Guitar Setup

[daluyon]

I never had a guitar setup professionally but I'm planning to send my new Epi Les Paul to a guitar tech. The action is a bit too high for my liking. I can specifically ask the tech to lower it a bit. However, I'm curious if there are other requests for the tech that I should add. Can I just tell the tech to do a setup and he'll figure out what needs to be done?

[gbdweller]

A good luthier will ask you what type of music you play, ask you to play for a minute or two while he watches, and then adjust your guitar accordingly.

[dwarf]

I got ripped off by a tech. I could play slide with the way he set my ltd up

[goldtopchas]

I second that... A good set up should be done AFTER he finds out what type of music you play, and how hard you attack the strings.make sure and provide him with the guage and brand of strings you use. As well as what tuning you use( standard or drop "D" or whatever).
Try to find someone by word of mouth. Don't assume you'll get good work done at some of the "big" stores. They mostly sublet it out to private individuals. It's better to deal with the person who is actually going to do the work on it.

[cowboyj]

X2

In my experience, it is better to talk with the actual person doing the work. If you're lucky, you'll get someone who will let you watch and explain to you what they are doing. This is partially how I learned to do my own guitar setups.

Actually, the guitar I learned on was an Epi LP, about 12 years ago. See if you can get the tech to let you watch, LP's are fairly easy to learn on (Just be sure you know what you're doing before you do it, etc. etc.)...

Jason

[oh_the_blood]

i think my tele needs a tune up too.

where are you getting yours done? at like a local music store?

and how much is it gonna cost?

[Light]

The main thing we need to know is what problems you have been having. Things like buzzing in particular areas, action too high, fretting out durring bends, intontation problems and other things like that. Also important, though less so than some would think, is your particular style of music. For far greater importance is how YOU play. Are you particularly agresive, or do you have a light touch. Do you do a lot of heavy struming, or are you a fingerstyle player. Are you playing heavily distored, or as clean as can be. Are you more concerned about the ability to bend, do you use a lot of deep vibrato, or are you a speed demon.

Also, it should never be a situation where you come in and get it set up, and then it's done. MOST of the time, we get it right the first time. But you should ALWAYS have the ability to come back for a touch up as part of the deal. Remember, for most people a good setup is a very fine balancing act between having the action high enough to keep from buzzing, and having it low enough to be comfortable to play. Even the best repair people sometimes go too far one way or the other. Our rule is simple, if it isn't right for any reason, bring it back within a resonable time frame. If you come back in a week or two, maybe even a month (depending on time of year and such), we'll take care of it. Come back in a year saying it was never right, and you're out of luck, but then that should be obvious.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[Dani Pace]

Whenever I do a set up I always tell people to play it for a couple of weeks then give me a call, if there is still a problem I fix it at no additional charge, if it is right and they are happy I like to know that too. A good tech can do a basic set up in a fairly short period of time (less than an hour in most cases) even with you watching and asking questions, and should point out any other problems you might have, if it has another problem you should be told BEFORE any additional work is done.

[daluyon]

How much is the average cost for this or what should I expect? I live in the east coast (Georgia). I'm planning to take it to a local repair shop. It's not a store but I think it's more of a school.

Thanks everyone!