To 'set up' or not to 'set up'...that is the question...

I ordered a Kala Soprano travel Uke so that I had an Ukulele with me where ever I go. It arrived with Aquila strings and an awesome bag. It sounds great right out of the box and properly tuned, but should I go get it set Up?

I'm new to music and I don't know the value in this service. It's 49 dollars at Guitar Center here in Las Vegas. Will it make the instrument even better? Will they really set it up? Like shave the nut or saddle if necessary, really set it up? Thoughts?

I've been playing for 8+ years now and have never felt the need to get a uke "set up." My thinking is that if you like how it plays and there are no issues with intonation, don't worry about it - just play!

I don't think that you are going to get many people telling you that set up is a waste of time Mostly everyone here appreciates the value of a decent set up. A lot of people buy ukes exclusively from specialist suppliers who include it as part of the service.

On the other hand... if your uke plays okay 'out of the box' then it's clearly not essential. Will you notice any difference? Maybe. As far as paying a particular vendor to set the instrument up for you - I would check with them as to what exactly is included. Find out what you are paying for. Ask lots of questions

janeray1940 said:

I've been playing for 8+ years now and have never felt the need to get a uke "set up." My thinking is that if you like how it plays and there are no issues with intonation, don't worry about it - just play!

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I agree. I also think that if one does get a setup, it should be individualized, not just set up to some other arbitrary standard.

Rllink said:

I agree. I also think that if one does get a setup, it should be individualized, not just set up to some other arbitrary standard.

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I don't feel that it's accurate to describe the process as arbitrary. Typically, a set up is about optimizing the playability of the instrument. While this is rarely tailored to the needs of the individual player it's hardly random.

If the instrument feels comfortable to play, then that's all that matters. If and when the instrument feels sore to the fingers and you look at it with the "pleasure requires pain" feeling, then consider messing with the action.

There are plenty of videos, instruction sheets and all on how to do a set-up. Learning how to do your own is even better, because then you have really customized the instrument to you - somethibg most techs will never do for you. The tools to do a set-up can cost as little as $5, so the investment isn't brutal.

Bottom line - there is no rush as long as you are pleased with the instrument's current performance.

I am not sure $49 plus tax to Guitar Center--which is by no means a ukulele centric store or well known for luthier work--is a good expense.

For a setup, I would suggest contacting a local ukulele group and asking for recommendations. Chances are that if you live in a population center large enough for a Guitar Center, there will be a ukulele group somewhere in your area.

If you like the way it sounds and plays then leave it be.

The only reason I would see for setting it up is if an experienced player has noticed something out of whack with the uke. Perhaps, in the future, you will be that experienced player and notice that there is something awry with your Kala. On the other hand, with further experience, you might appreciate the factory set-up even more; maybe the Kala technicians did a great job.

bikemech said:

If you like the way it sounds and plays then leave it be.

The only reason I would see for setting it up is if an experienced player has noticed something out of whack with the uke. Perhaps, in the future, you will be that experienced player and notice that there is something awry with your Kala. On the other hand, with further experience, you might appreciate the factory set-up even more; maybe the Kala technicians did a great job.

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If you bought it from a vendor, it's possible the vendor set it up for you. As others have said, if it feels good and intonation is OK, I would not sweat it right now.

I would highly recommend that you learn to do your own setups, that way it will be made to measure.

Thank you all very much for the feedback. The concensus is that it's not necessary if the Uke sounds and plays well, which it does. Saved me 49 bucks that could go toward a Tenor I'm looking at ..lol..:shaka:

You'll know by playing a bit if it needs it. Usually if intonation is a bit off where it may bother you, sure, try getting it set up by a professional.
If there are any other aspects that bother your play, like sharp frets or too high of a string height then get that adjusted as well.

However, I'm one not to agree on having string height adjusted absolutely. Like that is the automatic thing to do. Getting it down to electric guitar sting height.
I don't get it. I guess I can, it allows one for more leniency in fingering improperly and still get a sound out , I believe this is more an American thing than anywhere else.
I play classical guitar and string height is a large issue in that group as well but learning to play properly with a range of string heights is beneficial for learning fingerings properly and gives you a better range of dynamics and expression.

Camsuke said:

I would highly recommend that you learn to do your own setups, that way it will be made to measure.

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Plus Plus. I agree. Learn to change your own strings, adjust the action at the nut to your own standards, have a 2.5 mm plus or minus clearance at the 12th fret by adjusting the saddle height. It is all a part of being a ukulele or guitar player.
Komichido you wrote....."""It sounds great right out of the box and properly tuned, but should I go get it set Up? """
Always remember that old saying......if it ain't broke don't fix it.

With just a little research, you will understand what a "setup" actually is and what's involved in doing one. If you have even a little "craft type" skills, smoothing fret ends, carefully sanding nuts and saddles to lower or deepen nut slots ever so slightly is not rocket science. Care is needed to keep from putting new nicks and scratches and overdoing any one of several setup tasks, thereby requiring more work. Most of my ukes have not required any "major" setup work. Checking for level frets and intonation is easy. A good overview of a setup is on theukesite and many tutorials are on youtube. Good luck.

...hello all, well a setup - except for intonation issues - is something that really depends on how you feel the instrument under your hands and how you play because the action is something personal. Not all of my instruments had a setup when i bought them.
If your soprano "sounds great right out of the box and properly tuned" just play it. If over time you will realize that you want to adjust something of it you'll take it to an acoustic luthier (if you doesn't feel confident doing the setup on your own).

