny and try to tell me how awesome this guitar is. Or Ill ask for something with a fixed bridge so I can get it tuned. They look at me like I dont know how to tune a guitar......what a joke!
But yes, Ive bought many guitars from dillholes that kept cranking the tuners up then gave up cuz it sounded like crap.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

It's sad really. A lot of people don't realize that guitars need to be set up. They think you buy it and that's it. A friend of mine bought a strat like 5 years ago and it hasn't been set up once, not even an initial set up. It's in ****ty shape. I remember a guy returned a guitar to a local store because it was "broken". A string on the guitar broke. Apparently he thought the strings on the guitar were a permanent part of the instrument.

 

[Curly]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

I'm reminded of a saying:

"In knowledge there is power."

 

[Wattage]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

Yeah definitely people sell guitars because they can't get them set up right. When I was much younger I sold a really cool original Dean because no one I knew at the time could keep it in tune, damn!

Once you are in the know about them or have a good tech you are in far better shape. Like Curly says^^^

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

There also may be folks like myself that, for whatever reason, believe the next person that egst the guitar is going to do thier own setup to their own specs on it....so why should I bother?

I went through a sell-off period not too long ago. Every guitar had to have something donw to it; original ppickups put back into it, original string saddles re-installed, etc.

Why should I bother intonating it when i know that the first thing I do when I get a guitar, after I've verified it's in the stated condition, is field-strip the thing, clean it and set it up to my own specs?

I admit, I do see alot of guitars that play terribly because someone doesn't know how to do a setup on them, and it's kinda sad. After so many years of doing them I'm pretty much convinced that a chimp could be trained to do the same job.

 

[Thames]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

Yes. I agree 100% with you guys. I met many people with poorly setup'd guitars, and some of them were actually happy with them! (well, dont confused with different tastes/settings, Im talking about intonation, poorly cut nuts, etc.)

 

[lex666]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

learning to do a basic set up is not that hard... I taught myself how to do it..... seems pretty easy to me now that I have alot of guitars...

If someone else doesn't know how and wants to sell their sweet sweet LP to me for $1000, I'm ready, willing and able...

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

I actually semi "enjoy" setting up a guitar. Some trems though are a pain in the A$$ (see the above Ibanez comment!!!).......

All that said, it's actually really nice to get a guitar you just purchased, especially a private sale thru the mail, take it out of the box to find that someone set it up nicely & with new strings! Every guitar I've ever sold (except for the above mentioned Ibanez) has arrived at its' destination in ready to go playing shape. If anything, it just keeps the possibility for future head aches at a minimum!!!

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

:eyecrazy: :32: :eyecrazy: :32: :eyecrazy: :32:


Well Helloooo! :naughty:

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

Am I one of the only idiots that don't know anything about setting up a guitar? Is it easy to do? The whole truss rod thing kinda creeps me out because I don't want to mess up and have the neck bow. I don't have the slightest clue how to set up saddles on a guitar, honestly. I do know when they don't look right, but beyond that I'm clueless!

 

[Curly]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

There also may be folks like myself that, for whatever reason, believe the next person that egst the guitar is going to do thier own setup to their own specs on it....so why should I bother?

I agree. I've done a nice set up on a guitar I sold with 10's to have the person whine that they wanted 9's, though they didn't say so.
They frankly got too good of a deal to complain, but you know there are some types who have to whine about ANY deal.

he was a lawyer - go figure!

(no offense!)

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Do People Sell Guitars because they Can't Set Them Up Properly?

Am I one of the only idiots that don't know anything about setting up a guitar? Is it easy to do? The whole truss rod thing kinda creeps me out because I don't want to mess up and have the neck bow. I don't have the slightest clue how to set up saddles on a guitar, honestly. I do know when they don't look right, but beyond that I'm clueless!

It's easy man, don't let it frighten you off.
Pick up a copy of Dan Earlwine's How To Make Your Electric Guitar Pay Great and have fun!!