Do you set up your own guitars?

[billpepper82]

or do you have someone else do it professionally and whats a good price to pay when having it done by a pro?

 

[yellowv03]

I do all my own setup work. I trust very few people to work on anything I own.

 

[Defender2000]

I like doing all of my own setup. I also have a hard time trusting anybody else with my gear. Don't be afraid to make some adjustments. There are plenty of guides online that will give an idea how the guitar will react to different adjustments.

I'm a hands on kinda guy. In my opinion, the best way to learn is to just dive right in and figure out how things work. I think its fundamental to know how your equipment works.

 

[Fun111]

As the last two guys say, I do my own work, and also think the best way to learn is to try. Get some rough guides first, then have a go.

Here in the UK you can expect to pay about £50 for a setup from a reputable luthier.

 

[wolfbone07]

Yes, I do all my own setup work. Started learning from the Guitar Player Repair Guide. My library has it. Check it out.

 

[ScoobySteve]

I do all my own set ups. If this is your first time, and you're unsure, I'd definitely take it to a reputable luthier and get it done. Maybe around 35-50 bucks I'd say. No more than that IMO.

But for me, I just have a thing about doing things on my own if it is more than reasonable for me to learn and do an effective job at the same time. It's not that I don't trust luthiers, its just that for the good ones, it's going to take 5 days + to get my guitar back from a reputable, and busy luthier, when I could do it in a couple hours at my own home (if even that depending on what needs to be set up).

Separation anxiety!!!

 

[bbake1]

All my own. I tweak the TR on the fly. Intonation with a TurboTuner. Had a few "pro" set ups that I didn't care for, and never went back. Once you get used to the Gotoh locking trem, it's pretty easy and not a hassle.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

I do all my own. 3-4 times a year with seasonal changes and whenever I buy another. Our local Guitar Center charges $60. With (on average) 10 guitars, that would cost me $2400 a year. Like others have said, I like mine set up my way. I do the neck, then saddles for each string, then bend the strings (which will buzz or flatten to a higher fret because of the neck radius) and raise saddles to compensate, then intonate. All this through an amp as my favorite guitar saying is "if it doesn't buzz through an amp, it doesn't buzz".

 

[Mpcoluv]

I also do my own setups. Every now and then I run into something that requires a luthier. Then I bite the bullet.
I am a firm believer in DIY.
I even do my own routing at this point....

 

[agt]

I do my own setups as I'm fanatical about my action and intonation. My indispensable tools are a Peterson tuner and a Stewart-MacDonald string action gauge. I love the EBMM trussrod adjustment wheel -- it makes tweaking so much easier!!!

 

[fbecir]

I do my own setup.
A few years ago, I spent one week with a luthier in his workshop and I built a guitar :

I learned quite a few things during this week !

Two rules of thumb :
1. Don't be afraid to ask. There is no silly question, just silly answers
2. Most of the setup on a good guitar like a MM can be done easily. Thus follow the easy path, most of the time, it's the best way to do it.

 

[tommyindelaware]

.........i've been known to...

 

[threeminutesboy]

.........i've been known to...

ahahh nice one Tommy

I also do my own setup, but just tross rod adjustment, saddles, trem, electronic. I'm unable to replace a nut or do some fret work

 

[joe web]

i do the basic setup myself, but a friend of mine, René L. from Musik-Klier at my hometown knows exactly how my guitars have to be setup. sometimes i give him a guitar for the "perfect" setup, if i´m still not happy with the work i did.

 

[JMD]

It would cost me $50-100 at the local music shop for a basic set-up (closer to 50 unless there is a bigger issue).

I would suggest you get a hold of a cheap used guitar (or two) and teach yourself what you can. Bring your work to the local shop for some good old fashioned critisim - try not to go on a busy Sat afternoon. I have found better luck with the smaller, locally owned shops for this kind of thing.

Your skills will be useful to youself for the rest of you life!

 

[Slingy]

I am doing all my basic adjustments and I only go to the shop now when I need something that requires special tools like cutting/enlarging a new nut, fret dress, or electronics.

 

[Music Man]

I try to do my own when it comes to the simple stuff.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I enjoy the set up part of it - intonation, action, classic trem set up (not floyd). I don't do too much electrics though!!

 

[JMD]

There are many books out there on the electrical part of guitars. The circuit(s) are quite simple and have not really changed since this damn thing started being produced. Ofcoarse......now there is TGC....thanks Stirling.

Here is link to the book I keep around the guitar room for reference. The info and pics are dated - but again, the concepts are the same.
Amazon.com: Guitar Electronics for Musicians (Guitar Reference) (0752187423249): Donald Brosnac: Books

 

[Astrofreq]

Yep, do my own. I've even sort of learned how to change pickups, thanks to another forumite. There's still alot of grey area for me there.