Don't take your guitar to a tech

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lopp
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Lopp

Lopp

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Guitar setup is soooo easy. Don't take it to a tech. They are idiots. You can do it yourself cheaper and BETTER.

Search the web for techniques for setting up your guitar, they're out there. For example, for bass:
http://www.mrgearhead.net/faq/basssetup.html

Or, you can get a set up video for guitar from:
http://www.angelo.com/products_2.html
The production is kinda cheesy, but the techniques and explanation are good.

This post is a result of two recent dealings with "techs" in the Chicago/Milwaukee area. One was after purchasing an ESP MIII from a shop that was "set up" by their tech. Needless to say, there were dead spots and intonation problems. "Tech" my ass.

The other dealing was when I decided to give a "recommended" tech a test run. He even proclaimed he was the "best tech in the area." I had him perform a $70 set up and complete cleaning of my RG550. Upon return of my axe, there were patches of dirt/dust still lurking around the bridge. Also, he failed to properly tighten the locking nut to prevent the guitar from detuining even when simple bends were performed. Now, these are minor problems and I haven't checked everying out yet. However, if he misses such a simple adjustment as properly tightening the nut, he has/will probably miss other details when adjusting the rest of the guitar.

F*** the techs.

If you truly care about your instrument, set it up yourself. It doesn't take expensive tools or extensive knowledge. Unless you have more cash than time and/or know a tech you truly trust, setting up your own guitar is the best way to go. It's your baby, you should give it the love it deserves.


Matt
 
Lots of guys can and should learn to do a lot of their own set ups and minor repairs.But don't dis all guitar techs based on your very limited experiences.That's throwing the baby out with the bathwater.Are you gonna attempt binding repair on a pre-war Martin Herringbone?Ever cut a nut shelf?Much experience with finish color matching?
Let's say that you haven't hooked up with a good tech yet.I'm betting the metro Shytown has a lot of talented techs and luthiers.Continue to do all you can in maintaining your own ax,but be aware of your limitations as well.
Tom
Charvel/Jackson guitar tech 95-97
 
Recently the headstock on my D-41 snapped. If you think I'm gonna get some Elmer's glue and and a C clamp, you're out of your mind. I have a pre war Gibson mandolin that needs a little work too. Can I use Krylon on that?
:eek:
 
i do my own intonations and thats where it ends.....

Lopp, the idea is to get references on techs before you bring your baby to them......
 
My fellow fellows are correct. I have 1 tech do ALL the work on my guitars for 10 years, and he is awesome. I have trusted all of my guitars to him and would never worry about a poor job. Gidge hit it head on, get refrences. There are lots of great techs if you are in the loop.

H2H
 
Right "fellow fellows." Hence my statement about setting it up yourself unless you know of "a tech you truly trust." Thus, a tech is like a mechanic because unless you're familiar with the mechanic/tech, you won't know the quality or reliability of the mechainic. The difference is that all basic guitar setup can be performed by oneself.

Also, note that my post was refering to guiter setup, not major repairs. Also, note that I had received referrals for one of the techs that did a poor job.

Point being that regular setup and adjustments can be done at home. In fact, a guitarist should have the knowledge of how to perform basic setup functions. Especially to be able to perform necessary Rx on the road and to tell if a tech actually did his job correctly. A tech is gnerally not necessary for the price for a basic setup. Also, you can ensure your setup is done correctly by doing it yourself.

By all means, if you have a tech you trust and he charges a decent price, use him if you want.
 
Ok this is a real dumb question for you guys I'm sure. What do you mean by setup? Is that putting the strings on and tuning? I'm trying to make the distinction between setup and actual repairs/maintenance. Oh yeah, what are intonations?

Vice
 
Nevermind, I just got both of my questions answered. Sorry!

Vice
 
guitar techin'

Any basic intonation or action problems, and it's no big deal. Anything more goes right to my trusted (and oft used) tech Tom.
 
My tech is a also a luthier of fine handcrafted acoustic guitars "Jackstraw." If it's anything more than shaving a couple of mm from the saddle, I'll at least let him look at it and ask his opinion.
 
