Cost of a set up

[Dropzone]

I have got a bass back from loan and the set up is shocking. A bit of me thinks I should be able to set it up myself, another bit of me says give it to the pros. A new bone has been fitted and needs to be taken down. What is the cost of setting up a guitar now days?

Ta

Mike

[uk_lefty]

Depends where you are and who you ask! And how much other work is involved. If you're near to Stevenage let me know, I can recommend someone.

I get intonation, neck relief and a quick clean done while changing strings for twenty five quid, not including strings. I prefer having someone with experience and all the right kit do this on my better instruments.

I've just had a fret level, basic set up, thorough clean including electrics and some neck issues sorted on a bass for sixty five quid. The neck issues cost me an extra twenty, cost would have been forty five.

However, I know some places want over a hundred for a fret level... It pays to shop around!

[sammybee]

I pay £22.50 for full set up. Based in Northampton.

[Dropzone]

I am on the south coast Chichester / Bognor area. Perhaps I should just bite the bullet.

[Monkey Steve]

when you say "bone" do you mean a new nut? they might regard that as a specific job rather than a general set up. However, they might also charge you for doing the nut and see the set up as part of that (the place I use sees it as part of their duty to properly set up any instrument that they've done any work on as they don't want a reputation of letting badly set up instruments out of the workshop). Mind you, I've also spoken to places who will agree a reasonable price for a job and then insist that I have to pay extra for a set up afterwards.

I have to say, while I think I can do a proper set up and rarely take a bass in just for that, they're never as good as when I get stuff back from the pros.

I'd suggest ringing round a few places in your area and explaining what you want done and seeing what they will charge - it can vary hugely.

Edited January 5, 2017 by Monkey Steve

[Cosmo Valdemar]

If you've got the bass back from loaning it to someone I would say it's their responsibility to ensure it's in the condition it was when they took it. If not they should stump up the cost of getting it sorted.

[Dropzone]

It is a new nut. The guy did loads of artistic work to it for nothing so pleased to have it back looking amazing. I just hate paying someone for something I should be able to do myself.

[Dropzone]

UK Lefty,this sounds like what I need, so a good guide price.

[dannybuoy]

Can we see a pic of the bass? Interested to see the artwork!

[Shambo]

I can set up my bass myself but I also like the idea of giving it to a professional and just telling them how I want it.

If I do it myself then the tweaking can continue ad-infinitum. Up a bit, down a bit, left a bit right a bit, etc...
Hand me a well set up bass and I'm pleased to leave it as is.

The last pro set up (no mods) I paid for cost me £40, but I was less than impressed with it.

[chris_b]

Go along to Bernie Goodfellow in Brighton.

I'd get the frets checked out as well. If they need levelling no amount of set up is going to work.

[TheGreek]

I think that UK Lefty, Lozz and I all use the same luthier, Terry Chapman of TJC Guitars.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjnjPy3hKvRAhWEPRoKHSg7APIQFggdMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tjcguitars.com%2F&usg=AFQjCNFhzoToAoLBTVF3ZXZxjCI4QCVe4w&sig2=PQ2omjsclIbcLRoBM0fNiw

Generally costs around £10-15 depending on what you need to have done. Terry's a top bloke too - other than being a guitarist.

[Dropzone]

The strings are about an inch away from the fretboard. The wood has been carved with various designs, I am not sure how to get a pic on here????

I have eternal guitars recommended to me, who are about a mile up the road, it is big effort to get to brighton so may well go with the least line of resistance.

[TheGreek]

There's a Recommended Luthiers thread here:

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/26654-recommended-luthiers/

Check who's near you.

[uk_lefty]

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1483620441' post='3208708']
I think that UK Lefty, Lozz and I all use the same luthier, Terry Chapman of TJC Guitars.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjnjPy3hKvRAhWEPRoKHSg7APIQFggdMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tjcguitars.com%2F&usg=AFQjCNFhzoToAoLBTVF3ZXZxjCI4QCVe4w&sig2=PQ2omjsclIbcLRoBM0fNiw

Generally costs around £10-15 depending on what you need to have done. Terry's a top bloke too - other than being a guitarist.
[/quote]

Yep! Taking him one instrument a month for the foreseeable.

[bassjim]

On that list of luthiers ,Graham Wheeler is near to you and can say from personal experience very very good. Very reasonable prices too. Grahams' been in the bizz for over 40 years.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/26654-recommended-luthiers/"]http://basschat.co.u...ended-luthiers/[/url]

Edited January 5, 2017 by bassjim

[blue]

[quote name='sammybee' timestamp='1483613911' post='3208633']
I pay £22.50 for full set up. Based in Northampton.
[/quote]

I pay $61.00 for set up and new strings.

Blue

[stingrayPete1977]

An inch?!

[Hobbayne]

Anyone know if Bill Puplett in Harrow is still there??

[Osiris]

[quote name='sammybee' timestamp='1483613911' post='3208633']
I pay £22.50 for full set up. Based in Northampton.
[/quote]

Who did you use in Northampton? This seems a ridiculously low price for a set up, not that I'm complaining [size=4] [/size]
My cheap and cheerful stunt bass that I use for those [i]special[/i] gigs could do with a decent set up but it's not really worth spending a fortune on.

[Dropzone]

Maybe not an inch but a good 12mm.

[markdavid]

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1483620441' post='3208708']
I think that UK Lefty, Lozz and I all use the same luthier, Terry Chapman of TJC Guitars.

[url="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjnjPy3hKvRAhWEPRoKHSg7APIQFggdMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tjcguitars.com%2F&usg=AFQjCNFhzoToAoLBTVF3ZXZxjCI4QCVe4w&sig2=PQ2omjsclIbcLRoBM0fNiw"]https://www.google.c...clIbcLRoBM0fNiw[/url]

Generally costs around £10-15 depending on what you need to have done. Terry's a top bloke too - other than being a guitarist.
[/quote]
Wow £10-15 !!!! is at least £40 plus strings (if needed) where I am , I think I paid around £70 for my last setup

[markdavid]

[quote name='markdavid' timestamp='1483697166' post='3209288']
Wow £10-15 !!!! is at least £40 plus strings (if needed) where I am , I think I paid around £70 for my last setup
[/quote]

Also worth mentioning is that it is worth having a basic knowledge of setups and how to adjust truss rod etc , I have had setups done and more times than not the person doing the setup has setup my basses to "their" preference so it helps to be able to fine tune any work that has been done, my last setup I found they had adjusted the action higher than I like it and had loosened the truss rod more than I would have liked so I ended up tightening the truss rod slightly and dropping the action a little

[Dropzone]

My set up would be action as low as you can without it rattling when I bash it. I am dead technical. Just ordered some luminlay stuff to assentuate the artwork. The guitar will either look amazing or sh*t.

[Grangur]

[quote name='markdavid' timestamp='1483697166' post='3209288']
Wow £10-15 !!!! is at least £40 plus strings (if needed) where I am , I think I paid around £70 for my last setup
[/quote]
I thought I was alone. I paid that to a shop that sent it to a guy in Stevenage. It took 3 weeks and cost £100 inc strings (don't know what strings - shop was unable to tell me) It was the worst setup I have ever seen - fret buzz all down the neck. That gave me the prompt to learn to do my own. Well, I could do no worse!