Poll : How important is a well setup instrument (Guitar/Bass)

V8

There'll be a debate over what constitutes a well setup instrument - for me the basics :

Intonation is correct Action is playable along the whole fretboard Holds a tuning I don't feel fret ends when sliding around fretboard Fretted notes don't choke when played (& bent) Minimal fret buzz/rattling when playing

For sure, setup IS a very personal choice - I think, it depends to a degree depends on the sound/genre you prefer. You'll probably have a string preference, which will also affect setup.

Example : A Shredder will likely have a lower action, consistent along the fretboard (I like it to be parallel to the fretboard) and might put up with a little buzz to get a super slinky action. While a bluesy fellow may prefer a higher action to dig into and will object if a note chokes/frets out when bending.

On the strat : Mostly blues noodling (80% rhythm/20% lead). I prefer a higher action that I can dig into with a pick. Lotsa bends, so no choking/fretting out allowed.

On the midi guitar : I'm still dialing in the setup - atm, lowwww as possible w/o any buzzing (false triggers). So kinda shreddy...with flatwounds! I'm trying to dial in a consistent action down the fretboard from 1st to 24th fret, but I'm still tweaking.

On bass : Definitely still figuring out what I prefer - for now, I like it similar to a shreddy-ish guitar - string to be close to parallel to the fretboard and as lowwww as possible - I play a bit above the 12th fret, so keeping the action slinky up top is a goal. I'll put up with a little fret buzz (and sacrifice tone) for a lower action.

What (and why) do you prefer?

(old forum) Poll Results: How important is a well setup instrument (Guitar/Bass)

Huh...setup?: 0
Whatever rolls out the factory is good enough for me.: 0
That's the tech's job - whatever they do works for me: 1
The tech and I chat about what I want.: 8
When I change strings, I'll spend some time setting up.: 0
I'm always tweaking my instruments: 3

NorioDS

Didn't really see an option for:

I don't know how to do it but I won't play a guitar that isn't perfectly set up ?

And I seldom do.

My old purple guitar was set up gorgeously years ago and it played like butter. Since then? It's been a struggle with every guitar. I don't even know who set it up ;(

ezietsman

My guitars have setups that are so-so. I do it myself, I'm not great at it. My 335 came stup up beautifully, but since the seasons have been changing and it was still brand new, it went out, I've been tweaking it, it is much better than the other two.

I don't really care as long as it isn't unplayable. The guitar's setup isn't what's holding me back ?

singemonkey

It's very important. And it's most important for beginners. That's the one thing that'll make people give up playing quicker than anything else. And, of course, cheap guitars frequently come set up worse than expensive guitars.

But only 3 of my 5 electrics are actually well set up. I'll do minor tweaks myself, but dealing with nut shaping, fret-shaping, and bridge overhauls is a little beyond me.

IceCreamMan

being pedantic I get annoyed if set up aint perfect for me so ensure that my guitars are set up spot on. I do minor stuff myself but every couple of years they go to a tech.

studmissile

Norio wrote: Didn't really see an option for:

.... I won't play a guitar that isn't perfectly set up ?

And I seldom do.

I also prefer that peace of mind!

NorioDS

singemonkey wrote: It's very important. And it's most important for beginners.

This.

Nothing made me play more than when I got my guitar back and it played like butter.

V8

Norio wrote: Didn't really see an option for:

I don't know how to do it but I won't play a guitar that isn't perfectly set up ?

Hehe, yes I slipped up there...but please don't think that I know what I'm doing either. I asked the question as it's something I enjoy doing - guitar/bass flavoured meccano, with a dash of DIY - and if one sticks to Corts, it's cheaper too ?

I've seen quite a few very nicely setup instruments (usually Foster vd Merwe's or Gareth Travis's work) - Gareth was doing mine for years until I started hanging out w/The Junkies. I've hacked a bunch of project guitars over two years and I'm beginning to grasp the variables involved in a setup - but I'm definitely no expert like Foster & Gareth - it takes me quite a while (trial & error) to get something dialled in and often I fail, park it for a while, youtube/read some more and come back to it.

I think there is a little artistry and a touch of wizardy in dialing in a setup and I really feel that a good tech is usually underappreciated. I can try logic it out : it's a set of variables that, once you understand the relationship between them, you can adjust each one - holistically- to achieve a result. IMHO : a good tech has a lot of experience which took a lot of time to develop and often that skill isn't valued. To me a good tech is as precious as a good teacher.