What's a decent cost for a good tech? I've got a nut that I tried to install myself and it sucks. I'd like to find somebody to do it for me, but I'm just guessing around here I would be bent over for more than what the guitar is worth.
 
I seldom go to the tech, but when I do, I know my axe is in good hands. He builds his own guitars and people LOVE them. I seen them on nationwide TV played by bands, and and BIG magazine here (also nationwide) made a 2 page article about him and his axeses.

He installed me a new nut (graph tech) and I love it!

I'm getting the graph tech (strat) bridge too!

EZP
 
I wipe my guits down,
I change the strings.
That's where it ends for me.
After forty years playin' I find it more relaxing to pay some guy who has been trained and who I've heard about his work from other musicians, than to waste my valuable BBS posting time changing a p/up or adjusting the truss rod.

I do have an old beater Dean guit I use for slide. I changed the plastic saddle for a higher bone saddle. Too much like work.
 
Lopp,

Absolutely, right on!!

How does a tech know what action you want, they don't. They will most certainly set it too low.

Don't get me started on intonation. A tech will use a strobe, and brand new strings.

This only works, if you only play new strings, and your guitar is perfect at not only the 12th fret, but also all the other frets.

Get into your guitar yourself, it will turn out much better!!

GT
 
I also prefer performing set up on my guitar myself. It's easy, cheap, and I know it's done the way I want it.
 
accurate tuner

For doing your own set ups and intonations I would recommend this procedure.Adjust the truss rod first to straight.Or,if you are a rock player with low action who likes to bend,leave a little "relief" or upbow (it'll reduce the fret buzz).Go to the website of your ax mfg and get the string height specs.This is measured from the top of the pickup to the underside of the string.Adjust your saddles to the exact curvature or radius of your neck.Intonate.
To get an accurate intonation,you need a better resolution than handheld tuners offer.In a shop,they use stroboscopic tuners.On my bench at work is a Peterson 520.But I mostly use a software tuner called tunelab,accurate to .001 cent (your average pocket tuner is good to about plus or minus 5 cents).Download tunelab at http://tom.artistcollaboration.com/tune.exe
I think the average player can learn to do all the setup work and minor repairs.Like steam dent repair.Get a wet washcloth and a soldering iron.Press the iron over the wet cloth over the dent.The injected steam fills the crushed cellulose chambers and inflates them.Dents magically disapper or improve dramatically.I recommend Dan Earlywine's series of construction and repair books and videos at stewmac.
Tom
 
OK OK..... there are some things you can do yourself and other things you should find a reputable professional to do for you.
If a tech "messed up you guitar", did you take it back and ask for corrections? A little courtiousy goes a long way in getting things done right. Yeah, we all miss things from time to time in our jobs, and most times they are simple mistakes or oversights to correct If you not a JERK about it, most techs will readjust some things for for free the keep you, the customer, happy. Its also helpful to yourself and the tech to tell him want you want and what you expect. He can't read your mind. And as I stated before, go to somebody that knows what they are doing. If you take you guitar to an impersonal cookiecutter megastore music warehouse type place like Wal-Mars, SamAsh, ect. You can expect impersonal cookiecutter megastore service and lousy treatment of your instrument. And on the other hand stay away from small local shops that sell mainly student type instruments and supplies because they may not have the know how for expensive professional quality guitars. Use you head guys. I take my instruments to guy named Snuffy Smith here in N. Carolina. He has been doing this stuff for over forty years and takes care of instruments for people like Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Peter Rowan and Tony Rice. I would trust him with any guitar I own. Not all techs are bad, you've got to find the good ones. Some things are best left to the proffesionals.
 
I've been repairing guitars for over 30 years and building guitars since 1984, and we are not all idiots. One thing to remember is when you go to a music store that claims to have a guitar tech in the back, that is not always the case. Some of those guys don't know any more than you do. Most pros will have a full time business at their house or seperate location. You will not last long in stringed instrument repair doing shoddy work, word travels fast. Ask to see some of their work, that should do it.
Stan Williams
luthier
 
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