Bongoscot Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I seem to remember that back in the day (LOL) guitars used to come with a professional set-up included. They would give you a certain amount of time to take it home, play with it and bring it back for a set-up and any concerns/issues addressed. It was all part of this old fashioned thing called making the customer satisfied. Now it seems that in my neck of the woods the guitar supercenters have taken over and all of that including stuff with a purchase is over. There are no small business Gibson dealers around here and the large chains that sell the guitars dont really seem to care about customer satisfaction as much. This brings me to my question. With the plek process that Gibson uses and supposing I am good with the stock string gauges, which I am, is a pro set-up usually necessary as it used to be? Can I expect my guitar to arrive ready to rock or should I be expecting some tweaking to be needed right away. If it does need to be set up I would very much prefer to have that work done by a local respected luthier than they guy at the shop where I am buying, who seems to be more interested in his fourth smoke break of the hour than my needs as a customer. Can you tell how much I love the supercenters? Will taking my new guitar to a non Gibson authorized luthier for a set up make them try to void my warranty? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foggy Notion Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 A set up is a subjective thing. Factory setups 'tend' to be fairly generic to try & suit everybody. You should be able to pick your guitar out of the box, give it a tune & find it plays pretty well. I have often read this sentance "plays great, straight out of the box". But your prefferred set up may not quite match that of the factory set up. What you really need to look out for though is any playing issues- like poor fret work etc. Patience is your friend, especially if your guitar is brand new & has been couriered it will often take a few days to acclimatise & settle down- the difference can be hugely noticeable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 This is an issue often discussed hereon...and an important one too... All the dealers I have ever used offer a tweak as necessary on any guitar sold...some guitars are perfect straight off the hook or out of the box... Similarly any web-net purchase has been perfect (IMO)...showing great flair for set-up and a professional service I am not too concerned with 'perfect' edges to frets etc, some players are sticklers for this...which is OK... Also wood moving over time is often adjustable by bridge height and occasional truss-rod adjust So IMO doing easy stuff oneself can save misinterpretation by technicians No single set-up is perfect for all players... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dc3c46 Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 This is an issue often discussed hereon...and an important one too... All the dealers I have ever used offer a tweak as necessary on any guitar sold...some guitars are perfect straight off the hook or out of the box... Similarly any web-net purchase has been perfect (IMO)...showing great flair for set-up and a professional service I am not too concerned with 'perfect' edges to frets etc, some players are sticklers for this...which is OK... Also wood moving over time is often adjustable by bridge height and occasional truss-rod adjust So IMO doing easy stuff oneself can save misinterpretation by technicians No single set-up is perfect for all players... V Long&McQuade gives me a professional set up and a free professional set up within the first year after purchase. In addition they have free set up days once a year, all you have to pay for is the strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Ive had Gibsons since 1993 and have never needed a pro set up.. As long as your nut and tuning pegs are ok we are talking pickup/bridge heights and inntonation. I find that those are things that you just need to play with. Lower the bridge as much as you can before any buzzing and tweek the little screws on the bridge until it inntonates properly and thats the biggest thing.. Pickup height.. again just move them up and down until it sounds like you want it too... Youtube has plenty of videos and theres lots of instruction on how to do it. So I say dont pay.. Learn how to do it yourself and it wont ever be a problem (unless theres something totally screwed) :) Give a man a fish and he can eat for a day.. Teach a man to fish and he can eat for a lifetime ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dg77 Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Ive had Gibsons since 1993 and have never needed a pro set up.. As long as your nut and tuning pegs are ok we are talking pickup/bridge heights and inntonation. I find that those are things that you just need to play with. Lower the bridge as much as you can before any buzzing and tweek the little screws on the bridge until it inntonates properly and thats the biggest thing.. Pickup height.. again just move them up and down until it sounds like you want it too... Youtube has plenty of videos and theres lots of instruction on how to do it. So I say dont pay.. Learn how to do it yourself and it wont ever be a problem (unless theres something totally screwed) :) Give