For every guitarist, having their instrument professionally set up is important to ensure your instrument is sounding and playing great and keeping it that way over its lifetime.
But how much does a professional guitar setup cost? I’ve seen so many conflicting opinions, vague estimates, or even estimates that don’t apply to everyone.
In this guide, I’ll try to explain why professional setups are important and clear up some of the confusion surrounding how much they cost.
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Before getting into how much a guitar setup costs, I’d like to go over why we have them done and what a setup actually involves. Understanding what you’re paying for can help you know how much you should be paying.
I’d say there are two main reasons to get your guitar set up: when you just bought the guitar to make sure it’s in good shape, and then probably about once a year. Some guitarists say that you should have at least two setups done a year, but I wouldn’t call this a must for most people.
If you’ve just bought a guitar, I would say a setup is in order. I’ve never felt it necessary on brand new guitars, but on second-hand guitars, I would always get them at least checked out.
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Even if the guitar sounds and plays great, a second-hand guitar might have a small issue that you can’t really notice unless you know what to look for.
After the initial setup, I generally only have another setup done about once a year. This is usually just as a checkup or if I need something specific done like having the electronics checked or an acoustics saddle adjusted.
This might differ slightly from place to place, but I’d say there are generally 12 steps in a full setup, not including removing the old strings and cleaning before the setup.
How Much Electric Guitars Cost (with 30 Examples)
Some places might do a bit more like also checking the electronics on an electric guitar, but I’ve also heard of some places only doing the bare minimum of adjusting the truss rod and replacing the strings. If they’re charging you less than you expected, then that’s probably the only setup you’re getting from them or you have to actually specify that they do a full setup.
I’d recommend finding out what the setup involves at the guitar shop you’re going to before handing your instrument over and possibly getting a bit ripped off. Also, a good setup should include new strings in the price.
Now that you know why setups are important and what they involve, you should be able to make a decent guess as to how much they should cost.
What Is The Average Cost Of An Electric Guitar? 3 Things To Consider
The most common price range I see is $50 – $100. This is a fair estimate, but I find it a bit vague and can still leave a lot of people guessing.
A big factor in how much you’re going to pay for a setup is the guitar itself. Acoustic guitar setups are usually going to cost less since they’re a bit easier to work with than electrics.
I’d say that $50 would be about the right amount for an acoustic setup with a truss rod and saddle adjustments, polishing the frets, and replacing the strings. If the nut needs to be filed, an additional $15 could be added on top.
How Much Is An Electric Guitar? Beginner To Professional Guitar Prices
For electric guitars, you’ll probably be looking at an extra $25, so $75 for a setup. Depending on the guitar, you might pay a bit more or a bit less. Meaning an SX will be cheaper to set up than a Fender Squier.
I’ve also seen a difference in cost between guitars with a Bigsby or Fender-style tremolo system, and guitars with Floyd Rose-style systems. A Floyd Rose system can easily cost an extra $20, but I’ve even seen it going as high as $60.
The reason for this is that Floyd Rose systems are a bit harder to restring, and they usually require extra calibration to set up correctly to make sure the intonation is right.
How Much Does A Guitar Setup Cost
Another big factor that I’ve noticed is the area you live in. The cost of living in an area affects goods and services and can make a guitar setup either cheaper or more expensive depending on an area’s cost of living. Seattle, for example, has a high cost of living, and a setup there is about $20 more than say Denver.
Just to be clear, these are still just estimates, and prices in your area may be very different. I’ve seen a lot of mentions of people paying as little as $25 for a setup, although usually, this excludes strings.
I should mention that a setup isn’t the same as a repair or replacement. If you need something repaired or want to replace a part, you’ll have to ask your local shop how much they charge since it will depend entirely on the part and you’ll probably be charged per hour.
How Much Do Good Electric Guitars Cost?
At this point, you might be wondering why you can’t just do a guitar setup yourself. The simple answer is you can, and I would even recommend every guitarist learn how to do a guitar setup, even just a basic one.
If you know how to replace strings, adjust your guitar’s truss rod, bridge, and string action, you could end up saving quite a bit of money. These are usually the only things that need to be done, and if you can do it yourself, then you don’t have to send your guitar in every time it needs to be done.
I wouldn’t expect or even recommend doing a setup if you’re still a beginner. Start with something simple like restringing your guitar and adjust the action, then slowly move up to truss rod adjustments as you get more comfortable.
Question] How Much Does It Roughly Cost To Have My Guitar Set Up By A Professional?
Of course, some things will still need to be done by professionals with not only the experience but also the right tools.
Ideally, a guitar setup should be around $50 for an acoustic guitar and around $75 for an electric guitar, $100 if it’s an electric guitar with a Floyd Rose-style tremolo.
I always over-budget and usually add an extra $20 or so to account for any extra charges like unforeseen repairs or a price increase I didn’t know about.
How Much Does An Electric Guitar Cost? (44 Examples)
With all that said, I hope I’ve given you a better understanding of how much a professional guitar setup costs and what you can expect to pay at your local guitar shop or at a larger store like Guitar Center.
Dedrich is a guitar player, songwriter and sound engineer with extensive music production and studio experience. He mostly listens to classic rock and punk bands, but sometimes also likes listening to rap and acoustic songs.A guitar setup is a process whereby a guitar is adjusted to best suit the playing style and preferences of the musician. The cost of a guitar setup can vary depending on the guitar, the specific adjustments needed, and the luthier performing the work. Generally speaking, a simple guitar setup may cost around $50, while more complex work can run into the hundreds of dollars. Ultimately, the cost of a guitar setup is a small price to pay for having an instrument that is perfectly tailored to the player.
A new guitar can become damaged if it is not properly installed, and this can cause problems. If a guitar is properly set up, it can have a significant impact on its performance. The setup is not cheap, but it can make a significant difference in how well your guitar plays. It’s probably a good idea to put your new electric guitar to good use before you buy it. It will be easier to play and sound great once the instrument has been properly set up. The average setup will cost between $50 and $100. If repairs are required, the price of your instrument is likely to rise significantly.
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You can have the appropriate action on your guitar by having a guitar technician adjust the string height. When you press down a fret on an electric guitar, you will be able to tune it up and down, regardless of which fret you press. It takes a lot more effort to set up acoustic guitars. When adjusting saddle height, acoustic guitar intonation is accomplished. Most normal players would be unable to accomplish this task because it necessitates special skills. If you do this on your own, you risk damaging the saddle of your acoustic guitar. Electric guitar bridges are more difficult to play than acoustic guitar bridges.
Most bridges on acoustic guitars do not require setup, but for some instruments, you may need to have the bridge checked by a professional. Electric guitars have an electronic and pickup system that is very complex. The truss rod can be adjusted on its own, but it is critical not to tighten it too tightly if you intend to damage or crack the neck. Fret leveling ensures that the instrument performs well all the way up and down the fretboard. It is highly unlikely that you will need a guitar setup, which will cost between $50 and $100. As a result of investing this much time and money into your instrument, you
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