Guitar Setups

A “guitar setup” is where a trained professional will evaluate your instrument to make sure it is in generally good health, perform general maintenance, and then adjust and tailor the instrument to fit your personal needs.

Regular setups are not only a mandatory part of protecting your guitar or bass from damage but they also help you to play and sound your best.

• Does your guitar seem more difficult to play than it once did?
• Has your guitar started to buzz recently?
• Does the guitar seem to be constantly out of tune even after you tune it?
• Are your strings corroded and the fingerboard filthy?
• Are you using a heavier or lighter string gauge than was installed at the factory?
• Are you playing the instrument in an altered tuning?
• Has your guitar remained in its case, unplayed, for months or longer?

First we evaluate the instrument. This allows us to determine whether the instrument is in good health, that it is “setup-able”, or if additional work will be required.

Next we consider the specific concerns and requests made by the client, such as desired action, string gauge, tuning, etc.  The goal is to tailor the instrument to you liking and we are happy to offer guidance when warrented.

After the above, we set about the “work” portion of a setup as listed at the top of the page.

There is a common misperception that a setup is cure all for any instrument woes: In fact, the scope of a setup consists of evaluation of the instruments functionality, a cleaning of dirt and debris consistent with normal usage, and the performance of routine maintenance and adjustments.  It is the final step in dialing in an otherwise healthy instrument and tailoring it to the players needs.

If the instrument has been abused, neglected, suffers from fret work issues, has non functioning components, etc., additional work will most certainly be required before proper setup can be achieved. This work will be quoted in accordance with our publicly posted repair price list.

We do our best to return work to our customers as soon as possible. We strive to provide a turn around time that our competitors simply can’t match. Most setups and other basic jobs are completed within 2 to 3 business days.

However, we realize that sometimes it just can’t wait. you need it done now: For these occasions, we are happy to offer Rush Service to our clients.

Many variables effect your instrument, such as: climate, frequency of use, style of play, method of storage, etc. All of these factors can impact how often your guitar requires service.

For the average player, light to moderate use, we recommend having your guitar looked at 1-2 times per year. Those playing several hours a day, or performing regularly, should expect more frequent visits to the shop. An instrument that is subjected to major temperature and/or humidity changes is also likely to need more frequent maintenance.

Regardless of how long it has been since your last setup, you should always have your guitar looked at as soon as you notice a problem.