Sunday, September 22, 2013

What would come with a typical acoustic guitar setup?

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 on ... Synyster Gates Standard Floyd Rose Locking Nut | Schecter Guitar
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Hello


A local guitar shop told me it would be $65 for a setup, plus strings. What would the $65 include? I mainly just want the action lowered because the strings are wayyy too high off the fretboard, would it cost a lot less if I just wanted this done?


Answer
You can't simply "lower the strings" without doing a setup.....string height is a by-product od a setup. In a typical setup, you should expect:

1. the neck relief to be adjusted
2. nut height checked/corrected
3. bridge saddle lowered or raised as necessary (raising it will require shimming or replacement)

Your string height and action is a direct function of all the above factors....so a setup is really the same thing as getting your action adjusted.

When you consider that you're getting a new set of strings and a fair chunk of labor, the price you've been quoted is reasonable.

Edit: Here are some average "Blue Book" prices: http://www.guitarrepairshop.com/blu.html Keep in mind that adjusting the bridge is more involved on an acoustic guitar. Since the bridge isn't adjustable like an electric guitar, the saddle must be removed and carefully filed from the bottom if it needs to be lowered. To get the height perfect, you may need to repeat this several times. By all means, shop around...just understand that the simple word "setup" can actually be time consuming.



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