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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:05 pm
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Rock Star
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The_Sentry wrote:
CAFeathers wrote:
I do believe that most if not all Guitar Store would toss you out on your ear if you got out your tools and started making adjustments right there in the store before you buy.


Oh, I don't know about that.

I went to a guitar store today and did just this. I had nothing more than a 4" piece of measuring tape that did 32nd inch increments and a business card.


But you were just measuring right? I mean you weren't making adjustments with a business card? If you were, that must have been one sturdy card.

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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:06 pm
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The_Sentry wrote:
CAFeathers wrote:
I do believe that most if not all Guitar Store would toss you out on your ear if you got out your tools and started making adjustments right there in the store before you buy.


Oh, I don't know about that.

I went to a guitar store today and did just this. I had nothing more than a 4" piece of measuring tape that did 32nd inch increments and a business card.


Did you actually get out tools and make adjustments or did you just measure?

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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:20 pm
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Roadie
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CAFeathers wrote:
The_Sentry wrote:
CAFeathers wrote:
I do believe that most if not all Guitar Store would toss you out on your ear if you got out your tools and started making adjustments right there in the store before you buy.


Oh, I don't know about that.

I went to a guitar store today and did just this. I had nothing more than a 4" piece of measuring tape that did 32nd inch increments and a business card.


Did you actually get out tools and make adjustments or did you just measure?


I just measured. Slid the business card under the 6th fret while depressing the 14th and 1st frets.

On 2 of the guitars, the action was a bit higher.....the irony was that the most expensive left handed guitar there (a Les Paul Studio) the truss rod was too tight.

I was nice enough to let the salesman know.....

Besides, you think they might want to know....after all, if the thing is buzzing all over the place as soon as you hit the 14th fret, obviously it's not going to feel quite right.

If it's any consolation, the MiM strat was probably the best guitar there in terms of setup.


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:44 pm
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Hobbyist
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Location: Australia
I have not really checked with tools ect I do note what guage strings ( in Aust usually 9s so they feel oh os easy to play hehehe) and the rough action by eye... But as a few have already said once the guitar is home out come the tools and heavyer strings.


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:46 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Location: Rochester, NY
I'm usually more concerned with how the neck and body feel to me. Chances are I'll change string gauges several times before I find one I like, and do a setup every time.

I don't expect things to be how I like them in a store. You can change the action and intonation, you can't change the neck profile or body shape.

Well, you can, but I probably never will.


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:50 pm
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:51 pm
Posts: 2503
Location: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA
Hello The_Sentry,

First -- overall appearance{color,workmanship,details}
second -- neck and fingerboard {feel}
Third -- Tone
Fourth -- Perks{Free strings, polosh, picks, books, and whatever}
Fifth -- Price

Cheers.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:29 am
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Professional Musician
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Location: metro Chicago USA
Mr. Bill is running wide open: He's almost parallel-right on.

(1) Vibe? Does it call your soul? Is this a love affair or one-night stand?

(2) Well constructed and finished?

(3) Feel right to hold and play? (not diddly stuff like action / neck/ intonation / junk strings--pros fix those anyway)

(4) Any dings or blems?

(4) Sound?

(5) Price


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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:58 am
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JSJH wrote:
Mr. Bill is running wide open: He's almost parallel-right on.

(1) Vibe? Does it call your soul? Is this a love affair or one-night stand?

(2) Well constructed and finished?

(3) Feel right to hold and play? (not diddly stuff like action / neck/ intonation / junk strings--pros fix those anyway)

(4) Any dings or blems?

(4) Sound?

(5) Price


Hmm.....

well, in terms of "vibe"....Some things to consider: First, I'm a leftie, so it's not like I can look at a whole wall of guitars and contemplate the meaning of the universe. With that being said, it's typically a question of the token leftie, or perhaps a choice of 5 or 6 at a larger retail store, or shopping online. With that stated, often times I shop the model....or I will test the basic model. Sometimes it's a stab in the dark in terms of a specific guitar.

I also have more a workman like attitude towards my guitars these days. I don't think there's any one guitar out there that will satisfy every single thing I want to do with an instrument....it's more of a question of "OK...this guitar is nice. What role will it play?" ie, let's say I'm playing country or gospel...that's a different guitar vs. something for the hard rock shows or jamming with some metalheads or punks.

In terms of construction (and this is a Fender site).....I'm sold on Squier Deluxe models for a variety of reasons. Because of my attitude, and the great price, I feel that I can get a quality baseline guitar for a much lower price, do my own modifications, and then have more guitars vs. spending thousands of dollars on a perfectly setup guitar.

In terms of feeling right and OK to play.....I look at it this way: Yes, the techs can set that stuff up...I also like setting it up myself. One thing I don't want to adjust immediately is the truss rod. I also like to know the specific setting on the action on the bridge. In terms of the store? I think these things are important...otherwise, why bother? I think it's funny how we've become so accepting of purchasing stuff online that "sort of messed up, but no biggie". But in a store? That thing should be set up. And, typically I will use any issues not to demand repair, but to bring the overall price of the instrument DOWN.

Dings and blemishes....OK, sure. A bad scar and you can demand the price to be knocked down. Good bartering points for debating price, but otherwise? Heh...to be personally honest about this, I don't mind a few dings and dents on my Fender products. Gives 'em character.

Sound is also negociable. I have been getting into modding my own guitars. In fact at this point construction, feel, and overall setup is MORE important than the general sound. I can rewire pickups. It's not difficult to change the tone of the guitar slightly. (If it's a cheaper guitar...the only mod I would look at for a tech to do is cut a custom bone nut if it isn't already installed with a trem lock for better tone. I don't use a tremolo, so bridge modifications are typically unnecessary.) If the guitar has jumbo frets installed as far as the strat (or a tele) goes...that's a bonus.

I can get killer deals right now on this scenario with Squier products.

Now...you finally mentioned price.

If the truss rod is out of whack, I'm not going to ask them to fix it. I'm going to ask them to knock the price down. Same thing if the action is off. Or if there's any dings. If there's fret buzz...I'm going to ask to knock the price down.

All of this is done for a reason.

Of course, because of what is avaialbe in Fenders for lefties (Squier, MiM, the occasional and rare HWY 1) I would probably try to get the Squier for under 300 bucks (I like the Deluxe models..sold on 'em.)

Now, with that one guitar, after I've set the action, intonation, and the truss rod (if necessary)....I could do a few things with that guitar....but the sound is going to change irregardless.

On one hand? I could install vintage pickups directly from Fender. Great sound. On another? I've got a few Seymour Duncan Hot Rail pickups and a JB Jr. Throw 500k pots in the strat, and install those pickups...totally different sound from the guitar.

And, it assumes a different role.

But the biggest reason for doing this stuff? Anything and everything to knock that price down a bit. Or, if it's perfect, I will rush the sale if I really, really want that guitar. (But, I'm not going to share that with the salesman per se other than offering something lacksadaisical in terms of attitude.)


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:27 pm
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Rock Star
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no, i check if there any dead spots.
if the guitar sounds good and has a good handling all other adjustments i do at home like i want to.

cheers :D


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