a man a fish and he can eat for a day.. Teach a man to fish and he can eat for a lifetime ;) +1 Haven't had to adjust anything n my trad. But if I ever need to, I'm well versed in self taught set ups. Also, give a man a guitar and no work,will ever get done [biggrin] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 It's a good idea to have a local trusted luthier go over your new guitar after a month or two and tweak the setup. That way, you can be sure that a pro has checked it out. I will not void your warranty or anything like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ole_bill Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 When I got my LP Traditional Pro brand new from G.C. they changed out the Gibson strings to D'Addario's strings for me and tweaked the truss just a bit...so it was pretty much good to play as soon as I got it home. Since then I have also learned many things that I can do and check myself to keep it playing well. You tube, and other sites like this one have helped with that because they do have a lot of good info on them. But, one of the best sources of info I found was this book-> 'How To Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great!' by Dan Erlewine. I have the 1st edition, but there is a 2nd edition out now at Stewmac -> http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/product/5198 It has some really good info in it along with some (cardboard) guages that you use to check the setups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brantobrien Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 A pro setup is almost standard from what I've seen, however the "pro" part of the equation is up in the air. A truly "pro" setup will make a good guitar sing (sometimes they are perfect from the factory though..). Of course maintaining that setup requires diligence and being aware of what to look for on your guitar. It's even a good idea to take them in and have someone go over it every so often just to give it a tune up and make sure that nothing is going wacky. I have to admit that I have been negligent in that area and just noticed that my abr1 is drooping in the middle. If I'd been paying attention and taking it in more frequently (it's been a couple years at least) I could've avoided some frustration with it fretting out and been more aware of the health of my guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselGenny Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 With respect to the "after sales service" issue. I'm in the UK, and don't buy tyres for my car from the large dealers. I go to a specialist (proper one that has a contract for racing tyres). I never question the price before fitting, but I've NEVER found cheaper anywhere afterwards. Service includes valves & balancing. And, when: (i) I've had problem with the tyre afterwards (e.g. cord breakage), replacement immediately under manufacturer's warranty; or (ii) free re-balance where required after a couple of thousand miles on the odd occasion it's needed it. All this, for 50-75% of the cost from mainstream dealers. Now, I'm not saying that independent music shops need to be "cheap", nor am I trying to compare the inflated "recommended retail price" in the tyre industry. Just illustrating that the independent dealers may well be the real experts we need. Having siad that, I know independent tyre shops that are shocking to say the least, and if my wife goes to some of those places, it would cost us an abolsute fortune !!! But that wouldn't happen at the place I go to for tyres. ("caveat emptor"). Same goes for music stores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobB Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Every big name band I know of takes a guitar tech on the road with them. When I find someone with a good reputation for set-ups, I always option to have a professional do the work. Wood is wood and can be subject to changes with the seasons. To get maximum enjoyment from playing, I think it is a good idea to have your instrument set-up to your personal preferences by a pro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanStorm Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I have asked this question before, but I have been told that putting my new "preference" strings, and getting the allen wrench in the guitar to adjust it, is all one needs to do, oh and clean her! I know that "Personal" setup is a big thing for me! For Example, I have a chump strat that is less than crap, and I can play that guitar really good because I adjusted everything, well just the neck and the strings(i never bothered to clean her). Honestly I don't know what to do to a Gibson besides add my favorite strings and adjust the neck, and clean her; I also don't know what a Guitar Center Certified Tech would do?. I am assuming savvy players and techs know how to do their own wiring and internal setup, but I don't know if that is mandatory with a Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eracer_Team Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I have seen stop tails and bridges so high in the air off the body at my local shops its not funny. when I asked they said it helps keep the string breakage down while all the hacks whack at them. they do a setup for you when you buy the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I have asked this question before, but