Komichido said:

I ordered a Kala Soprano travel Uke so that I had an Ukulele with me where ever I go. It arrived with Aquila strings and an awesome bag. It sounds great right out of the box and properly tuned, but should I go get it set Up?

I'm new to music and I don't know the value in this service. It's 49 dollars at Guitar Center here in Las Vegas. Will it make the instrument even better? Will they really set it up? Like shave the nut or saddle if necessary, really set it up? Thoughts?

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As you say you are new to music and don't know the value of this service........well I can relate. I bought a Gretsch laminate tenor as my first uke 3 years ago, I was new to music as well. I learned on that instrument and a couple months in an experienced player and luthier was playing it and commented on how high the action was, height of the strings above the frets. He did a set up for me and lowered the action. I could not believe how much easier barr chords were to make, it was painful before, now it was butter. Just some food for thought.

1931jim said:

Learn to change your own strings, adjust the action at the nut to your own standards, have a 2.5 mm plus or minus clearance at the 12th fret by adjusting the saddle height. It is all a part of being a ukulele or guitar player.

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I think I disagree here. People who like to tinker, they do stuff like this, but I'd wager most guitarists go to a luthier to get their instrument set up. I'm admittedly not a DYI person (except with computers, but I got into those over three decades ago when assembling and upgrading your own machine made a lot of sense if you were a broke teenager/young adult, and when computers weren't yet household devices like toasters), but I'd rather spend fifty bucks to have a professional work on a musical instrument that may well cost ten, twenty or more times that. Most normal people (i.e. not us) probably only have one or two ukes/guitars, so buying tools, materials and spending possibly a lot of time for a result that may be inferior to what a luthier can do, doesn't seem all that necessary.

It's a good skill to have, though. I side step it by trying to buy ukes (and did so with my guitar too) only from places that include setup. I only look for good intonation and manageable action (does not need to be super low), nothing very individualized. With guitars it's more common that music stores (not large online retailers) include setup. For ukes it's less common.

jollyboy said:

I don't feel that it's accurate to describe the process as arbitrary. Typically, a set up is about optimizing the playability of the instrument. While this is rarely tailored to the needs of the individual player it's hardly random.

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Mivo said:

I think I disagree here. People who like to tinker, they do stuff like this, but I'd wager most guitarists go to a luthier to get their instrument set up. I'm admittedly not a DYI person (except with computers, but I got into those over three decades ago when assembling and upgrading your own machine made a lot of sense if you were a broke teenager/young adult, and when computers weren't yet household devices like toasters), but I'd rather spend fifty bucks to have a professional work on a musical instrument that may well cost ten, twenty or more times that. Most normal people (i.e. not us) probably only have one or two ukes/guitars, so buying tools, materials and spending possibly a lot of time for a result that may be inferior to what a luthier can do, doesn't seem all that necessary.

It's a good skill to have, though. I side step it by trying to buy ukes (and did so with my guitar too) only from places that include setup. I only look for good intonation and manageable action (does not need to be super low), nothing very individualized. With guitars it's more common that music stores (not large online retailers) include setup. For ukes it's less common.

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Maybe arbitrary is not a good word to use. Like Mivo, some people don't want to make the investment in time and money to do their own. That's okay, but what I mean is that if one is going to take their ukulele to someone to do a setup, then the person should be ready to tell them how they want it set up. That takes a little knowledge and experience on the owner's side. I know from my experience that being "set up" does not always mean being set up for me. I had to redo a setup that I'm sure was perfect for the fellow who set it up, just not perfect for me.

I think arbitrary is actually correct.

There is no "right" action height, so the "ballpark" ones used, are just that.

Sure, there's fret ends, and fret leveling, but tbh, those are defects, and shouldn't be part of a new instrument.
Setup could also be compensating the saddle, but that's not typical,
So, aside from correcting any fret defects, it's mostly adjusting string height, if they're doing it right.

Kala's tend to be fairly good from the factory, where they 'setup' the instrument before sending it out.

But the height.. that's a thing that makes alot of difference.

Factory tends to send ukes out with high string height, because it cheats a bit on the leveling.. meaning you can be farther off level, and still not buzz if the height is higher. The lower the action, the more picky the leveling becomes in avoiding buzz.

But low action is alot easier to play on finger style, barres, etc.

I think... they get away with more slop in ukes, because mostly people strum in first position, which is the most forgiving.

But running high action.. makes intonation bad farther up the neck because you are deflecting the string farther in the middle of the fretboard than near the nut, and stretching the string farther, makes notes go sharp.

The same can be said by making the nut high. It helps prevent buzz, but you have to use alot more pressure near the nut.

This is really hard to describe because if you're new, you don't have anything for comparision.

But a well setup uke.. is soooo much easier and pleasant to play. A GOOD setup is definnitely worth the $50.
The question I would have, is what the setup you are buying is going to get you.

I think alot of the big boxes, will just check if you buzz, and maybe do a little leveling, and fret end grinding.
That I'm not sure is worth the $50.

But if they're leveling, adjusting the nut, and saddle height.. that's probably worth it. And if they're compensating the saddle too... you're probably going to pay more than that.

"Setup" is too generic. You need to know exactly what you're getting for your money.

Camsuke said:

I would highly recommend that you learn to do your own setups, that way it will be made to measure.

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I agree. A good setup makes a uke easier to play. If a uke feels and sounds good to you, it's setup enough for you.

HMS does a great setup and so do most builders.