PLEASE READ – Our current shop rate is $30.00 per hour. This is less than most stores. Guitar repair is generally priced on the amount of time it takes, as parts in most cases are the insignificant cost. Some services are priced by the service required, not the hours involved. These prices are current as of today. This is a general listing for comparison purposes and all repairs available are not listed.
Fret board replacement is available on some guitars and can be done using Ebony, Rosewood or another wood species of your choice. Inlay work is also available. Please contact me for information on repairs or modifications you desire that are not listed here.
If you choose me to do your repair I will spend time with you one on one to make sure you are satisfied both before and after the service. All my work is guaranteed. Parts are warranted by the manufacturer. However, if I supply a part and it fails I will replace it myself and deal with the manufacturer so that you are taken care of.
We repair other previous attempts at repair.
I do not re-string guitars unless it is part of another service like a setup, fret level or repair. That is something every guitar player must learn to do themselves.
ELECTRIC
SET UP – $35.00 to $120.00 + Strings. Includes neck adjust, action adjustment at nut and saddle, intonation, minor fret work, may include fret level, tighten tuner screws and nuts, lubricate tuning machines, general clean up, restring. Floating tremolo, Floyd Rose style may incur extra charges.
NEW NUT- $55.00, may or may not include raw material. If your guitar has worn frets, a bowed neck, or an ill-fitting saddle, expect additional cost to correct these problems. A new nut should not be installed if other problems exist and are not also addressed.
REPLACE TUNERS- $50 and up. Plus cost of tuners or you supply. Seems like a simple job, but can be fraught with nuanced complications.
FRET LEVELING (“Filing”, “Dressing”…) – $100.00 and up. Includes “set up” adjustments. Worn or uneven frets can be filed level in many cases, if there will remain enough height on the fret to suit the customer (and practical playability). Frets must be lowered to the height of the lowest pit that can be found. Sometimes, replacing the most worn frets is appropriate. Click here for expanded information on fret leveling.
REFRET- $250.00 – $350.00 Binding increases the cost. Stainless does not affect cost. It may need a new nut. Individual frets $15.00 plus leveling and/or set up costs in some cases. New nut or saddle may be necessary. Shop minimum may also apply. Click here for expanded information on refretting.
Give stainless steel some thought. I believe it is the best fret material. It lasts longer and plays smoother. If you are a pro you will get 3 to 5 times the life out of stainless versus alloy. You’ll save the cost of two to three refrets.
HEADSTOCK CRACK- $45.00 and up, by quote. Glue, touchup. Repairs often not totally invisible, but finish should be smooth.
DIAGNOSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM- $30.00 minimum to diagnose. This will be applied to repair.
REPLACE JACK- $30.00 to $40.00, parts extra.
REPLACE PICKUPS- $50.00 to $75.00. Bring your pickups! People have come by and forgotten them! You may need new strings after installation.
REPLACE VOLUME/TONE POT- $25.00 to $45.00 plus parts.
REPLACE SWITCH- $25.00 to $50.00 plus parts.
BODY CUT OUT – $90.00 to $150.00, Cut body out of your flat slab of wood. You sand and finish. I do not cut contoured tops. Routing should be done before cutting body shape to aid in alignment but it can be done after cutting body shape. Contact me for details for complete routing of your guitar body.
ROUT NEW PICKUP POCKET- $35.00 to $65.00 either new pocket or single to humbucker. Pocket type is single coil, humbucker or P90. Price does not include dis-assembly of guitar. Add install pickup price if you want new pickup installed. See example here
POT OR REPOT PICKUPS- $30.00 to $60.00 with beeswax and paraffin. If your pickups are microphonic this will take care of it. Some pickups cannot be potted due to the material they are made of. I cannot tell without looking at them.
HEADSTOCK TUNER DRILLING – $35.00 to $52.50, Drill tuner holes in your blank head stock. 3 to a side or 6 to a side. Precision alignment tools are used to insure perfect alignment. Bring your tuners.
BLANK HEADSTOCK CUTOUT – $35.00 to $65.00, Cut out your blank headstock to your design. You sand and finish.
CUSTOM HEADSTOCK DECAL – $50.00 to $1500.00, Design a custom decal with Photoshop from your artwork for headstock placement. You receive photoshop psd files and 2 decals. I do not duplicate manufacturer decals.
ACOUSTIC
SET UP – $35.00 to $120.00 + Strings. Includes neck adjust, action adjustment at nut and saddle, minor fret work, may include fret level tighten tuner screws and nuts, lubricate tuning machines, general clean up, restring. (12 string – add $25.00)
NEW NUT- $55.00, may or may not include raw material. If your guitar has worn frets, a bowed neck, or an ill-fitting saddle, expect additional cost to correct these problems. I cannot install a new nut if other problems exist and are not also addressed. (12 string – add $25.00)
NEW SADDLE- $55.00, may or may not include raw material. Same qualifications as with “new nut”.
RE-GLUE BRIDGE- $100.00. Remove and refit old bridge. Very minor touchup included. (12 string bridge- add $25.00)
REPLACE BRIDGE- $100.00 + cost of factory made bridge, approx. $30.00 + cost of new saddle (sometimes). (12 string bridge – add $25.00)
BRIDGE PLATE REPAIR – $75.00 to $150.00. Replacing a bridge plate is serious work and should not be done unless absolutely necessary. Doing so can alter the tone of an instrument and devalue it. I use a method developed by Stewart MacDonald that is non-destructive and retains the existing bridge plate but repairs the holes. Contact me for further information.
HANDMADE BRIDGE- $250.00 and up, by quote. Handmade bridges may be necessary for vintage Gibson, Martin, Guild, and custom bridge replacements.
REPLACE TUNERS- $50 and up. Plus cost of tuners or you supply. Seems like a simple job, but can he fraught with nuanced complications.
FRET LEVELING (“Filing”, “Dressing”…) – $100.00 and up. Includes “set up” adjustments. Worn or uneven frets can be filed level in many cases, if there will remain enough height on the fret to suit the customer. Frets must be lowered to the height of the lowest pit that can be found. Sometimes, replacing the most worn frets is appropriate. Click here for expanded information on fret leveling.
REFRET- $250.00 – $350.00 Binding increases the cost. Stainless does not affect cost. It may need a new nut. Individual frets $15.00 plus leveling and/or set up costs in some cases. New nut or saddle may be necessary. Shop minimum may also apply. Click here for expanded information on refretting.
Give stainless steel some thought. I believe it is the best fret material. It lasts longer and plays smoother. If you are a pro you will get 3 to 5 times the life out of stainless versus alloy. You’ll save the cost of two to three refrets.
INSTALL “UNDER SADDLE” PICKUP- $75.00 to 150.00. Expand endpin hole to accommodate jack. Wire pickup to pre-amp and jack. Fit and re-size old saddle for proper action and contact with pickup. May require new saddle and re-rout of saddle slot (additional). There are other variables relating to pre-amps which must be individually quoted. Condition of bridge and neck angle may be factors in the appropriateness of an under the saddle pickup.