— Daily Journal Entry 040 —
Yes, Most Definitely!… Of course, some out there have learned how to do good setups and prefer to do their own setups for their own guitars; however, there are also those of us (me included) who would rather let someone else who’s been doing guitar setups for a while do it for them. They’re going to have more experience setting up various types and brands of guitars. So an experienced professional would know certain tricks that work on certain types/brands of guitars. Setting up a guitar can be a very tedious, aggravating process (depending on the guitar) if you are not used to it. On the other hand, if you do it for a living, the process will usually go a lot smoother…
A Basic Setup Is Fine
A basic setup will involve a new set of strings based on your preference and what’s appropriate for the guitar (some guitars will need a new nut for heavier gauge strings); adjusting the truss rod, which will adjust the action (how close the strings are to the fretboard), and hopefully, eliminate any string buzz or vibrations that may be present before setup.
Setups Vary
Setup could also involve bridge and nut slot adjustment, cleaning the electronics, adjusting the pickups, total fret replacement, etc. … It really depends upon how far you want to go with the setup and the condition of the guitar when it is brought in.
Surprisingly, the prices tend to be quite low (at most places I’ve seen) considering that some guitars will sound like a totally different guitar when it’s returned. Different in a “Good” way. You could pay anywhere from $50.00 – $300.00 in most cases. The average seems to be closer to $100.00 – $200.00…
BOTTOM LINE: If you want your guitar to sound the best it possibly can, have it set up by someone who has done plenty of setups, and treat your ears (not to mention your heart and soul) to the music your guitar was meant to play…
Until Nex Time,
Featured Image: My Taylor Acoustic – 214CE. “E” standing for “Electric.” Pretty nice guitar for the price. I purchased it while on Army Recruiting duty in Mesa Arizona from Guitar Center. Same Guitar Center where I got to see Joe Satriani perform a “workshop” of sorts.
