MartyGrass Posted June 29, 2012 Posted June 29, 2012 I took an Eagle Classic in to repair a binding separation on it and to have it set up. Today I pick it up from Pete Moreno. To glue the binding, clamp it down for a few days, and do an archtop set up the price was only $20. I'm speechless. I was thinking that it would cost $60-$100. Brent inspires me though. I'm thinking I could probably do it in my basement for free next time. Nah.
Gitfiddler Posted June 29, 2012 Posted June 29, 2012 Pete is an extremely rare bird in the luthier flock. You are very fortunate to live near this very talented man.
DetroitBlues Posted June 29, 2012 Posted June 29, 2012 I think he shorted the invoice by at least a 1 or a zero... ($120 or $200)! Great deal!
MartyGrass Posted June 29, 2012 Author Posted June 29, 2012 He charges $60 an hour and keeps accurate times. He's cheap mainly because he's so fast.
Guest HRB853370 Posted June 29, 2012 Posted June 29, 2012 I took an Eagle Classic in to repair a binding separation on it and to have it set up. Today I pick it up from Pete Moreno. To glue the binding, clamp it down for a few days, and do an archtop set up the price was only $20. I'm speechless. I was thinking that it would cost $60-$100. Brent inspires me though. I'm thinking I could probably do it in my basement for free next time. Nah. I think you got an HOC special. Normal cost for ONLY a setup is about $60. Plus string cost unless you bring your own.
Guest HRB853370 Posted June 29, 2012 Posted June 29, 2012 He charges $60 an hour and keeps accurate times. He's cheap mainly because he's so fast. I dont think that is accurate. If a dentist could pull your tooth in half the time do you think the price would go down? Uh uh. He is giving you, Brent and other HOC members a huge break in price. Speed has nothing to do with it Mark.
Guest HRB853370 Posted June 29, 2012 Posted June 29, 2012 Pete is an extremely rare bird in the luthier flock. You are very fortunate to live near this very talented man. I live near him too Tim. About 820 miles.
iim7v7im7 Posted June 29, 2012 Posted June 29, 2012 You are fortunate to live near guys like Pete and Arron. The two guys that I use charge much more..... http://www.philtone.com/service.html http://www.marksimon...com/biopage.htm A set-up with no repairs is typically $75-$100 from these guys. Perhaps it also is somewhat reflective of the difference in cost of living, real estate etc. between the regions of the Country? I hope that you at least provided the strings for a $20 set up...:-)
brentrocks Posted June 29, 2012 Posted June 29, 2012 Pete just did a complete fret dress, ploish, crown and setup on a guitar for me, i picked it up yesterday....it was under $50
brentrocks Posted June 29, 2012 Posted June 29, 2012 Brent inspires me though. I'm thinking I could probably do it in my basement for free next time. You are making be blush Mark....lol Dont get too inspired....we dont know if it is going to hold yet?
MartyGrass Posted June 29, 2012 Author Posted June 29, 2012 I dont think that is accurate. If a dentist could pull your tooth in half the time do you think the price would go down? Uh uh. He is giving you, Brent and other HOC members a huge break in price. Speed has nothing to do with it Mark. I just picked up three guitars from Pete and asked him about the charges. He can do a set up in about 10 minutes, plus or minus. In this case he needed to adjust the truss rod, reposition the bridge base, and adjust the bridge. To repair the binding, he put some glue in the rim and back seam, clamped the binding in, and clean off the extra glue. He noted that he uses a particular water based glue so as not to harm the nitro. A few days later he unclamped the guitar and it was ready. Total is 20 minutes. Pulling out a set of pickups from another archtop, replacing the toggle switch, putting in another set of pickups, and setting the guitar up took 90 minutes. Doing the same with another archtop and fitting the bridge took 135 minutes. No HOC discount but no charge for standing around bullshitting for an extra 30 minutes either. I'm told Heritage charges $90/hr. I think that's fair. My John Deere dealer charges $70/hr, and he doesn't have a single good story to tell when I visit. Plus his shop doesn't give off those vintage vibes.
