Dropzone Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammybee Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 I pay £22.50 for full set up. Based in Northampton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dropzone Posted January 5, 2017 Author Share Posted January 5, 2017 I am on the south coast Chichester / Bognor area. Perhaps I should just bite the bullet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkey Steve Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dropzone Posted January 5, 2017 Author Share Posted January 5, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dropzone Posted January 5, 2017 Author Share Posted January 5, 2017 UK Lefty,this sounds like what I need, so a good guide price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Can we see a pic of the bass? Interested to see the artwork! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambo Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dropzone Posted January 5, 2017 Author Share Posted January 5, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 There's a Recommended Luthiers thread here: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/26654-recommended-luthiers/ Check who's near you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassjim Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 [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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 An inch?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Anyone know if Bill Puplett in Harrow is still there?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osiris Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dropzone Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 Maybe not an inch but a good 12mm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdavid Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 [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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdavid Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 [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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dropzone Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 [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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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