I thinks it is important because it is a major part of the quality control process. Who wants them to look at the guitar and say that looks goods put it the box and ship it out?
Things are found at time of setup!

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

I do my own set up, so it doesn't matter to me how it comes, as long as it comes.

Goran

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"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com

I think Kong may have a box available for just such a thing after receiving his new guitar yesterday.

The thing is, not everyone wants to or knows how to set up a guitar and they shouldn't leave a store with a poorly setup guitar.


I've always done my own setups too, but nothing bothers me worse than sloppy QC and sloppy workmanship. You can pull a $450 Reverend guitar off the wall and it has a proper basic setup, I've yet to find a Roadworn at $900 that's even close to playing nice or has proper intonation.

Heehee - well, we might just give that a try...

Though credit where it's due: I think Mr all_thumbs09 is our resident expert on building guitars from boxes. Not much that gentleman don't know about that particular art form.

Cheers - C

Totally!

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10-4 good buddy, over and out!

Unless it's truly horrendous it's a non-issue

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

You are not kidding about Reverend's most I have handled are not bad.

Poor set mean poor quality control.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Its not a big deal for me really. As long as its not really horrid, I know it can be made up to how I want it. I always end up fixing up the guitars to my own specifications.

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http://www.youtube.com/guitarmike26

Free & Easy Down the Road I Go

I have been really lucky. The last 2 guitars I bought from AMS needed almost no setup...they were really exceptional. I know how to do my own setups and have all the tools needed so for me it is nothing but pure joy to work on my babies.. I also like to do my own work because I have seen far too many hacks ruin beautiful guitars.

Praise from the master is high praise indeed! Honestly though, the only thing I can attest too is some common sense and a lot of trial and error. Now that the holidays have passed and I have 2 months of free time I'm looking forward to finishing the latest incarnation. With any luck I'll be getting back to the mahogany carved top by the time you finish the pyrocaster (which is looking stellar by the way).

Cheers~

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

I see both sides. Yes most people want their own set up anyways but still it would be nice if all shops did at least what I'll call a neutral set up. I have noticed though that my one really good local shop seems to have had any guitar I've picked up set up well. To me that just shows a store that takes some pride and will give you decent customer service. If you're ordering online what do you expect?

I'm a bargain hunter and I'm not afraid to buy a customer return (especially since I can also return it at the merchant I use). I think I've gotten killer deals due to the generally poor setups and little problems that so many guitars are shipped with. The one I got yesterday had a real issue with how the bridge pickup was seated. It was on an angle to the strings in stead of being level. When I tried to lower it, it would not budge, so I raised it and that sorted it out straight away. The original customer probably would not have returned it if that pickup was seated properly. Also the intonation was not really good either. Either way, a small adjustment saved me about $600 and there was little risk as I could have returned it myself if I found a more serious issue.

On the whole, I do think new guitars should be better set up and in generally tip top condition for the customer. It just doesn't seem that hard to do to me, but it must be based on my observations.

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I am shock at how many posted they don't care what the set up is like when new!!!! Sure all like to do there own setups but its nice to start from factory specs. Plus I will say I am seen a lot of guitars that people have setup and think it plays great and I'm like what They don't know how well and easy a pro setup guitar can play.
Gibson did not spend countless thousands on there own plek machines so as to plek there guits before they leave because its not and important thing to customers.
It's just shocking to hear people say they don't care if Fender sets there's up good. That makes no sense at all.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson