WOW Sustainiac, $500.00 LABOR!..Maybe I just don't understand what all has to be done, or how long it takes, but that price for labor alone seems awfully high!
If anybody else reading this thread has had their internal Roland electronics professionally installed,
what were your experiences like, and how much were you charged?
I had a Graphtech Floyd Rose bridge and Hexpander installed into one of my "superstrat" guitars (you can read about it here- http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php/topic,731.msg12716.html#msg12716). The installation was very similar to the GK installation (same toggle switches and 13 pin connector requirements), so I can lend some direct credance that:
* I originally rolled my eyes at a $500 installation quote but when I actually sat down and did the math it's really not out of line at all- especially if your installer is a well known and experienced luthier. My luthier charges a flat rate of $70 an hour so...
Prep work (making sure that he had all required parts, read the schematics, etc.) and check guitar for any preexisting issues- $35
Gut existing electronics and remove exisiting bridge (probably not necessary with a GK installation)- $35
Mask and route guitar body for the new bridge/pickup, micro switches, and new synth volume pot (lot's of measuring and marking with a little bit of routing...as my installer pointed out, one slip or mistake and it's a $300 new paint job)-$70
Mask and route body for 13 pin jack -$35
Install new bridge/pickup, switches pot, and 13 pin jack (route for additional wiring between new pickup and contol cavity)- $70
Install PC board in cavity (some sort of custom mounting needs to be made for any installation), wire (remember mag pickups need to be wired in as well) and reassemble everything- $70
Restring and set up guitar-$70
Test, tweak, and troubleshoot (see Elantric's common installation issues and remember that any time your luthier spends on the phone with support is billable time to you)-$105
Parts, misc, and taxes- ~$50
I had new pickups installed and the locking nut repositioned on my guitar as well, so don't forget to figure in time for additional customizations as well.
* The list of common installation issues that Elantric posted is *dead on*. My installer ran into several of the exact issues listed despite having done multiple installations in the past. One other "gotcha" to be on the look out for is that very few installers actually seem to have VG-units on hand in their shops, so they often have no way of testing installations unless you're willing to leave your VG with them (this was where I was really glad I decided to hang onto my old VG-8).