Norio wrote:
singemonkey wrote: It's very important. And it's most important for beginners.
This.

Nothing made me play more than when I got my guitar back and it played like butter.

+2, Couldn't agree more! It's something I'm appreciating about being a beginner on bass, playing a well setup instrument is a joy and a poorly setup one just limits and frustrates.

The best factory setups I've seen locally are Tokai's - dunno if Lance has something done to them before they are sold - but they always impress.

peterleroux

I think a player who can communicate what they want is also key- there's no such thing as a perfect setup, just the perfect setup for your style and preferences. Supposedly one of the things that gave Valentino Rossi an edge was that he could clearly and easily tell the pit crew what to tweak to set his bike up perfectly for a given circuit, and it's the same for us.

Even saying 'get the action as low as possible without buzzing' means little because we all strike the strings differently- the tech might be able to play cleanly but you might get buzz. When I take my bass for a setup, I'll chat with the tech about how it's responding, what's working and not working, to give him an idea of what I'm looking for.

singemonkey

peterleroux wrote: I think a player who can communicate what they want is also key- there's no such thing as a perfect setup, just the perfect setup for your style and preferences.

This.

EZ and I play blues type stuff, so we like action a lot higher than the shredding types. And of course for slide guitar I like heavier strings and a slightly higher action still to avoid running the high E string into a fret with the slide (although a light touch on the slide is the most important part).

morph

I have two instruments the Tokai and the Faith, that both arrived perfectly setup, and you can feel it immediately. But then again it could also be their respective build quality compared to their meager mates. I have fiddled with the MIM Strat and it plays ok. If I set the string height as per the spec I get buzzing. The rest of the bunch are now irritating, intonation cannot be set, string height, buzzing etc. My Fender CN240CE nylon string is seriously disappointing.

So to answer the question, when you are blissfully ignorant of the fact it is sometimes better to stay that way, because once it starts itching it drives you nuts

Prolificbuyer

I don't get the logic of sending a guitar away to a third party to get set-up. I don't get my local mechanic adjust my car seat and rear view mirror. It's a personal thing that varies from time to time

funkadelic

I have my guitars setup whenever I (1) buy a guitar(2) use a different gauge string set (3) periodically to maintain the setup. Recently I had my action lowered to somewhat between a blues and shred setup. Took some time to get used to it but seem to be working for me now.

Since a spell of tendonitis caused by poor technique and a badly setup guitar I never compromise on a good setup. So in my books it critical. The guitar technician will notice things that's not even in my vocabulary to have it setup properly.

Recently I've started taking the same approach with my amps. Take it to the "doctor" for a health check even though it's not necessarily"sick" ?

V8

From 12 voters : 9 mostly use a tech and 3 will tech themselves...not quite what I expected for the DIY minded fellows of GFSA.

On Sat I tweaked the strat a touch, just a minor truss adjustment - unplayed for 6mths, so the summer->winter change needed the neck flattened a little - which made it a lot more fun to play. Such a minor thing to bother a tech with?.

Stoffeltoo

With pro shooters the saying goes "Only interested in accurate guns" I believe the same to be true for guitars. "Only interested in well set up and intonated guitars"

NorioDS

Meron Rigas wrote: From 12 voters : 9 mostly use a tech and 3 will tech themselves...not quite what I expected for the DIY minded fellows of GFSA.

On Sat I tweaked the strat a touch, just a minor truss adjustment - unplayed for 6mths, so the summer->winter change needed the neck flattened a little - which made it a lot more fun to play. Such a minor thing to bother a tech with?.

First time I read about truss rods was in Alan's excellent book on electric guitar maintenance.

And right in there, he warns that if you overdo it, your guitar is toast.

For me, that's reason enough to leave it alone. But then I'm one of the much less technical posters here. Almost hate that there's any tech involved at all ?

#yesimlazy

V8

Norio wrote: First time I read about truss rods was in Alan's excellent book on electric guitar maintenance.

And right in there, he warns that if you overdo it, your guitar is toast.

The very same book that says "1/4 turn at a time" and mentions that the truss rod to not adjusted to set action. Heh, got me a copy a while ago, Alan even signed it on one visit to the gear junkie, with the disclaimer that his signature maybe devalue the book ?

Definitely inspired me to experiment with a project guitar or three.