[guitarman2]

Whenever I need some simple work or a setup done on one of my guitars I always dread taking it in. It sits there any where from 2 to 4 weeks waiting for its turn in the cue, depending on who I take it to.
Just wondering why guitar repair shops don't run a system where they give you a call to bring your guitar in when your name comes up in a cue.

 

[Distortion]

Just do your own. Lots of good books out their. Probably by more informed people than the one doing your guitar.

 

[Budda]

Mine take 3 days. Learning to do it yourself definitely sounds like your best bet.

 

[guitarman2]

Just do your own. Lots of good books out their. Probably by more informed people than the one doing your guitar.

I'm just not that handy a guy. I'm really particular which would make a candidate as I know what I want better than others.
I have one guitar here that was setup before I bought the guitar. It plays amazing and I think its the best setup guitar that I've ever played. The way the frets were done, the action, etc. I got the contact info off the guy I bought the guitar from. Of course when I read the reviews on him he gets glowing reports and theres not a bad word about him other than he takes forever to get to it. I would love for my second electric to be set up the exact same way by the same guy. But I don't want to wait forever.
When it comes to adjusting string height or relief, I'm fine. But when it comes to messing with the frets such as filing down, crowning, etc. Well one mistake can be costly and I'd end up bringing it to someone anyway.
I don't mind waiting a long time for the right guitar guy but I wish they'd just give me a call when my turn comes up and I'd bring the guitar right away. Leaving it a couple days is all that would be needed depending on what the job was.

 

[laristotle]

I don't mind waiting a long time for the right guitar guy but I wish they'd just give me a call when my turn comes up and I'd bring the guitar right away.
Leaving it a couple days is all that would be needed depending on what the job was.

Maybe suggest that to them the next time you go in?
Explaining that with customer service like that, the word would spread and increase their business?

 

[Merlin]

I always did my own setups, as I didn’t trust any rocker dude in a shop to believe how I
wanted my guitar setup done. Now I do them for other people.

 

[Chitmo]

If you have the time I'd learn how to do it myself. Only reason I pay someone is lack of spare time.

 

[Alex]

Shyboy and Tex can do same day.

 

[Mooh]

I don't advertise but I get the odd cold call from folks, word of mouth stuff.

As a teenager I had to figure out how to fix and set-up guitars or I'd never have anything playable. Nowadays I do set-ups for my students fairly regularly, often form a lesson around it.

 

[sillyak]

You should try taking a rifle to a gunsmith. The fastest guy around is a 6 week turn a round on something pure labour (no parts to order). Most are 6 months-ish.

One of my friends got a call from a notoriously slow Smith asking him to come pick up his rifle, it was finished. He had forgotten about it, he had dropped it off in the late 90's and it was just finished now (this was about 2010.)

I've always wondered this with gunsmiths, but the same goes for guitar or amp techs.

Why can't it be like a mechanic? You book your time, you drop it off and pick it up a few hours later.

This type of business model has a bit more risk, since you are the mercy of flaky musicians who might not show up. However you would think there would be enough longer term projects to cover for those instances.

 

[guitarman2]

This type of business model has a bit more risk, since you are the mercy of flaky musicians who might not show up. However you would think there would be enough longer term projects to cover for those instances.

Well some of these techs that have weeks of work lined up would have no problem moving on to the next in line if a flaky musician doesn't show. I think it would be reasonable to call someone in when there is only a couple ahead of you. That way if someone drops out you've still got time to move on to the next guy. It would probably just take some time management and organization, which most likely, most guitar techs don't specialize in.

 

[Lef T]

Whenever I need some simple work or a setup done on one of my guitars I always dread taking it in

I would never take my gear to a shop where I felt dread.
I see you're in Brantford,but Fred Gabrsek whose company is Freddys Frets is in Niagara on the Lake and is my go to tech.
Fred does beyond excellent work,is very fairly priced with a quick turnaround and is a super guy.
Life is too short to dread taking your beloved guitar to a tech.
Check out his website.
He does awesome custom builds also.

 

[Jim DaddyO]

I do the odd set up on guitars and it takes a day to do it, then I let it sit overnight and check it all again. It isn't that hard even if you have to touch up a fret or two. The specs are all on line for the most part. Check out Dave's World of Fun Stuff on You Tube. I don't do everything exactly the way he does, but his methods are pretty sound. Oh, and a Peterson Strobo Tuner is nice, but you can get away with anything accurate to 1 cent or less. You're ears won't be able to tell. There's no such thing as perfect intonation across a fret board anyway.

 

[Frenchy99]

Learn how to do them yourself... lots of books out there and plenty of videos on youtube. With the amount of guitars ands basses that I went thru , learning to set them up was a priority. Almost every guitar I bought was in dire need of a set up. ( I only buy used by the way...)

 

[DaddyDog]

Shyboy and Tex can do same day.

Really?! I'll have to try that. I'm a regular customer. I would imagine you'd have to call ahead to arrange it.

I wish someone would do a one day seminar (or longer) on set ups. I've read all kinds of things about it, but I'd like to see/do it in person. I'm scared to touch a truss rod.

@guitarman2 if you're up to a trip to The Guitar Shop in Mississauga, they've done set ups for me in less than a week.

 

[Budda]

Really?! I'll have to try that. I'm a regular customer. I would imagine you'd have to call ahead to arrange it.

I wish someone would do a one day seminar (or longer) on set ups. I've read all kinds of things about it, but I'd like to see/do it in person. I'm scared to touch a truss rod.

@guitarman2 if you're up to a trip to The Guitar Shop in Mississauga, they've done set ups for me in less than a week.

Truss rods are super easy, just make small turns.

 

[guitarman2]

Truss rods are super easy, just make small turns.

Thats one of a couple of things that I will play with if needed.

 

[guitarman2]

@guitarman2 if you're up to a trip to The Guitar Shop in Mississauga, they've done set ups for me in less than a week.

I'm hesitant to take my guitar to a music store to be worked on by "who knows". Maybe I'll give Mike Spicer a call but I expect the wait to be long. Although I've been lucky with him before and its only been a week. As well he's located close to me.

 

[bigboki]

Really?! I'll have to try that. I'm a regular customer. I would imagine you'd have to call ahead to arrange it.

I wish someone would do a one day seminar (or longer) on set ups. I've read all kinds of things about it, but I'd like to see/do it in person. I'm scared to touch a truss rod.

@guitarman2 if you're up to a trip to The Guitar Shop in Mississauga, they've done set ups for me in less than a week.

I understand why would you want that somebody guide you in person instead of youtube - instant corrections and prevention of mistakes.

I can get some really cheap guitar and try it first on it.
Or we can meet for one afternoon and I can show you and then let you do it on one of my guitars. Just I am really busy at work now, but hopefully will clear in a week. Let me know.

 

[Player99]

If doing fret leveling, crowning and dressing one should also invest in some tools. Rulers and straight edges, fret files, crowning files. nut files to name a few. Easily $500 but then you are set for life.