What Does Shade Tree Luthier Charge You?

hsech

hsech

Work hard. My Social Security needs a raise.
Jun 27, 2012
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Central Iowa
#1
I take my basses and tube amps to a retired gent in Des Moines that is the most reasonable guy I've ever found.

$100 - Install new pickups, pickguard, wiring harness, touch up paint and set up on an American Standard Precision.

$50 - Set up, clean electronics, dress frets and clean and buff the finish on a 1972 Gibson EB3.

I have never had work done so cheaply and the work is top shelf.
 
#4
I talk to him ahead of time, buy the parts if needed and he does the magic. Still not a bad deal in my book. He works on a lot of vintage gear. Last time I was there he had a well worn early 70's P bass he was working on. I found a NOS 1978 Fender Bassman 135 faceplate that will be my next project. That will be pretty labor intensive.
 
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#8
Shade tree luthier? I flatter myself as such.

Seriously, when I was in a working band that was playing on the road weekly, I would generally keep all our stringed instruments in good operating condition. When we played with other acts, I'd offer them my services, usually for picking up my bar tab. The other groups/guys would usually go for it, not realizing that I was then a practicing alcoholic (took me YEARS to get good at it). I could often tun up a tab iin excess of a hundred bucks, and still be playing fine on stage. Course that tab always included a round for our band, pitcher of beer to our soundman and some shots for our entourage or any local talent.
 
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#16
I charge the same now for setups, pickup swaps, and electronics changes as I did 20 years ago: bring me some good beer or whiskey.

I'm one of the weird ones that actually enjoys the tech work. Something about making an instrument the best it can be makes me happy.
 
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#18
Sounds like the OP has a great resource there. I'd like to find one again someday to reshape a neck I've got.

I hired a "shade Tree" luthier (who has since moved away) to build me a body for my frankenbass. It took longer than it might have otherwise, but the cost was extremely affordable and I got personal attention that usually is reserved for high end builders. In the end I have something truly unique that I'm very proud of.

I've also been the shade tree luthier for my friends. I've done setups, swapped pickups and that kind of low-level work. All for little or no pay.

A shade tree luthier can also do work that would otherwise be unaffordable or not worth it, especially on cheap guitars. The neck heel on my friends cheap fender acoustic separated and it would have cost more than the guitar was worth to fix it. A bit of epoxy (not what a luther would likely have used) and some clamps and the guitar is perfectly playable again. The join isn't quite as clean as a professional would have done, but I was able to return a guitar to service that otherwise would have been a wall ornament.

For work on my own instruments I don't currently have a Shade Tree luthier, but I recently found an experienced shop that does great work at very low rates. I assume that it's a combination of possibly having their location paid off, being located in a blue-collar suburb and having plenty of work due to their experience and reputation. They don't even have a proper website!
Player's Guitars
 
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