How Many of You Do Your Own Setups?

[Aldwyn]

I have seen several threads over the past several months where people mention they do their own set ups (including one today!) which makes me wonder how many of us DO do our own set ups... so it's poll time! :)

I go both ways... I will do minor adjustments: Pup height, intuneation, and occasionally a truss rod adjustment. But usually once a year or so, I will bring a guitar in to the shop to have it professionally done, even if I have done the adjustments throughout the year.

What do you guys do?

Peace,
Aldwyn

[YorkeFan06]

I can restring my Flying V, if that counts. I don't know squat about intonation or string height. I just play it how it is, and it all works for me.

[TheArchitect]

I have seen several threads over the past several months where people mention they do their own set ups (including one today!) which makes me wonder how many of us DO do our own set ups... so it's poll time! :)

I go both ways... I will do minor adjustments: Pup height, intuneation, and occasionally a truss rod adjustment. But usually once a year or so, I will bring a guitar in to the shop to have it professionally done, even if I have done the adjustments throughout the year.

What do you guys do?

Peace,
Aldwyn
I do about everything myself. The one big exception would be fret work. Thats just be cause I don't have the appropriate tools and therefore lack the experience to do the good quality work I want. I don't do paint either but that is beyond the scope of setups.

[CAFeathers]

I do my own setups, minor repairs and modifications.

[Phil Macino]

I voted both....depends on what needs to be done.

On my stoptails it is really easy to do a setup and does not take much time at all. Like you, I stop at major fretwork...

[Andrew]

I do my own string changes, truss rod adjustments, pickup and other electronics installations, and fret levels.

[jbird]

I enjoy doing my own set-ups. I even offer my services to friends, I set-up a couple of my old bandmates PRSi just yesterday. I don't get into nut work or frets though.

[PRSKILLER]

Me, myself and I:D

[Greg Jones]

Like most I do everything but fretwork. Won't go near my baby with a file!! :eek:

Intonation, neck relief, string height, pup height, wiring is all doable for me though.

[kev]

I voted "Yep" because I don't know of anyone locally that has a great reputation, and I've always been curious about demystifying this sort of thing. I've done a handful of set ups for friends as well, but I'm no Jim Collins, John Phillips, or Jack Gretz.

[Chiba]

I do everything short of paint & fretwork for myself and others. I've done some headstock/neck break repairs and some other minor woodwork as well. I'm not very good at making nuts but I'm practicing!

Sometimes when my time is short I'll take - or send - stuff to Philtone. Something that's really hard I might take to him as well - simply because he'll get it done faster (ok ok - and much better) than I can, at least on my personal guitars.

I really like setting up people's guitars so they play well - it makes 'em happy :D

--chiba

[Goober]

Hey Guys,

I'll do anything and everything except fret work.

Thanks
Dana

[aleclee]

Another "anything but fretwork" kinda guy.

[Jim Collins]

I do everything, myself, except for fretwork.

[Baba]

Action, Intonation, and neck adjustments, nothing past that.

[JMintzer]

I really like setting up people's guitars so they play well - it makes 'em happy :D

--chiba
I'll tweak a truss rod, or try to intonate a bridge now and then, but I like to let people like Chiba make me happy! :D

Jamie

[jkornel]

I do my own everything for 2 reasons:

1. it is very satisfying to put in a new set of pickups and set up a guitar and plug in and hear how great it sounds and plays...

2. Taking a guitar in for a string change and set up averages about 3-5 days any where I have gone, and costs $30. Rediculous !!!

[Michael Jackson]

I do all setup work. truss rod adjustments, Settings etc... Anything structual though not for me no refrets not damage fixings etc. All electronics though I will handle

[Peter C]

I do intonation, truss rod adjustment, action height, and pickup changes. I wonder from time to time whether a professional could do it better, but my adjustments fit me and my playing so probably not (plus it doesn't take that long, so if I need to do more adjustments it's done and I don't worry about time away from the guitar :D )

[Stratmeister]

I do my own unless you're counting fret levelling as a part of setup. I consider a setup to consist of restringing, adjust truss, trem, PUP height... No fret work, no nut work. I will change PUPs and wiring scenarios though.

[Anders Destium]

I like to mess with guitars, apart from the real finetuning like refretting and refinishing I tend to do everything myself (sometimes to shame unfortunately).

My biggest blunder has been a pick-up change in a guitar with both magnetic and piezo outputs and real sick :eek: wiring (5-way plus 2 on-off switches) that was almost impossible to get back into shape :)

[Adam]

I do my own setups, but like a lot of people here I don't mess with fretwork. Never done it before and I'm not going to start *experimenting* on one of my babies.

Action, intonation, bridge hight/trem adjustments, pup hight, and neck relief are enough for me to keep my guitars playing how I like them. If a string is binding at the nut, I will file it out a little bit, but I'm not very good at cutting my own from blanks.

I've noticed a lot of people are apprehensive about messing with their trussrods. It's probably a result of numerous horror stories about broken rods and stripped out adjustment bolts - certainly not something any of us wants to happen.

It's really no more risky than any other part of a setup, though. I mean, anything can be broken, any screw can be stripped out, but if you have a bean between your ears and are a little careful, you have nothing to worry about.

[ROB OWENS]

Hi,

I generally like to find out how things work...So, I thought lets find a course - and hey presto, I had a really interesting weekend with a bunch of like minded guys and a great luthier. Now life keeping my guitars playable is so much more enjoyable.
In the main, I can take my time and get things right.
However, now and again, I find that a local tech is the better option.
Next step will be to find a 'Builders' course - maybe take the plunge and make one from parts!

[Big Mike]

I enjoy doing my own set-ups. I even offer my services to friends, I set-up a couple of my old bandmates PRSi just yesterday. I don't get into nut work or frets though.
That's pretty much me too. All my pals know I was the tech at a music store for years, and did everything but fretwork, so I always seem to get those emergency friday night phonecalls.

[johnreardon]

I can just about check and adjust intonation, but anything more complicated, I get a local chap I found who does superb work, relatively cheaply. He is also a gigging guitarist (well a bass player!!) who understands what people need.

Just joking about bass players, I used to be one myself.