Which of the 2 Guitar tech would you go to for a set up?

[Raymond]

Which Guitar tech would you go to?

Guitar Tech 1 – A small independent guitar store recommended by a friend who used him years back. Originally says it takes a week turn around but when I mentioned it is for a PRS Custom 24 he said he could do a same day set up as I said I wouldn't like to be without my guitar for a week and if he could do a same day set up.

http://www.guitarcavern.co.uk/ (site current under re-development, was working last week)

Guitar Tech 2 – A big national store recommended by a colleague at work. 1 week turn around, I asked about same day set up and he refused as he wants to give the guitar time to settle down after any tweaks and do not want people slagging off his work due to the guitar hasn't settled down and taken it away in a Same Day set up.

http://www.pmtonline.co.uk/birmingham.html

Both are the same price £40 + strings.

 

[DHW]

Which Guitar tech would you go to?

Guitar Tech 1 – A small independent guitar store recommended by a friend who used him years back. Originally says it takes a week turn around but when I mentioned it is for a PRS Custom 24 he said he could do a same day set up as I said I wouldn't like to be without my guitar for a week and if he could do a same day set up.

Guitar Tech 2 – A big national store recommended by a colleague at work. 1 week turn around, I asked about same day set up and he refused as he wants to give the guitar time to settle down after any tweaks and do not want people slagging off his work due to the guitar hasn't settled down and taken it away in a Same Day set up.

Both are the same price £40 + strings.

Small shop... He is likely not selling enough guitars to make a living so a major portion of his income is likely coming from setups, repairs, and modifications. This means he needs to be good as word of mouth and repeat business puts food on his table. A "tech" at a big chain store is nothing but a value add service and he's getting paid no matter what.

In a perfect world I would research the two a bit better. If you can get more recommendations it should help. The guy I am using now doesn't advertise, I didn't even know he was there even though I have lived in the area for years. After doing research I found recommendations from every major guitar forum out there from multiple people. I took a guitar in that was screwed up by someone else and it came back amazing. He has now setup 8 guitars for me and everyone is better than the last(partly because the instruments are getting better).

 

[Pfloyd57]

I've got a soft spot for small shops operated by people with a passion for instruments.

 

[carpincowboy]

Small shop everytime. You have to support the independent retailer. He makes his living on reputation and worth of mouth.

 

[wardog]

i like the little guys, but go to the big change. this guy sounds like a perfectionist jerk. should treat your guitar like it's his own.

 

[Raymond]

I'll go to the little guy then, I can always go back for any tweaks if required. He is also more local to me as well.

 

[rabidhamster]

Another vote for the little guy - 1 day turn around plus you might get him to let you watch.

Not to be "that guy", but I paid for a set up exactly twice before Dan Earlwine taught me:

The book has paid for itself many times over, my setups are always exactly to my liking, and I'm never without my guitar. I can set a guitar up in the middle of the night while every tech is closed. Best part is after a few years you can do continuous setup on the road without having to even really measure - because you know what you like with your hands, and you'll learn to adjust to that intuitively.

 

[Raymond]

Thanks for the book recommendation, i notice there is a second edition out (2011), the one in your photo costs twice as much being out of print ! lol

 

[LJD]

Figure out exactly who would be doing the work. Go with whoever has the knowledge and experience. Call and ask to speak with the tech, find out how long he or she has been setting up guitars and ask if they have experience with PRS guitars. I found a tech once who had decades of experience but couldn't figure out the locking tuners, go figure. Good luck!

 

[rabidhamster]

Thanks for the book recommendation, i notice there is a second edition out (2011), the one in your photo costs twice as much being out of print ! lol

lol how funny! I doubt the updated version would be worse. I'll have to check it out and see if there's anything new in the tech stories section. I think I bought mine from a stack of essentially brand new ones at Halfprice books back around 2001. Hadn't thought anything about it til now, looks like the latest date in it was 1994. Maybe it'll be a collectors item some day:laugh:

 

[Bill SAS 513]

Another vote for the little guy - 1 day turn around plus you might get him to let you watch.

Not to be "that guy", but I paid for a set up exactly twice before Dan Earlwine taught me:

The book has paid for itself many times over, my setups are always exactly to my liking, and I'm never without my guitar. I can set a guitar up in the middle of the night while every tech is closed. Best part is after a few years you can do continuous setup on the road without having to even really measure - because you know what you like with your hands, and you'll learn to adjust to that intuitively.

And apparently it's a collectable!!!! I have that book and would also say its worth its weight in gold (Hardware on a whitewash SAS that is)...
The most important thing if you want to tackle your own set-ups is take your time, and make alot of small adjustments instead of one big adjustment.