I have been told that putting my new "preference" strings, and getting the allen wrench in the guitar to adjust it, is all one needs to do, oh and clean her! I know that "Personal" setup is a big thing for me! For Example, I have a chump strat that is less than crap, and I can play that guitar really good because I adjusted everything, well just the neck and the strings(i never bothered to clean her). Honestly I don't know what to do to a Gibson besides add my favorite strings and adjust the neck, and clean her; I also don't know what a Guitar Center Certified Tech would do?. I am assuming savvy players and techs know how to do their own wiring and internal setup, but I don't know if that is mandatory with a Gibson. Most Gibsons have the Tune o matic bridge and tailstop.. The main part of the set up for most people is to get them as low as possible before any strings start to buzz.. The lower the bridge the easier it is to do bends and stuff.. Now since you can actually make changes with the strings on its easy to do.. Ohhh and if you get your Gibby.. Realise that when you take the strings off, if you take them all off at once (which most people advise not to do) the bridge and the tailstop will fall off cos all thats holding them in is the string tension.. So watch for that :) it catches most of us out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LT ED Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Thats why god invented elastic bands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old mark Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Over the 40+ years I have been playing, I have learned to do this myself. I advise anyone who wants to learn to do this to buy an older, less expensive guitar that has a similar bridge etc as your main guitar and learn to set intonation (Need a good electronic tuner) so smooth out fret ends as needed, set truss rod, adjust pickup heights and pole piece heights, and balance pups for volume. Learn where all the screws and nuts are and hoe to tighten them. See how the guitar sounds with different pickup height settings, etc. It's getting hard to find "pros" who will do this...my local tech guy ( actually a woman) charges a minimum $50 for it, plus any materials and strings, etc...Is there a difference between my set up and the pro's? Maybe, but not very much...probably as much difference as between hers from one to the next. Learn to set up YOUR guitar to sound and play the way YOU like it. FWIW, on most of my TOM guitars, the tailpiece is a little high because the string tension is lower and it is easy to smear entire chords...and it does keep the strings from leaning on the bridge. I also like the strings just a LITTLE higher than "as low as possible"... mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 One of the local stores near me does the set up a month or so after purchase. This includes a fret dress which I think is absolutely incredible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I do my own setups, never done a fret dress by I would take it on if I needed one. Should is a strong word but I think nearly anyone could learn. I've had a few of my friends ask me to correct the work of a local tech (in South London) who it seems is crap and turns out everything with a very high action (I'll name him by pm only). They are always pleased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctguy1955 Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 My 2012 Gibson Studio sat in a hot wearhouse for a few weeks and when the HOT UPS truck dropped it off to my home on May 1st, it was not a playable instrument. The neck had a bad bend, and needed to be loosened up. I did not mess with it, I sent it to a Luthier who kept it for one month and two days. When I got it back, it sounded really great.......But he dented my guitar near the bottom tone knob, and so I had to give it back to him to fix. He kept it another 4-5 weeks and then said he could not fix it, the dent was patched up, but light was "Bending" off funny or something of that nature. I never saw the guitar again until it came back to me from Nashville, and when I opened up the case, I could not believe how BEAUTIFUL it was and what a fantastic job they had done on my guitar. I was so happy. The next morning I had my little Vox mini to the right of my computer desk and the morning sunlight was streaming in through a window and I flipped the guitar over to put the Jack into the guitar and this is what I saw : http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae168/CTguy1955/BLEMISH.jpg Well the Gibson people said that they did not do it, and I know I did not do it............ They were kind enough in Nashville to tell me they would go ahead and fix the new dents for me ( Thank God ) and I am just waiting to get it back, which should happen any day now, as they are very good at Nashville. I respect the professionalism and workmanship of the Gibson Factory personal and the repair shop. Just be careful of who you get for a luthier. My State only has two authorized ones, and the ones in MA are near Boston ( three hours ) and with gasoline costing $4.19 a gallon, I dont like to travel far. I know when I get my Gibson back this time, it will be done right and I will never part with it again !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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