Overview of Services for Stringed Instruments

We provide a broad range of repairs & services for stringed instruments at our workshop on the east side of Tucson, Arizona. Here's a short list of some of our most common Basic Services. If you are looking for a service & repair shop that can provide fast turnaround & won't leave you wondering when your guitar is going to be finished, you've found the right place. We treat all of our clients and their instruments with courtesy & the respect that they deserve. We tell you upfront what to expect from our services including estimated pricing & time.

Evaluation

Your instinct tells you when your guitar is playing well & when it's not. When it's not, you may not know what changed and even when, just that the inspiration has gone. We can help find out what needs to be corrected with your guitar or other stringed instrument & recommend action. Very often this leads to a guitar setup, but it can also mean that more work needs to be undertaken.

Re-String & Tune-up

We have performed many re-strings & tune-ups for clients who do not routinely re-string their own instruments - Especially on nylon classical guitars for students & new players. Our re-string price includes the invaluable opportunity to watch & learn to re-string your own instrument.

Need help keeping your guitar in tune?

It's just about the most common guitar problem. You tune up only to find that the tuning is wrong after a short while playing. There is a multitude of reasons why your guitar might be changing tuning. Tuning problems are most often resolved by a guitar setup service, which includes improvement of tuning stablity through various elements of the service itself.

Guitar Setups

Guitar setups are amongst the most necessary & popular services performed. A setup is a routine service that can help make sure your instrument will play at its best, improve its longevity, and possibly, its resale value. Our comprehensive setup includes replacing strings, conditioning the fingerboard, adjusting neck relief, setting action, setting intonation (not the cost of the strings) & more. To learn more about guitars setups, visit our guitar setups page.

Sharp Fret Ends - Fret Overhang - Fret Sprout

Ouch! Fret overhang is a very common & nasty little problem that develops on many guitars in dry environments such as right here in Tucson. The fingerboard shrinks over several weeks & months causing the metal frets to push out the side of the fingerboard leaving the edges out there to cut at your hand. We have also heard this problem called Fret Sprout, which is a great way to descirbe it. We file & dress the overhanging ends of the frets to leave them smooth & like new.

Crack Repair

Cracks in acoustic guitar tops, sides or backs, are common in Arizona & states that suffer low humidity conditions. Cracks are the result of stress in the wood often caused by the shrinkage of various parts of the instruments construction. Most commonly the shrinkage across the top or the back of a guitar is the primary cause, but there are several other common factors. At times manufacturer specific issues that can be a cause of the problem. Often, these cracks occur when seasons change & humidity drops for a sustained period. Many cracks can be readily glued, filled, & even re-inforced. In addition, finish touch-up can also clean up the appearance of the crack repair, at times it can be completely hidden. A view is also taken of the likelihood of the worsening condition of the instrument & potential for further cracks or warpage.

Strap Button Installation

Frustrating as it might be, many acoustic guitars do not have strap buttons fitted for the top end of the guitar strap. It is assumed that you will tie the strap end to the top of the neck with a lace. We are commonly asked to add a button close to the neck heel of an acoustic guitar to make straps more comfortable. Installation fee $15.00.

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