70 bucks to change my guitar strings...

I have a lincesed floyd rose locking sys on my ibanez so its difficult to change the sttings and when I have done it I mess up the tension and caliberation on the bridge.

So I take it to guitar center and they used to charge 50 but now they bump it to fucking 70 bones. I as able to low ball the dude to 60 bucks but next time its 70. I think its insane to pay so much for a two hour job. The techs getting a cut from that so am sure he get $35 frm the job.

I lookd up videos and tried and failed I guess I should keep trying.

Anyone with a solution??

 

Price seems excessive but it is a two hour job to do this right... Floating trems are a pain in the ass.

 

easy...befriend the tech and give him doobies...eventually he will be doing it free at home after hours

 

a lot of guitar stores, especially shops that are strictly repairs, use labor time guides, just like an auto repair shop or dealer. Although not "official", I think techs have come to a basic agreement on certain repairs on certain models. Most stores have a "menu" posted of typical repairs and their respective rate charges.
Replace brakes, labor guide calls for (example) 2 hours. If the mechanic gets it done in 1, they still charge you 2.
Guitar repair is the same way. Change strings on a Tele, 1 hour. That would be remove old strings, clean/oil board and restring. It probably takes them all of 30 minutes. For a FR System, it doesn't surprise me that they charge for 2 hours, even if it does not take that long.
The rate, $35.00 per hour is very consistent in the northeast. A recent set-up on my '57 Goldtop (R & R strings, check intonation, truss rod adjust, oil board) was $100.00. I fully expected a charge of at least $125.00!!

 

I am SOOO glad I sold my Tele that a FR trem on it.

 

ditch it for a hardtail..

 

learn to do it yourself

 

Bingo...I'm sure you can read or watch a dyi vid on your particular trem but here's generally how I learned to do my kahler... when its time to replace strings, remove and replace only one string at a time.

First make a note of the position of your bridge in relation to the top of you guitar ( you may want to take a few measurements) un-clamp the locking nut and start with the high e.

Once you've got the new string on, tune it up with the others then yank on it, whank on it, pull it so you feel it stretch, ( you're trying to break it in quickly) keep tuning it up until your bridge is setting normally with all the strings in tune. It should be level (not always) at rest.

Do all the unwound strings first, working from high to low, again only one at a time. Switch to the low e now and repeat, always tuning and stretching each string as well as keeping all the strings in tune as you go. Do the A next then the D. If you do this slowly and incrementally you'll learn to make it a ritual thats really not too much hassle.

If you can't string it, you don't own it! :devil:

PS it's a whole different story if you fucked with the shop setup or forgot how many springs were there or what-not lol...as ty mentioned floating trems can be a real bitch to set up from scratch

lol hope this helps

 

Wow dude realy??? Fuck ur such a think out the box type of guy!

I would of never thought of that ! :0

 

$70 dollars is outrageous. I'd punch anyone straight in the face who tried to charge me that for a fucking string change. I had a similar bridge mechanism on an old cheap-ass Ibanez Roadstar of mine - so I think I understand somewhat what you mean by it being a bit tricky, but I eventually sorted it out. Strings wear out so damned fast, especially on electrics.

Guitar center is a fucking rip-off. I know that independent shops are becoming a rare thing these days, but for $70 I would make a serious effort to find a reputable one. I can't imagine my local guitar store charging you fucking $70 dollars for a string change. My guy would probably charge you, maybe $20, probably nothing if you bought strings from him, and he'd probably show you how to do it properly if you asked.

 

And this is why I avoid this floyd rose sorcery like the plague

 

What trems are for...(and cute little bass players too!)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC02wGj5gPw&feature=related"]JEFF BECK LIVE Cause We've Ended As Lovers - YouTube

 

Wait so help me understand this, the Floyd rOse let's you whammy like crAzy and not put the thIng out of tune, yes? That sounds kinda sweet but also totally unnecessary.. Get a whammy pedal breh, they're prolly cheaper

 

I'm not a big 'bar user, but my PRS Custom with the standard PRS trem holds it tuning pretty well.

I never liked the locking trem (FR copy) that was on my Tele custom because if you did break a string, it was out of action for the whole gig. With most guitars you can grab your spare, finish the set and replace the busted one during a break. Plus, unless you REALLY wail on the trem, the FR is kinda pointless.

 

I'll agree with that.

To the poster who recommended a whammy pedal, check out that Jeff Beck
vid ...those subtle tone manipulations, the precisely intoned swoops and bends... no pedal will never allow that kind of artistic mastery.

 

hardtail..

 

thinking it..and doing it are different

but you're right.. I expected too much

 

I just want to play speed metal.

 

Prs is badass

 

This.

Or learn to change your own damn strings.