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Electric Guitar Setup
Hey -
I have been playing about seven months. I spent about 200 bucks each on a Acoustic Fender CC - 60 S Electric Ibanez GRX70QATBB Now that I am playing better I sent the Acoustic out to a shop to be set up, I don't have it back yet but was told it will help the sound and playability of the guitar When I pick it up should I have my inexpensive electric get set up as weel? It has always been a bit easier to play |
#2
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Throwing good money after bad is unlikely to lead to a path to satisfaction.
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#3
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As far as getting the electric guitar setup, while the electric may now be a "bit" easier to play, in my experience, a well setup electric should be much easier to play than a well setup acoustic. I would get the electric set up too. However, I don't know if I'd trust the person who told you that getting a setup will improve the sound to set it up. Also, comments have been made in this and other threads on the forum regarding cost of guitar and getting a setup. Cost of the guitar (IMHO) should never be a factor in whether a guitar should or shouldn't be set up. Anyway, I hope your tech/luthier does you right and sets up your guitar(s) well for you. Best of luck.
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As my username suggests, huge fan of Yamaha products. Own many acoustic-electric models from 2009-present and a couple electric. Lots of PA too. |
#4
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the setup will make the acoustic play easier
sound wise, it is what it is the electric could probably use a setup as they all usually do, but with lighter strings, and a factory setup that's probably pretty close is probably going be ok for a bit longer. I'd wait to see how the acoustic comes back before you go further with the people you are working with right now some are very good, some, don't really do a thorough job.
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#5
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Gotta agree 100% on this ; IME many if not most inexpensive electrics use ultra-light gauge strings (9-40 or 9-42) to compensate for poor fretwork and/or (especially in the case of set-neck guitars) incorrect neck geometry - which can have an adverse effect on tone. Although you may in fact prefer lighter-gauge strings, a properly set-up modern electric should be able to handle 11's (or even 12's) without discomfort or fretting out - and if your setup job doesn't include at least a basic fret dress, you need to find a new tech...
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Last edited by Paleolith54; 01-31-2022 at 08:48 AM. Reason: Xxccvv |
#7
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I realize what those saying "a setup doesn't effect sound" are saying if we define things narrowly. The real world isn't like that.
Most importantly: a guitar that is easier to play will allow the player to play better. "Tone is in the fingers" (also a narrowly defined thing -- but makes a point). Better playing=better sound. Setup often improves an instrument's intonation compromises. More in tune sounds better. Defects like string buzzes can be eliminated. Significant defects may be uncovered as part of a "checkup" along with a setup. Sure, in a perfect world, they should never be there. On my planet they sometime are. Should you setup the electric? If you've got the funds and opportunity and the place does good work, yes. I'll concede that electric guitars survive less than optimum factory setups better acoustics. Electrics as a class are easier to work on that acoustics. Things like setting bridge height and intonation are easy to do with a few tools on most electrics. If funds are limited (and the low-cost instruments mentioned would indicate that) then learning how to do a basic electric guitar setup (StewMac videos are usually good) is an option.
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#9
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#10
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I used to shy away from set-ups--I didn't like spending money (and still don't). But now I view them as "routine maintenance". I have all the guitars I play regularly set up every 3-6 months. Guitars are made of wood. Wood shifts with the weather and humidity. Any guitar you intend to play the heck out of of should be the best it can be--a good setup is essential for that. |
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If an electric guitar setup consists of adjusting neck relief, action, getting the intonation pretty close at the 1st and 12th frets and (at a stretch) lowering a couple of nut slots then that's something I can do myself just fine. I'd not pay someone to do those things.
If the nut slots are too low or some frets either need leveling or crowning then I'm not comfortable doing those things myself but it's a bit perplexing because that can easily cost more than the initial purchase price of an inexpensive guitar. Sure you're better off with a $200 guitar that's nice and playable rather than a $200 guitar that's hard to play. But spending another $200 to get it set up kind of ruins the idea of getting a cheap instrument! With enough time and patience you could possibly shop around and find a guitar with an acceptable nut and fretwork for around $200. But odds are you'd have to try (or closely examine) a LOT of $200 guitars to find one that doesn't need work on the frets or nut. For my part I just up my budget into the $300-$400 range which I think makes it a little easier to search out a playable electric guitar right off the shelf (give or take tweaking the easy "setup" stuff that can be adjusted with a slight turn of an allen wrench). The real challenge from my perspective isn't so much coming up with $150 or so to pay someone to redo a nut or address minor fretwork issues. It's finding someone who can a) do a job worth paying $150-ish for and b) will do it in a reasonable time frame instead of wanting you drop the guitar off with a promise to "Try to get to it next week".
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#12
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A set up is part of the "expense" (NOT "cost") of owning a guitar. When we buy a car, we pay to change the oil (unless we can do it ourselves). Guitars are made of wood--wood moves with fluctuations in temperature and humidity. If you can't do a great setup, pay someone to do it. I have all of my guitars set up every 6 months--if I were more diligent I would have them done every 3 months (as part of the string change). Its worth it.
A guitar that is easy to play is worth "maintenance". |
#13
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A setup will make it play better. So, if playability is an issue. It could also not allow notes to be fretted cleanly. Muting out notes.
Therefore, a setup can make it sound better. By allowing the notes to ring true to pitch. After that, you are at the mercy of both the build of the guitar, and your ability. |