Guitar Set-Up. (Guitar, Bass, Ukulele and Mandolin)
Let’s assume you have bought, or been given your first, second or even third guitar to play on.
Perhaps it is a classical flat-top or an electric solid body? There are very likely to some basic set-up issues that prevent it from being a much better-playing guitar.
Increased mechanisation in manufacturing methods and the fact that most low-to-medium level cost instruments are now made in the far east, means many aspects regarding the playability of a newer ‘off the shelf’ stringed instrument tend to be neglected with a factory set-up.
Most guitar shops rarely have owners or staff capable of doing such work themselves. There are notable exceptions of course, but generally speaking, they are in the business of selling instruments – not improving, preserving or restoring instruments.
I can set up your guitar with accurate intonation and proper playing action. Bring along your preferred set of strings, or I can recommend some, purchase them for you and add this to your set-up bill.
Everybody has their own preferences with regards to string tension and string height (the height of strings elevated from the fretboard, via the nut and the bridge). In many cases on student-level, flat top classical instruments, I will carefully file down bridge saddles and/or nuts to compensate for unnecessary high string action. Lowering the action to an optimum height makes an instrument more enjoyable and much easier to play.
Often, the frets on off-the-peg guitars can be very rough, causing strings to grind against them when notes are played, particularly when applying finger vibrato. This not only sounds awful but can wear out your strings over time, causing tuning and intonation issues. I will carefully polish the frets using the right methods and smooth the fret surface to ensure a pleasurable playing experience.
£30-£45 Set-up
Instrument set-up prices vary depending on the work that’s required. A basic set up on a half-sized, three-quarter sized and standard sized flat top classical student guitar will cost around £30. (Similar price for a Ukelele). There is a limit to what can be achieved on an instrument with a fixed position, glued-on bridge. Often, the bridge saddle requires some shaving off the bottom, re-gluing back into position, re-stringing and tuning-up. Sometimes the nut needs filing down or profiled slightly, reducing in height and gluing back into position.
A few of my student’s classical guitars and ukuleles have been set up to play and perform much better with a little attention to the bridge saddle, some fretboard cleaning and general TLC.
Within this price, I work on certain electric guitars too. Many guitars remain as they were when set up by the shop or by a previous owner – not always a perfect set-up. Some of the things I do include; fretboard cleaning, checking electronics and potentiometers all work smoothly, bridge saddles might need repositioning for correct intonation, nut lubrication, pickup pole-pieces might need correctly adjusting for even balance and tone… plus many more.
I can transform the often unplayable into a reasonable playing instrument!
(A new set of strings is usually required and this is additional to the prices above).
£45-£75 Set-up
Maybe you are lucky enough to have one or more vintage ‘golden era’ guitars. These are the instruments where extra care has to be taken.
A set-up on a vintage 1959 Gibson ES-335 guitar, vintage Gretsch 6120 or ‘50’s-’60’s Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster (indeed, other high-end vintage instrument) will range between £45-£75 depending on the work involved. I love working on Les Pauls, archtops and semi-hollow bodied instruments as they are all too often set up incorrectly. Having the owner play their guitar after I’ve had a go at it is a huge reward – just to see them smile while reveling in how wonderful their guitar actually is!
I have over 30 years experience with acoustic and electric vintage (1920’s-1970’s) Gibson, Gretsch and Fender guitars and I have all the necessary (and correct) screwdrivers, truss rod tools and a thorough background knowledge to work on a high-end guitar set-up.
Get your golden-era classic guitar back to just how you want it – and love it for another 50 years!
Included in the lower end of this price range, is the setting up of more contemporary but still cool modern vintage guitars… Kramer, Jackson, Charvel, Aria, Yamaha, Washburn, Ibanez, etc – any well-regarded instrument from 1970’s to present day.
(A new set of strings is usually required and this is additional to the prices above).
Specialist fret work
If your guitar requires a complete re-fret or more in-depth professional fret dressing, then I would refer you to a couple of local luthiers who do outstanding work. Proper fingerboard and fret work is an extremely specialised skill, particularly where a sympathetic job has to be done with ‘vintage correctness’ in mind. Being faithful to vintage originality is very key for valuable old guitars for investment and resale possibilities. The guys I would recommend are scattered across the country. A small handful are here in Kent. There are one or two further afield, who do specialist work for owners of original Goldtop (1952-1958) and Sunburst (1958-1960) Gibson Les Paul Standards… these particular guitars are valued anywhere between £20,000-£450,000!
If you are thinking about buying or selling your guitar you may need an appraisal.