MartyGrass Posted June 29, 2012 Author Posted June 29, 2012 I hope that you at least provided the strings for a $20 set up...:-) I always bring my own strings. Always. Always.
Spectrum13 Posted June 30, 2012 Posted June 30, 2012 If you think and good (Lawyer- Guitar Repair-Doctor-) is expensive, try hiring a bad one. The guy I use is expensive, 55 miles away, takes too long and is a pain in the A$$ at times. Still much better than the last guy that did a C+ job and charged almost as much. If you have a professional anything you can trust, count your blessings.
sakis26 Posted June 30, 2012 Posted June 30, 2012 You are a lucky man MG.Here in Greece i dont have many options.Actually i have to make an appointment then travel 400 km go to his shop then start listening story behind story about whatever you can imagine from politics to sports then drink 1-2 coffees and....oh yeah then he starts the set up which is the reason i went there for....and this is about 50$ for about 20 minutes.And because im a giging musician i have to pass through this and other horror stories a lot of times in a single year.
Guest HRB853370 Posted June 30, 2012 Posted June 30, 2012 I just picked up three guitars from Pete and asked him about the charges. He can do a set up in about 10 minutes, plus or minus. In this case he needed to adjust the truss rod, reposition the bridge base, and adjust the bridge. To repair the binding, he put some glue in the rim and back seam, clamped the binding in, and clean off the extra glue. He noted that he uses a particular water based glue so as not to harm the nitro. A few days later he unclamped the guitar and it was ready. Total is 20 minutes. Pulling out a set of pickups from another archtop, replacing the toggle switch, putting in another set of pickups, and setting the guitar up took 90 minutes. Doing the same with another archtop and fitting the bridge took 135 minutes. No HOC discount but no charge for standing around bullshitting for an extra 30 minutes either. I'm told Heritage charges $90/hr. I think that's fair. My John Deere dealer charges $70/hr, and he doesn't have a single good story to tell when I visit. Plus his shop doesn't give off those vintage vibes. Sounds like all that speed comes from many years of experience. It takes me 30 minutes to restring an electric guitar. But I am all thumbs anyhow. I think you are getting a discount, its just built into the price. Either that or Pete just charges way less than anybody else. Either way, you are a beneficiary-good quality work, unbelievable low prices and great anecdotes to take with you.
Guest HRB853370 Posted June 30, 2012 Posted June 30, 2012 If you think and good (Lawyer- Guitar Repair-Doctor-) is expensive, try hiring a bad one. The guy I use is expensive, 55 miles away, takes too long and is a pain in the A$$ at times. Still much better than the last guy that did a C+ job and charged almost as much. If you have a professional anything you can trust, count your blessings. Ha, I used to use that line in sales all the time Spectrum! Sometimes it works too! I go to Southeast Guitar Repair, all certified luthiers and the guitar comes back in 2-3 days max. And the job is done right.
bolero Posted July 1, 2012 Posted July 1, 2012 Marty I think you should get that guy a case of beer, he is giving you a heck of a deal IMO a good guitar tech = priceless !! I'm envious that a) you live so close to Parson's, and have such a killer contact list of ppl to do work on gtrs
bolero Posted July 1, 2012 Posted July 1, 2012 hmm, that should have been a "b" with a ")" I guess it's an emoticon a) c) d)
unikh550 Posted July 1, 2012 Posted July 1, 2012 MG, So, YOU'RE one of those who have kept Pete from completing the refinish and other repairs on my 550! Should be done soon. My loaner has a 24.9" scale; will probably take a few weeks of 3-hour a day playing to get used to the 25.5" of the 550. Wish everyone would shop around to find good luthiers instead of going with whomever the nearby chain uses. Of course, with low cost guitars, the potential damage to it would not be as significant, I guess.- Charley Bevell
Hfan Posted July 1, 2012 Posted July 1, 2012 You guys are lucky to have Pete near you. He sounds very fair and we all have heard about his level of expertise.
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