Pro set-up surprise !

[Tony Burns]

I just got back my '71 Guild D-55 from Jim Holler of Trinity Guitars , I bought this beauty back in 75 or 76 and ive had it for over 30 years , its tone has always been spectacular - but something about its sound seemed off a little- so I had Jim put a new Bone Nut , New Bone Saddle as well as level and reface my Jumbo frets ( as well as professionally set the tonation - as well as set it up for ex-light strings) The tonation was never before been this close, guess that kind of stuff was never done in the seventies - it is now one of the best sounding guitars Ive ever played not less owned - because of its maturity the sound is extremely clean . The cost was around 150 - been thinking about a new Larrivee before this , but now im not so sure - this is the kind of guitar Ive always wanted it to be - Pro set up ? - would do it again in a heartbeat - Its like having the best of both worlds !

[Terry Allan Hall]

It doesn't get much better than a Guild!

[knockwood]

Originally posted by Terry Allan Hall It doesn't get much better than a Guild!

 

+1, if we're talkin' old Guild.

[Hudman]

Never under estimate the value of a good set up.

 

[WaveRay]

I don't think it matters what your guitar costs. Talk to a pro and discuss with them what you're looking for. He will get the best out of the instrument if he's worth his allen wrench.

[Terry Allan Hall]

 

Originally posted by knockwood +1, if we're talkin' old Guild.

 

 

The new ones are pretty decent, as well.

[pipedwho]

Originally posted by Hudman Never under estimate the value of a good set up.

 

+1, and never underestimate how good it can get when the same guy has a plek machine at his disposal.

 

[STEELSTRINGS]

I recently had the same thing done to my Alvarez except it is set up for medium strings, and I also had a pickup installed. The setup made a tremendous difference. I still have bigger unplugged tone inspite of having a UST as well as a soundhole pickup installed.

[Chicken Monkey]

Where do you find a good setup guy? Guitar Center has killed all of the guitar shops around here.

[Tony Burns]

Good question ? - i guess i got lucky, when i bought my Martin last year - the gentleman who i bought it from also was a luthier ( a good one too ) guess depending on where you are , probably word of mouth - ask some other players in the area. What i did before i meet this gentlemen was to call music stores and find out who they used for repairs , then id check them out with a visit or ask for references -- a good idea might be to compile a list of great repairmen / or repair persons ( to be correct in todays times ) sometimes taking a drive to the next city , etc-- is your best option -- im also thinking that the company that made yur guitar ( Martin, Taylor etc ) might also have a listing of qualified repair people they send customers to - that might be in a reasonable distance from you.

[Freeman Keller]

Most factory authorized repair people (Martin, Taylor, etc) should be pretty good at setting up a guitar. Things I would look for are:

 

Does the tech ask you what you want and like? Does she ask you to play the guitar so she can see how you play - style, attack, where on the neck? Does she ask about your preference in strings and tunings? Does she ask about problems (buzzes, difficult fretting, intonation)? Does she measure your guitar before starting so she has a reference point? Does she give you a record of where she has set the nut, relief, action, when she is done.

 

For example, when Kimsey set up my 12 he asked where I play on the neck (all over it), if I ever used picks (no), how the intonation was (terrible), and what strings I used (I sent him a set). How do I tune (D, and then down). I told him I play a lot of slide - that affects the nut. Do I bend strings in or out (how close can the E's be to the sides). He asked how I liked the setup he had done on my 6 - I said perfect (if it was in a shop he might ask me to play other gits for reference).

 

The old 12 was almost never played before sending to Bryan and is an absolute joy now.

[guit30]

My Alvarez has been like incredible since my Pro set up!!!!

Jim

-was done at Music and Arts in Horsham ,Dennis Topper

[pipedwho]

Originally posted by Freeman Keller Does the tech ask you what you want and like? Does she ask you to play the guitar so she can see how you play - style, attack, where on the neck? Does she ask about your preference in strings and tunings? Does she ask about problems (buzzes, difficult fretting, intonation)? Does she measure your guitar before starting so she has a reference point? Does she give you a record of where she has set the nut, relief, action, when she is done.

 

Is it still OK if the tech is a bloke?

[Ultimate Dave]

just dropped my alvarez off to get a new nut cut and setup, havent had it done for 9 years, looking forward to the result

[Tony Burns]

Dont be surprised if it sounds better than it ever did - I dont think their even was anybody who even did pro set ups back 20-30 years ago ( at least not where i grew up )- i use to play out alot and no-one ever talked about how this or that luthier who could set their guitar up and made the tonation better , guess i just thought how could my guitar ever sound better than it did back then . come to think i dont think their even was anyone who was trained in the Luthier skill near here - if your guitar didnt sound right , you got rid of it and got something different - boy how times have changed -- As a matter of fact most music stores didnt know what they were doing and screwed up more guitars than they fixed , so i didnt trust them - Now it seems common place to deal with specialists - well that was the seventies. !

[Ultimate Dave]

well even 10 years ago, i remember looking at soldering jobs done by so called pros at music stores, and it looked rather crappy most of the time. im very pleased with what the guy has done with my electric, so im looking forward to it in 2 weeks.