Complete Set Up?

[futrconslr]

I see you guys posting all the time about taking a new instrument in for a "complete set up" What is a complete set up? What does it cost? How long does it take to do it? I am curious as to the different answers I get....oh yeah for all you hair splitters out there, I am talking about an instrument meant to play God's Music--B.G.

[sunburst]

I suppose a complete setup would be new bridge fitted to top, new nut, frets checked and leveled as needed, action height adjusted at nut and bridge, correct bow established in neck, new strings, intonation adjusted as needed, any needed repairs to tuners, tailpiece, pickguard, end pin etc..

You probably wouldn't need all of that every time to end up with a complete setup, so the price wouldn't always be the same.

If you need all of that, it could be $250 or more, a basic setup might be more like $45 to $50.

[grsnovi]

I would suggest that in the context used most often here (that being after getting a relatively inexpensive, Pac Rim mando) that a "full" set up involves the following:

- truss rod adjust to straighten neck dead straight
- with neck straight: level frets
- recrown frets
- adjust truss rod for desired relief
- recut nut as required
- perfectly seat bridge to top
- position bridge
- compensate bridge saddles as required
- restring
- adjust intonation
- adjust bridge height/string action

I would think that difference between a "set up" and a "full set up" is the attention to the frets. Depending how hard the instrument has been played and how long its been since the last "full set up" the whole issues of fret work can probably be skipped for longer periods of time.

I generally do it myself, so I can'r give you a price.

[Michael Lewis]

What Gary listed looks like about $150. or so. You may be able to get it for less, and I know there are some places that will charge much more. When parts get replaced is when the price goes up, because of all the time it takes to fit them properly.

[futrconslr]

Thanks for the imput. I was curious as to what people expected in a set up. Michael, I looked at your website....your instruments are beautiful. I love those guitars and it looks like you do something a little different to the backs or your F5s that I havent noticed on other instruments.....I just cant put my finger on what it is....maybe carved with a more pronounced arch?

[cameron]

Don't a lot of repairmen plane the fretboard when doin a refret;and a lot of places only do complete refrets instead of partials.....? I was wondering why some replace only the frets that need it and shape them to the height of the others;an some only do full refrets?

[sunburst]

Cameron, you must have missed this thread (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=7;t=14099)

[cameron]

sunburst,
Yes,I did miss that thread;but now that I have read it I see I have much......philosphy to consider. Thanks for the referral to that thread! It is good to read about all the variables.