Members goaway Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 I just bought a guitar from a local guitar store but they dont really have professional guitar techs. If I take it over to guitar center will they still set it up for me even though i didnt buy it there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 They will, if you pay them, but I wouldn't trust them. Not the guys at my GC anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mr_GoodBomb Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 Yes. Will they overcharge you? Yes. I've heard of them charging 30-100 bucks to swap pickups (which is generally cutting and replacing two or three wires). Will they know what they're doing? Maybe, maybe not. All depends on who's working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members trill Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 Where do you live? If your town is big enough to have a GC, there's gotta be some actual luthiers/techs around, somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seblo_15 Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 No. They will send it to somebody to work on or at least that is what they told me several years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JoJo68 Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 Depends on the location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 No. They will send it to somebody to work on or at least that is what they told me several years ago. I think some of them have techs now. I know mine does. GC is putting alot of smaller shops out of business, the techs gotta work somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frets99 Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Here's a pic of a GC tech practicing his setup skills.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Febson Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 I just bought a guitar from a local guitar store but they dont really have professional guitar techs. If I take it over to guitar center will they still set it up for me even though i didnt buy it there? What kind of guitar is it? It should already be set up from the factory. If you mean by "professional guitar tech" some idiot kid that works at Guitar Center then yes take it there, they have those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hshaitan Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 The real question is... would you want someone at GC to set up your guitar for you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RooSTER-b Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 I just bought a Martin at my GC. They told me to pick out some strings. The guy told me THEY had to put them on, as their new policy would not allow them to just give away stuff anymore. I had to walk away as he was putting the new strings on. First, he cut all the old strings off at once (yikes) then, he restrung it in a way in which my brain could not compehend. I felt like I was watching someone do Chinese Algebra. He also managed to tune the first string way to high, snapping it and hitting a nearby customer in the arm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members headstash Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 My local GC has a legit guitar tech with the certifications to prove it. That being said, The $75 I payed for the guitar set up has inspired me to purchase a few tools from StewMac and do it myself next time. It didn't seem like brain surgery when I watched him do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Large Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 I don't know about GC in general - mine has a small repair shop inside the GC building, though. Call 'em and ask? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hamer_Time Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 The real question is... would you want someone at GC to set up your guitar for you? +100 and the winner is.........the above answer. Seriously, it is hard enough to find a good tech and you surely don't want some unknown person touching your guitar - especially if it's an unknown person from GC. Find a good tech in your area! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 's mel gibson Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 When I go into the Long & McQuades at 16th & Arbutus here in Vancouver, BC, there is usually a brand new guitar on the counter somewhere getting set up. With intonation and height adjustment for the strings and usually when I pick up any guitar they have in stock, it's already set up. The sales people at L&M's are all experienced musicians it seems, and they know how to do these two little things at least. I can do it myself as well although I admit that I'm nervous when it comes to truss rod adjustments. For intonation and string height adjustments,...I gotta ask,..."What's the big deal?" Every guitar player should know how to do these two little things, at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluesboy Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 TRUE STORY: i recently bought a jekyll & hyde ultimate overdrive at GC. the sales kid wasn't sure what power source should come with it... he was like "they require a certain type of mA's... i dont remember what that stands for. do you know what it means?" I reply yes, it means milli-ampere's or milli-amps, it's a unit of current and he was like "Yeah, that's it!!!!" I was like, ok then, maybe you shouldn't be telling people about guitar stuff. so, is this the type of person you want adjusting your guitar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 My local GC has a legit guitar tech with the certifications to prove it. That being said, The $75 I payed for the guitar set up has inspired me to purchase a few tools from StewMac and do it myself next time. It didn't seem like brain surgery when I watched him do it. In the long run it pays for itself. It also allows you to custom tailer your setups for your unique playing style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 's mel gibson Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 You don't even have to order from Stewmac. Your local home improvement store like Revy, Rona, etc have the small screw drivers and the smaller individual allen keys you need to do whatever you have to do. They even have a huge assortment of wood and metal screws. It's a matter of finding the correct one's you need, though. So I strap on my Strat with the kahler and go in and see what fits and then buy it. Simple! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 You don't even have to order from Stewmac. Your local home improvement store like Revy, Rona, etc have the small screw drivers and the smaller individual allen keys you need to do whatever you have to do. They even have a huge assortment of wood and metal screws. It's a matter of finding the correct one's you need, though. So I strap on my Strat with the kahler and go in and see what fits and then buy it. Simple! I do recommend the 18" straight edge from stewmac. Its a great reference to check the frets and relief. I would also get a set of feeler guages. I found a set at harbor freight for $3 and it has more sizes than the stewmac. Its great for checking nut action and relief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Birdman Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 I would encourage you to buy Dan Erlewine's book on guitar maintenance and learn to do it yourself. It isn't that hard with patience and the right tools. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kid Klash Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 They will, if you pay them, but I wouldn't trust them. Not the guys at my GC anyway. Well said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members songsforbears Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 When I bought my Hot Rod Tele, the open low E had some buzz right out of the box, so I told the salesperson I'd like a setup before I left. Every string buzzed on most frets when I brought it home. Instead of taking it anywhere for a setup, I just consulted Fender's website, which has setup guides for all their instruments. They aren't incredibly correct, but they do the trick, the rest is just practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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