Shop guys! setups: the extra touches?

[slowmotion]

Hey guys

So I'm doing more and more setups on guitars. There's also several places that'll do the same in my area for roughly the same dollars. I want to stand out from the rest, and so, my question is: how do you go "the extra mile"? Is there something you do as part of your standard setup that others might not (that you're willing to share?)

For my setups, currently, after checking what the clients needs and wants, I do the normal relief, action @ bridge and nut, intonation, electronics check and clean, fretboard clean, frets polished, body cleaned, tuners lubed, bridge cleaned, new strings fitted, strap buttons secured, all screws checked blah blah - what I'd consider "the basics". But I don't want to JUST do the basics, I want to provide a service that stands out. So I also do a couple of extra little things, like vacuuming out/deodorizing cases, or adding a touch of low strength locktite to output jacks. Of course I also provide a checklist and receipt of all the work performed. I also do follow up calls after a couple of days to ensure everything is still cool. But is there anything else I could do?

For the guys who don't actually DO the setups but get them done, what's the difference between a good experience and a bad one?

 

[Victory Pete]

Hey guys

So I'm doing more and more setups on guitars. There's also several places that'll do the same in my area for roughly the same dollars. I want to stand out from the rest, and so, my question is: how do you go "the extra mile"? Is there something you do as part of your standard setup that others might not (that you're willing to share?)

For my setups, currently, after checking what the clients needs and wants, I do the normal relief, action @ bridge and nut, intonation, electronics check and clean, fretboard clean, frets polished, body cleaned, tuners lubed, bridge cleaned, new strings fitted, strap buttons secured, all screws checked blah blah - what I'd consider "the basics". But I don't want to JUST do the basics, I want to provide a service that stands out. So I also do a couple of extra little things, like vacuuming out/deodorizing cases, or adding a touch of low strength locktite to output jacks. Of course I also provide a checklist and receipt of all the work performed. I also do follow up calls after a couple of days to ensure everything is still cool. But is there anything else I could do?

For the guys who don't actually DO the setups but get them done, what's the difference between a good experience and a bad one?

That seems like a really good service you provide already. I like to set the pickup balance and polepiece height. A guitar that has its pickups balanced has a great smooth, balanced, sound.
VP

 

[muttley600]

Dude, just do what you say you will do when you say you'll do it by. Do it well and communicate effectively and be honest. Those are the main things that folks look for in any service.

 

[slowmotion]

Dude, just do what you say you will do when you say you'll do it by. Do it well and communicate effectively and be honest. Those are the main things that folks look for in any service.

Amazing that "being honest" and "do what you say you'll do" makes the list these days. I don't have any problems telling the truth about things and I'm happy to acknowledge when I can't do a job (lying is also far too difficult).

I was thinking more along the lines of putting one of those toilet seat sashes you get in motels that say "sanitized for your freshness" onto each guitar I finish.

 

[muttley600]

Amazing that "being honest" and "do what you say you'll do" makes the list these days. I don't have any problems telling the truth about things and I'm happy to acknowledge when I can't do a job (lying is also far too difficult).

I was thinking more along the lines of putting one of those toilet seat sashes you get in motels that say "sanitized for your freshness" onto each guitar I finish.

Seriously mate it takes time and effort to build up a sound business doing this stuff. There are no extras required just hard work and honesty when dealing with people. Most of your work will end up being repeat custom and recommendation based on the quality of the work you do. I would focus on that.

Good luck with it I hope it works out for you it's a very rewarding job.

 

[TelePaul]

As Muttley said, excellent customer service will add non-economic value to your business proposition. How about a follow-up courtesy call a week after the set-up? It's a good way of pitching for new business too.

 

[dervish riff]

I'd be hesitant to do much beyond doing a proper setup. Cleaning cases, etc. will scare off what little mojo the average player has .

 

[Slowrider]

Yep, just stay upfront and honest with your customers, and there's no need to advertise.

Word gets around fast.

 

[daav]

The honesty and fairness advice is spot on. My bro in law has a pretty nice Gibson acoustic that hadn't been touched in years, whenever i was over and picked it up, it was just painful to play. I suggested to my sis in law that she should get him a set up for his birthday and recommended someone i knew in town. She ended up talking to some other yahoo who fed her a bunch of bullshit about how the guitar was in terrible shape, the bridge was about to rip off the soundboard, and he needed to do a repair with some secondary bracing. The whole thing would cost over $500 and she needed to say ok NOW and let him get started right away or doom would ensue. All the while he kept telling her how much my bro in law would appreciate what she was doing for him, the guitar would be better than when new and he would prioritize her over all these other pros that he does work for all the time.

Luckily she backed away slowly, went to the guy i recommended who did a very standard setup, verified there was no structural issues with the guitar and now the thing plays nicely again. The first guy gets bad press from me every chance i get.

Daav

 

[slowmotion]

Honestly, I got started because I play guitar and I was sick of being lied to, sick of getting a "setup" that included bullshit and upselling for no reason, sick of having to get the same "setups" fixed properly. I learned on my own guitars and gathered tools along the years and would encourage everyone to do the same.

Running any sort of business with a dishonest or arrogant approach just doesn't work. I know. My day job is working in change management for a telco.

Dollars aren't the motivation behind my business at all. I get a huge kick out of saving a guitar that is on the verge of being thrown out. I'd sooner show someone how to do their own setup than take their money, but a lot of people just don't want to know. They just want their stuff fixed.

I know there's a lot of people around that use their "knowledge" to trick people into shelling out extra cash for needless rubbish. Believe me, my customers don't have the extra cash, they play in bands, and talk to each other.

I do find it interesting that the common reply here is a desire for honesty. There really must be a lot of dishonest pricks out there. I was kinda more expecting "I'd like a free polishing cloth" or "I'd like a free beer while I wait" hahaha.

(Oh and I'll continue vacuuming dirt and rocks out of peoples cases and removing sticky patches on guitars, mojo be damned ).

 

[chamelious]

What about offering a maintenance contract? Maybe make 6 months appointments for reduced cost, would the shortened time intervals give you less work to do and make this worthwhile?

 

[Wish]

Throw some candy in the accessory compartment of the guitar case like Sweetwater does with their packages!

 

[slowmotion]

What about offering a maintenance contract? Maybe make 6 months appointments for reduced cost, would the shortened time intervals give you less work to do and make this worthwhile?

Seriously: I love it! I know a lot of people don't get a setup done until it's nearly unplayable. I will give this a bit of thinking over but I really appreciate the idea and will very likely implement it in some form. Even just to get people thinking that setups aren't a once off. Cheers!

Throw some candy in the accessory compartment of the guitar case like Sweetwater does with their packages!

Free candy! Now you're talkin. Except, knowing my luck, it'd melt and make a bigger mess hahaha. I think there's a place around town that makes custom hard rock candy. That'd be cool.

 

[chamelious]

Seriously: I love it! I know a lot of people don't get a setup done until it's nearly unplayable. I will give this a bit of thinking over but I really appreciate the idea and will very likely implement it in some form. Even just to get people thinking that setups aren't a once off. Cheers!

No problem- this was my thought, the fact that people just leave their guitars to get worse and worse.