Based on other UU threads I’ve read, this might be the minority opinion, but I’ll throw it in for counterpoint.
For me personally, setup is not the magic bullet that is going to transform an instrument from non-playable to amazing. It can make playing more of a joy, sure, but I can also pick up a non-set-up mass-produced instrument and still play it. By all means, if you can buy from a setup-included dealer for a few dollars more and get a setup included, do it! (And to put my money where my mouth is, I have bought from Mim before) But I gather you’re talking about an instrument you already have.
Reading some of these threads, it could be easy to get analysis paralysis on questions like you asked. Rather than looking to someone else’s opinion, just ask:
- Can you play it?
- Is there something really wrong like buzzing or dead frets?
- Is it a nice enough instrument to be worth investing another $75, knowing you won’t get it back in resale?
For a beginner, the biggest difference you’ll notice is due to action (how high the strings are above the frets). That’s what is going to make your Bb easier (side note: just switching to Martin M600 strings would also help, as they are softer on the fingers). If you measure like Ed1 suggested and find that the action is really high, it’s not difficult to remove the saddle and carefully sand the bottom on a flat surface to drop a couple mm…plenty of other threads on that. Given that fact, I’d also like to think that a small action adjustment would be considerably less than a full set up at your local shop.
Where a pro is really important is if you are trying to squeeze every last ounce of playability out of a uke. If you’re trying to get absolute minimum action, you need a true neck and perfectly level frets to avoid buzz. A full setup would address those things, and possibly check for intonation, etc. A pro can even tailor some adjustments to your playing style. But (again, my opinion) beyond reasonably low action, all that is going to matter more when you’re moving up than just starting out. If your starter instrument is good enough to get you playing and practicing, maybe just look to a setup-included dealer when you level up. Don't overthink it! (signed, serial overthinker
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Full disclosure: I come from the guitar/bass world and have pretty strong fingers and callouses, so even with high action nylon strings are comparatively soft. But I would say the above about a mass-produced steel-string guitar too.