How often do you get your guitar set-up?

[misterlutherman]

I've had my acoustic for a while now and the last time I got it in for general maintenance was a while ago, well over a couple years. I change the strings every so often, probably about every 3 months. I'm wondering what you guys say about guitar set-ups, how often you do them as well as string changes?

 

[reverend1]

I think that depends on how much you are playing that guitar.

I change strings and do general maintenance every few months. Oil rosewood fret boards no more than twice a year.

As far as setups go. I rarely have them done. Normally a new guitar will need a setup once the first winter hits. After that I don’t need to do much to them.

 

[B Valley]

I do a setup, if necessary, as soon as I get a guitar. I'll tweak the truss rod, if needed, and check the intonation occasionally after that.
I play a number of different guitars, depending on what strikes me at the time and will change strings as they start to sound flat.

 

[Bob411]

I think of a set up as what the place you buy the guitar from does or, what they should do. After that, things need to be tweaked, as they arise. Not like an oil change for a car, every so many miles.

 

[misterlutherman]

I do a setup, if necessary, as soon as I get a guitar. I'll tweak the truss rod, if needed, and check the intonation occasionally after that.
I play a number of different guitars, depending on what strikes me at the time and will change strings as they start to sound flat.

Where did you learn? If online, will you link a video?

 

[misterlutherman]

Interesting, thanks guys. I want my guitar to sound as best as it can be, or at least decent sounding, though there are a fair few factors involved in this, like if its made well, from decent materials, how well its cared for, and indeed, how well you play it.

I mean, you can make an expensive, well groomed guitar (trimming its beard and nose hair every few weeks) sound similar to a lesser cared for, more worn guitar. Maybe not if the guitar is rusty, etc.

 

[vonbladet]

It (my bass) was in tune when I bought it! Unfortunately, the neck was bowed and needed a shim and a truss rod tweak and it was fretting out high on the neck, so I watched some YouTubes and got stuck in.

 

[Mark Wein]

Usually when I start having problems with it, which may be once a year. As busy as this year has been I might be going in a little earlier for a few.

 

[Lerxst]

I mean, you can make an expensive, well groomed guitar (trimming its beard and nose hair every few weeks) sound similar to a lesser cared for, more worn guitar. Maybe not if the guitar is rusty, etc.

Make a good guitar sound shitty? Sure. Most of us don't even need to let the guitar get out of spec for that to happen

 

[OGG]

As needed.

I literally just finished making some fairly big adjustments to my blue ASAT because I need it for tomorrow and the intonation was whack!

It's all good now though, and ready for me to cry all over it tomorrow. Ugh.

Knowing how to do this stuff yourself is a lifesaver.

 

[misterlutherman]

It (my bass) was in tune when I bought it! Unfortunately, the neck was bowed and needed a shim and a truss rod tweak and it was fretting out high on the neck, so I watched some YouTubes and got stuck in.

How much did you spend on the bass? What make was it?

 

[misterlutherman]

Make a good guitar sound shitty? Sure. Most of us don't even need to let the guitar get out of spec for that to happen

This is very easily achieved if you play the guitar with your feet. Or with only your fingernails! Over-the-top playing, eh?? ><

 

[misterlutherman]

As needed.

I literally just finished making some fairly big adjustments to my blue ASAT because I need it for tomorrow and the intonation was whack!

It's all good now though, and ready for me to cry all over it tomorrow. Ugh.

Knowing how to do this stuff yourself is a lifesaver.

Nice one. Yeah I want to learn myself, it seems like something that would make you more free (independant) with guitar playing, as well as getting more in tune with your instrument (lol #pununintended)

 

[vonbladet]

How much did you spend on the bass? What make was it?

80 UK pounds (effectively 80$, in context). It's a Squier Precision. I am using it as a testbed for my setup and mod skills, but it is also my favourite bass.

 

[Modern Saint]

When I changed strings I check to see if all is well. If not, I will make the necessary adjustments. As for a new purchase, immediately. FWIW, I do my own work.

 

[misterlutherman]

80 UK pounds (effectively 80$, in context). It's a Squier Precision. I am using it as a testbed for my setup and mod skills, but it is also my favourite bass.

That sounds like a practical idea if you're experimenting with setups

 

[vonbladet]

That sounds like a practical idea if you're experimenting with setups

I’ve got a new pickup waiting and a new bridge on the way, and I haven’t modded a guitar since college in another century, so I certainly hope it works out.

 

[misterlutherman]

I’ve got a new pickup waiting and a new bridge on the way, and I haven’t modded a guitar since college in another century, so I certainly hope it works out.

How did you get into modding bass's?

 

[vonbladet]

How did you get into modding bass's?

This is my first ever bass mod! I moved the volume pot out of the way on a strat once, so I can handle that level of soldering. I did the frets on this bass because it’s too cheap (and I’m too cheap) to take it to a pro.

Meanwhile the new pickup reads 800 kOhms and makes no sound and one of the pawn shop strings snapped on the way off so this project is going the way of all projects. The new bridge is on, the old pickup is back in, the pickguard is held on with two(2) screws and I found a disused set of roundwound strings in a draw...

[To be continued...]

 

[smurfco]

I am constantly making minor tweaks to my guitars to make sure they are always ready to go. Thanks, OCD. (Really.)