Setups on new LPJ

[newb]

Hi,

I am going to purchase my first electric guitar which is going to be the new gibson lpj 2013. In the store the guy said they shouldn't need a setup. From what I've read everyone says you should always get a new guitar set up.

 

What do you guys check for to determine if you need a setup. And lets say for example I insist upon a setup what should I be asked to be done?

 

I noticed that the lpj has a plek cut but, does this mean it has been plek set up too?

 

Thanks

[cjsinla]

Hi,

I am going to purchase my first electric guitar which is going to be the new gibson lpj 2013. In the store the guy said they shouldn't need a setup. From what I've read everyone says you should always get a new guitar set up.

 

What do you guys check for to determine if you need a setup. And lets say for example I insist upon a setup what should I be asked to be done?

 

I noticed that the lpj has a plek cut but, does this mean it has been plek set up too?

 

Thanks

 

I believe that Plek means that all the frets were leveled by a computer system that also cut the nut. Gibson would suggest that is the setup.

 

Many stores will do a setup for you if you ask. But, even if you get one brand new and shipped to you in an unopened box, it should be in pretty good shape. But most new guitars need a little tweaking to make it exactly like you want it which I usually do myself. Setups, for me, usually mean setting the neck bow as I like it and setting the bridge and pickups to the height I like.

[Guest Farnsbarns]

There are setups and setups. All the guitars I see at reputable dealers are setup OK. Average values all over and perfectly reasonable but every guitar is different and everyone's preferences and expectations are different. I do my own setups so I tweak a new guitar on day one but I know my house is a different environment and after a month or so it needs another tweak. When you get down to that kind of fine adjustment you need to do it yourself IMO, no tech can know exactly what to do to make a guitar perfect for your hands. Every player should learn the basics of a setup IMO. It really isn't hard and the idea of paying someone else to attempt to set it how I want seems ridiculous.

[newb]

I'm sure the store will provide a set up, I asked the salesman and they said sure if it needs one but he doubted it would. So basically how do I check if it needs one? The action seemed fine to me, I got no buzz through the amp but a but unplugged. And as for intonation they only way I check is by playing open string and at 12th. Is there anything else I should check/request be done in a setup?

[BobF_]

check out the nut as well. An honest tech will check it properly if you ask

 

A full F barre is a quick check :)

[Guest Farnsbarns]

I'm sure the store will provide a set up, I asked the salesman and they said sure if it needs one but he doubted it would. So basically how do I check if it needs one? The action seemed fine to me, I got no buzz through the amp but a but unplugged. And as for intonation they only way I check is by playing open string and at 12th. Is there anything else I should check/request be done in a setup?

 

Try playing any string at the 12th, now loosen your grip a little... Notice the note drop? Now tighten it... Notice the note go up? These are things no tech can judge. All you can do is lengthen or shorten a string if it sounds off to you when you're playing naturally. I think the salesman is right. The guitar will be set up for Mr average and will be fine. If you want to tweak it a bit that's up to you.

 

As for the nut, if there's no buzz on open strings and you can easily fret at the first then the height is OK. If the strings don't ping when tuning up and down and the strings sit above the top of the nut, it is cut fine. If the strings touch the nut on the front and rear edges, it is shaped fine.

 

I would stop worrying, if you played it and it felt right, it is right. You could ask them to promise to tweak it, while you wait, in 2 months. That is far more likely to be beneficial to you.

[cjsinla]

I'm sure the store will provide a set up, I asked the salesman and they said sure if it needs one but he doubted it would. So basically how do I check if it needs one? The action seemed fine to me, I got no buzz through the amp but a but unplugged. And as for intonation they only way I check is by playing open string and at 12th. Is there anything else I should check/request be done in a setup?

 

There's nothing magic about the word "setup." It's just the process of getting the guitar ready to play. The Plek is Gibson's way of setting up the guitar at the factory. I agree with Farnsbarns, you should know how to do this stuff yourself because any guitar will need little tweaks over it's lifetime. If the guitar feels right and sounds right it probably does not need a setup.

 

 

I have seen guitars (Telecasters) in the store that would tune but would sound out of tune as soon as you started playing chords, especially open D's and G's. This was because the bridges were not in the right position.You will generally know if a guitar needs a setup if it will not intonate or the neck might start to move one way or another. That's why Gibson puts a truss rod wrench in the case. And, you can set your own intonation by using a tuner and a screwdriver.

[crust]

I just tuned it up and started playing. Was perfect actually, which made a "set up" unnecessary, which was imho