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Services & Pricing

We’ll look your instrument over with you and explain what it needs, how much it will cost, and how long we think it will take. Our goal is to send you home with an instrument you love and understand better.

We accept cash, check, credit card or Venmo payments

Basic Setup : $100

For most instruments. Add $15 for maple or finished fretboards. Add $24 for twelve string, mandolin, or floating tremolo. Add $40 for Rickenbacker twelve string, most banjos, or resonator instruments.

    • Includes Restring, fretboard clean and high polish, cleaning of instrument, adjustment of truss rod, string height (action,) and intonation.
      Sufficient for newer guitars or instruments that have been set up within 6 months.
    • Restring:
    Bass, 6 string guitar, or banjo: $20
    12 string, mandolin, classical, or locking tremolo: $35

    Complete Fret Dress : $195

    For most instruments.

    • Add $24 for twelve string, mandolin, or floating tremolo.
    • Add $15 for finished/maple fingerboards.
    • Add $40 for Rickenbacker twelve string, most banjos, and resonator guitars.
    Sometimes referred to as a fret “dress” and setup, the Complete Fret Dress includes precision level, re-crown and high polish of your instrument’s frets along with complete set-up of truss rod, string height (action) and intonation.

    This work will minimize fret buzz, eliminate fret pitting and divots, and improve your overall tone! The whole instrument will be cleaned and polished and all hardware and electronics inspected, cleaned, and lubed.

    Recommended for guitars that receive normal to heavy use or have not been serviced in more than a year.

    Handmade Bone Nuts : $100

    Available materials include unbleached or bleached bone, black water buffalo horn, and synthetic materials. Includes restringing. Does not include cost of material/blank ($7-10) or strings.
    • Twelve string nut: $140
    • Mandolin nut: $130

    Handmade Bone Saddles : $95

    Compensated for proper intonation (no additional charge) Includes restringing. Does not include cost of material/blank ($5-10) or strings.
    • Unbleached “vintage” look available: +$5

    Refret : $380 – $500

    Includes precision level of fretboard, replacement of all frets, fret level and recrown, and the Complete Fret Dress setup. Frequently requires nut replacement to accommodate newer/taller frets. Does not include fret-wire (material:) $15 for standard nickel sizes, $35 for stainless steel

    • Add Stainless Steel Frets + $95
    • Add new bone nut $85 with refret

    Custom Mods

    Prices for custom modifications have a broad range because they vary from the relatively simple to very complex. We’ll give you a more accurate price once we get a close look at your instrument. Prices include restring – add $35 for basic set-up

    Electronics

    ELECTRONICS: CLEAN AND CONDITION

    • Inspect all internal electronics, check for loose wiring, reflow all solder points, tidy all wiring runs, clean and condition all pots and contact points

    PICKUP INSTALLATION: ELECTRIC GUITAR AND BASS

    • Passive pickups: $65-75 first pickup, + $15 for second, +$10 for third
    • Active system with replacement pots (EMG for example) : $90 first pickup, $10/additional

    PICKUP INSTALLATION: ACOUSTIC GUITAR

    • $50 – $125 (varies with different systems)

    WIRING AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENT UPGRADES

    • $50 – $125 (varies with different systems)

    ELECTRONIC TROUBLESHOOTING: $25 AND UP

    Structural Repairs

    Prices for these repairs have a broad range because they vary from the relatively simple to very complex. We’ll give you a more accurate price once we get a close look at your instrument. Prices include restring – add $35 for basic set-up

    BROKEN HEADSTOCK

    • Reglue with no touchup (headstock attached): $175
    • Reglue with no touchup (headstock off): Starting at $175
    • Reglue with (usually invisible) touchup: $275 and up
    • Rebuild shattered or missing headstock: photos required for estimate

    ACOUSTIC CRACKS AND STRUCTURAL REPAIRS

    • CA Seal Crack, Up to 3″ Hairline cracks only. No finish touch up. No internal support cleats. Only wet sand & buff: $100-125
    • Reglue with no touchup (headstock off): Starting at $175
    • CA Seal Crack, Up to 6″ Hairline cracks only. No finish touch up. No internal support cleats. Only wet sand & buff. Over 6″ must quote: $150-175
    • Repair Crack, Up to 3″ Internal support cleats added for strength. Wet sand & buff: $175-200
    • Repair Crack, Up to 6″ Internal support cleats added for strength. Wet sand & buff. Over 6″ must quote: $250-300
    • Splint Crack, Up to 6″ With crack clean-up, wood inlay, color match, finish touch up, wet-sand & buff. Internal support cleats added for strength. Plus materials ($10-15). Over 6″ must quote: $350
    • Seal Cracked Bridge (Jet Glue): $25-75
    • Touchups start at $50

    NECK RESET: $500 – $600

    • Includes Works setup, frequently requires Refret as well

    ACOUSTIC BRIDGE REGLUE: $210 AND UP

    • For most instruments. Add $15 for guitars with under-saddle pickups. Includes Restring.

    Refinishing

    REFINISH GUITAR: $500 – $1800

    For most projects. Email for closer estimate. Paint material cost typically $20 – $120

    FINISH TOUCH UP: $85 – $300

    Color matching with Nitrocellulose Lacquer and poly finishes available

    Frequently Asked Questions

    WHY DO I NEED A FRET DRESS?

    Generally, manufacturers do a poor job with the fretboards on their production guitars. It’s not really their fault, it would be impossible to pump out guitars at such a high rate while giving each a perfect fret job. An excellent fingerboard and fret dress is one of the most important elements in guitar construction. Good fret work is the key to perfect intonation and playability.

    DOES A NEW GUITAR NEED TO BE SET UP?

    Although it would be great if all guitars sounded perfect and played like a dream straight from the factory floor, most guitars will require a “setup” before achieving their full potential.

    A guitar setup ensures that your electric, acoustic or bass is performing at peak condition, keeps little things from going out of whack and personalizes the instrument to your preferences.

    WHEN DO I NEED TO REFRET MY GUITAR?

    Guitars need a refret whenever they present deep vents in their frets. These clear signs of wear are not only aesthetic but also have sound and feel implications. Frets that need replacing will generate buzz, intonation issues, and in more extreme cases repeated notes along the same string.