Setup/Maintenance Issues.

[Mr_LV19E]

I agree with this 100%.   

Thanks for that, it's not often someone agrees with me.    .   

[L07 Shooting Star]

Thanks for that, it's not often someone agrees with me.    .   

I think you are on the right track with your analysis of the issue and how it could most reasonably be resolved.  I'm by no means an expert, but what you said makes a lot of sense to me. 

So to repeat what I already posted:  "There are lots of good opinions being offered here; some of them conflicting.  Since none of us have seen the guitar and it's current condition, I say go with what your luthier recommends.  Assuming he is competent and you trust his judgement, he is in the best position to assess the guitar and deal with it's frets."

[Caleb]

Got my guitar back today with shiny new frets. He polished up the board nicely and got the old frets he didn't replace shining like new as well.   It plays in tune now when I do chords and sounds great.  It feels a bit different and will take some getting used to. I guess I had grown accustomed to the way it felt before.  Ended up costing me about $150.

[L07 Shooting Star]

Got my guitar back today with shiny new frets. He polished up the board nicely and got the old frets he didn't replace shining like new as well.   It plays in tune now when I do chords and sounds great.  It feels a bit different and will take some getting used to. I guess I had grown accustomed to the way it felt before.  Ended up costing me about $150.

Good to hear, Caleb.  Seems like a pretty reasonable cost, too.

[Danny]

Good to hear, Caleb.  Seems like a pretty reasonable cost, too.

[Mr_LV19E]

Good to hear, Caleb.  Seems like a pretty reasonable cost, too.

Absolutely, I paid that much for a setup in 2007 when I bought my first new Larrivee. That's why I learned everything I could so I could do my own setups. You could buy another new guitar for what it would cost to setup 4 guitars twice a year ($150x4x2=$1200). Not that every guitar needs a setup twice a year but even if you just know the basics you can keep them playing their best and make minor adjustments every string change.

[L07 Shooting Star]

Absolutely, I paid that much for a setup in 2007 when I bought my first new Larrivee. That's why I learned everything I could so I could do my own setups. You could buy another new guitar for what it would cost to setup 4 guitars twice a year ($150x4x2=$1200). Not that every guitar needs a setup twice a year but even if you just know the basics you can keep them playing their best and make minor adjustments every string change.

$150.00 sounds pretty steep for just a "standard" setup; even in 2015.  I suppose it varies with location and availability.  I haven't checked local prices since, like you, I do all my own work.

It pays to find a good tech that you can communicate with and trust.  My regular "clients" tell me I charge about half of what they would pay at 2 of the most popular music stores here in Edmonton, for the same job.  I haven't confirmed this myself.  One client has told me I don't charge enough!  That's OK.  I don't have any formal training or certificate to hang on the wall, and I enjoy doing it regardless.  If it keeps me in tools, I'm happy.

[unclrob]

$150.00 sounds pretty steep for just a "standard" setup; even in 2015.  I suppose it varies with location and availability.  I haven't checked local prices since, like you, I do all my own work.

It pays to find a good tech that you can communicate with and trust.  My regular "clients" tell me I charge about half of what they would pay at 2 of the most popular music stores here in Edmonton, for the same job.  I haven't confirmed this myself.  One client has told me I don't charge enough!  That's OK.  I don't have any formal training or certificate to hang on the wall, and I enjoy doing it regardless.  If it keeps me in tools, I'm happy.

I get told all the time that I don't charge enough but when I ask them for more they just laugh.There is no test to take to get a certificate.I call GC to ask how they certify there tech's and they didn't have an answer other then you had to work for them.With each job you get better and better and the better you get the better tech you are.

[L07 Shooting Star]

I get told all the time that I don't charge enough but when I ask them for more they just laugh.There is no test to take to get a certificate.I call GC to ask how they certify there tech's and they didn't have an answer other then you had to work for them.With each job you get better and better and the better you get the better tech you are.

I agree and that is my experience.

[rockstar_not]

$150.00 sounds pretty steep for just a "standard" setup; even in 2015.  I suppose it varies with location and availability.  I haven't checked local prices since, like you, I do all my own work.

It pays to find a good tech that you can communicate with and trust.  My regular "clients" tell me I charge about half of what they would pay at 2 of the most popular music stores here in Edmonton, for the same job.  I haven't confirmed this myself.  One client has told me I don't charge enough!  That's OK.  I don't have any formal training or certificate to hang on the wall, and I enjoy doing it regardless.  If it keeps me in tools, I'm happy.

Caleb says the tech replaced frets and did a 'shine up' job on those he didn't replace.  That's a couple hours minimum of work and if done skillfully, $150 is kind of inexpensive.

-Scott

[Danny]

I don't do a lot of repairs for others but I did setup a cheap strat copy. It took me most of a day to get everything right. But I only charged a hundred.
It was  for a close friend though. My thoughts have been drifting towards getting some cards printed up and doing a bit of public repairs. Not in any hurry though.

[Caleb]

Caleb says the tech replaced frets and did a 'shine up' job on those he didn't replace.  That's a couple hours minimum of work and if done skillfully, $150 is kind of inexpensive.

-Scott

This guy typically does way more work than he charges the customer for.  He installed a new bridge on one of my mandolins a while back.  It was a big job to get it properly fitted.  I can't remember what he charged me but it wasn't enough.  A very honest guy.  If you all know someone in the DFW area, send them to Kerry.  He does great work.  www.kerrysguitarshop.com

[L07 Shooting Star]

Caleb says the tech replaced frets and did a 'shine up' job on those he didn't replace.  That's a couple hours minimum of work and if done skillfully, $150 is kind of inexpensive.

-Scott

That's the issue.  I'm way too meticulous, thorough, and perfectionist to charge by the hour.  I charge by the job, no matter how long it takes.  So, for example, if I feel you need a new nut to be made, I will charge you so much for a new nut to be made whether it takes me 10 minutes to make it or 2 hours to make it.

[unclrob]

That's the issue.  I'm way too meticulous, thorough, and perfectionist to charge by the hour.  I charge by the job, no matter how long it takes.  So, for example, if I feel you need a new nut to be made, I will charge you so much for a new nut to be made whether it takes me 10 minutes to make it or 2 hours to make it.

The sign of a real tech.If I charged by the hour I would never get any work.

[rockstar_not]

Ok so how much do you charge to replace frets as in Calebs case?

[L07 Shooting Star]

Ok so how much do you charge to replace frets as in Calebs case?

Truthfully, I think I would charge about what he paid; $150.00.  I think he got a good price for the work done, and I applaud the person who did it for that price.  I also would do it for the same price.  But many would pay a lot more for that job depending on where they go to get it done.  That's my point.  Myself, Rob, and his guy do this kind of work for the love of doing it and not so much for making a big profit.  Of course we don't want to lose money, but we at least break even or even make a few bucks to buy some tools or help finance our next guitar.

[unclrob]

Truthfully, I think I would charge about what he paid; $150.00.  I think he got a good price for the work done, and I applaud the person who did it for that price.  I also would do it for the same price.  But many would pay a lot more for that job depending on where they go to get it done.  That's my point.  Myself, Rob, and his guy do this kind of work for the love of doing it and not so much for making a big profit.  Of course we don't want to lose money, but we at least break even or even make a few bucks to buy some tools or help finance our next guitar.

I make enough to pay my bill's...alas not enough to buy any guitars's  But I'm happy