TRBboy Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Hey fellas, i knowa lot of us do it ourselves but just interested to know how much people pay for a pro setup? Suppose it includes a restring (without the cost of the strings), fret polish, fretboard oil, truss rod adjustment, action adjustment, intonation adjustment, etc. So what's the going rate? Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turk Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 (edited) I think it's about £40 around here. Edited July 25, 2013 by Turk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 I was going to say £70...maybe with a stone as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Nothing. I'm a real picky b*st*rd so I always do my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 About £45 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted July 25, 2013 Author Share Posted July 25, 2013 Interesting.... So a setup as above for about £25-£30 would be quite cheap then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 The luthier I use has 2 rates, £35 for a basic set-up, and £55 for a full job. The full set-up includes: Level, dress and polish the frets • Clean and oil the fretboard • Check, clean and lubricate electronics • Re-cut nut to suit (if necessary) • Set pickup heights • Set intonation, action and truss rod • Clean and lubricate bridge screws • Set Tremolo (if applicable) • Check all hardware • Fit new strings (at extra cost) • Full clean and polish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Learn to do it yourself - apart from needing work on the frets it's not hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Last time I paid someone it was £25 but I didn't like the result and so i re-did it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted July 25, 2013 Author Share Posted July 25, 2013 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1374791008' post='2153416'] Learn to do it yourself - apart from needing work on the frets it's not hard. [/quote] Oh I always do it myself, it was kind of a hypothetical question following a conversation I had earlier. I've been setting up and repairing guitars since I was about 16 (15 years ago), and I used to do it for customers in the music shops I worked in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 (edited) So my £90 at the Bass Centre was a rip off? London weighting perhaps Edit: I've dug out the ten year old receipt for the 'service' £95 for a full service including a set of Elites. It was Chris Ward at the Bass Centre who did it Edited July 27, 2013 by Roland Rock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 (edited) I've seen the Bass Gallery charge someone £30. So it's not "London Weighting" all over London. Playsomething in Bishops Stortford do it for a bargain sum of £100 with strings thrown in! Bargain! By the way, their guy is crap too. Edited July 26, 2013 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Things like pickup hight while have to be balanced to me are still a personal thing. I have mine sky high, a luthier will no doubt lower them. I think I heard some one in notts pay £60, I'd told them I'd do it for a tenner. He replied suing but he changed the strings aswell, as if tha ts the hardest part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnyboy Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Id say £40 ,that was the standard charge for my man,but he's now left the country. I've now found someone who charges £25 and is better. I don't like just leaving a bass without meeting so it's good to meet before and after to have a chat about any issues . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I just paid £50 which included some fret work (new bass) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 £35 here for a string change, neck adjustment, intonation set and the frets leveled (assuming they are fairly level already) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu_g Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 the last time i had my bass set up i got it back and there was a bit of fret buzz so i learnt to do it myself everyone has personal preferences regarding setup, so i found its easier for me to do it to my own liking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I used to find that getting a setup was risky because whatever you ask for you get what the guy himself considers to be a good setup. A bit like a barber who gives everybody the same haircur whatever they ask for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barkin Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1374790376' post='2153403'] The luthier I use has 2 rates, £35 for a basic set-up, and £55 for a full job. The full set-up includes: Level, dress and polish the frets • Clean and oil the fretboard • Check, clean and lubricate electronics • Re-cut nut to suit (if necessary) • Set pickup heights • Set intonation, action and truss rod • Clean and lubricate bridge screws • Set Tremolo (if applicable) • Check all hardware • Fit new strings (at extra cost) • Full clean and polish [/quote] Is that Terry in Stevenage? I've not used him myself, but a mate uses him for his guitars and can't say enough good words about him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6v6 Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 If you're expecting any fretwork (fret-dress/polish etc) I'd be very wary of anything under about £50, as it probably means it'll be a rush-job and not very good. I've always paid about £50 for a full setup and fret-dress, and if the frets are OK I just do it myself, as others have said it's really not that hard other than fretwork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I've never paid more than £30 for a full setup including fret dressing. I normally do it myself but wouldn't trust myself if the frets need doing because i have a habit of needing a bit of trial and error! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I use Stuart from Peter Cooks in Hanwell. He looks after all my guitars, acoustic, electric and basses. I had to have the nut re cut and the frets stoned on my old P bass recently, otherwise I do it myself. I think he charges 40 quid for a setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Never had to do it, in over 16 years. I've made minor adjustments myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Blimey, playing bass must cost some people a fortune! 10 minutes, a set of screwdrivers, allen keys and a tuner is all you need unless you've got a bass with a neck or fret problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barkin Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 [quote name='Fat Rich' timestamp='1374860595' post='2154227'] Blimey, playing bass must cost some people a fortune! 10 minutes, a set of screwdrivers, allen keys and a tuner is all you need unless you've got a bass with a neck or fret problem. [/quote] Lol! Know what you mean. I do my own setups, but I've a well used 30 year old bass that needs some fret work doing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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