Most musicians do not mind paying for good repair work. In my experience professional musicians love having a “guy”. And I love being that “guy”.
But what they tend to mind is not knowing what the hell they’re walking into.
They bring in a guitar with buzzing frets, a slipping tuner, or electronics that sound like a campfire, and somehow the conversation gets foggy real fast.
A guy behind a counter squints at it, mutters something about “we’ll have to see,” and now you’re standing there wondering if this is going to cost sixty bucks or six hundred.
That sucks.
I do not think repair pricing should feel like a hostage negotiation. So here’s the clearest version of it I can give you.
This page has two jobs.
First, it shows the prices for the repair work I do all the time.
Second, it gives you realistic ranges for the bigger, messier, more variable repairs that no honest shop should quote blind.
I’d rather tell you the truth up front than make you guess and feel weird about it later.
Quick answer: how much does instrument repair cost?
For the stuff most people ask about first, here’s the short version:
A standard guitar setup starts at $90.
A restring service starts at $40.
A full fret level, recrown, and polish usually starts around $165 to $200 depending on the instrument.
Nut work usually falls between $70 and $200 depending on style and complexity.
Electronics work starts with a $25 bench/diagnosis minimum and goes up depending on what the job actually is.
For the bigger stuff like broken headstocks, neck resets, crack repair, bridge reglues, amplifier service, and full refrets, pricing depends on the instrument, the damage, and whether somebody else already took a swing at it before you got here.
Those jobs need to be quoted after inspection.
Not because I’m hiding anything.
Because I’m not into making up numbers just to sound helpful.
Why repair pricing varies so much
Not every repair takes the same amount of time.
And not every instrument behaves itself.
A normal six-string setup is one thing. A Floyd Rose is another thing. A Rickenbacker 12-string is another thing. A vintage acoustic with structural issues is basically like showing up with emotional baggage and a drug addiction.
A few things change the price fast:
Parts
Strings, pickups, switches, tuners, pots, saddles, bone blanks, and specialty parts are usually extra.
Hardware complexity
Floyd Rose systems, double truss rods, weird bridges, and specialized designs take more time and more care.
Vintage or delicate instruments
Older instruments usually need slower hands and better judgment.
Structural damage
Cracks, loose braces, broken headstocks, neck resets, and serious finish issues need to be seen in person before anybody responsible throws out a number.
That’s not vagueness.
That’s honesty.
Our published repair pricing
These are the prices for the jobs I handle regularly and can quote clearly.
Jump-the-line service
Need it faster?
Jump the Line Fee: $150 flat – I apply this as a discount evenly across all the people in the line you are jumping over.
Sometimes that’s worth it. Sometimes it’s not. But at least now you know.
Guitar setups and fretwork
Standard guitar setup: $90
Standard guitar setup with fret level, recrown, and polish: $200
Other instruments or more complex guitar setup: $100
With fret level, recrown, and polish: $210
Mandolin or archtop setup, including fitting bridge to top: $110
With fret level, recrown, and polish: $220
Rickenbacker bass or 6-string setup: $125
With fret level, recrown, and polish: $235
Rickenbacker 12-string setup: $150
With fret level, recrown, and polish: $260
Steinberger Trans Trem setup: $200
With fret level: $320
Buzz Feiten retrofit for most electrics, including setup: $200
With fret level: $310
Buzz Feiten retrofit for most acoustics, including setup: $450
With fret level add-on: $560
What a setup actually includes
A setup is not just “lower the action a touch and call it a day.”
I tune first. I check relief, action, and string gauge. I inspect the nut and electronics. I restring as needed. I adjust the truss rod, action, and intonation. I play-test EVERY FRET across the strings. Then I do final QC and polish.
In other words, I actually work on the damn thing.
Restring services
Restring and tune
6-string, 7-string, banjo, or ukulele: $40
With other work: $30
12-string: $60
With other work: $50
Classical, Latin, or mandolin: $50
With other work: $40
Floyd Rose trem: $50
With other work: $40
Restring and adjust
6-string, 7-string, banjo, or ukulele: $60
With other work: $50
12-string: $80
With other work: $70
Classical, Latin, or mandolin: $70
With other work: $60
Floyd Rose trem: $65
With other work: $55
Nut work
Standard nut: $70
With setup: $50
Fender-style nut: $110
With setup: $90
Gibson-style, acoustic, or Fender with binding: $200
With setup: $100
12-string nut: $190
With setup: $65
Specialty materials like graphite, brass, or steel may add cost.
That’s the kind of thing that matters. Better to say it now than spring it on you later.
Acoustic bridge and saddle work
Acoustic guitar bridge work: $60
Hand-crafted bone saddle: $85
12-string saddle: $235
Bridge remove and reglue, Martin-style 6-string: $300+
Bridge reglue on poly-finished top, 6-string: $250
Electronics repair
Minimum bench/diagnosis: $25
Pickup installs, rewinds, routing, and other electronics work usually land somewhere between $25 and $355 depending on what the job actually involves.
Because “electronics issue” can mean anything from one cold solder joint to “somebody’s cousin absolutely butchered this cavity in 2009.”
Common fretwork and fingerboard services
Full fret level and recrown, basic 6-string: $165
With setup: $120
Fret-end file: $75
With setup: $50
Repairs that need an inspection before quoting
Some jobs vary way too much to price responsibly without seeing the instrument first.
That does not mean I’m dodging the question.
It means I’m trying not to lie to your face.
Here are the ranges you’ll commonly see across reputable repair shops.
Structural repairs
Broken headstock repair: $200–$500+
Acoustic neck reset, dovetail: $500–$750+
Bolt-on reset: often $75–$300
Crack repair for acoustic top, back, or sides: $150–$250+
Loose brace or internal reglue: $50–$100+
Bridge reglue: $200–$300+
New bridge installation: $300–$600+
Finish work
Finish touch-ups: $80–$200
Full refinish: $500–$1,200+
Some refinishing jobs are quoted hourly because complexity can go sideways in a hurry and to be honest, finish sucks but somehow I still love the process.
Advanced fret and nut work
Fret level, dress, and setup: $125–$200
Partial refret: $15–$25 per fret plus dress/setup
Full refret: $400–$600+
Nut replacement: typically $100–$125, with higher pricing for 12-string or mandolin work
Drum repair pricing
Yes, we’re talking more than just guitars.
Head replacement and tuning: $5–$15 per drum
Small hardware swaps: usually a small per-piece labor charge
Bearing edge work: about $50 for the first drum, plus about $10 each additional
Cleaning and restoration: about $20–$30 per drum for basic cleaning, with deep restoration often quoted hourly
Amplifier and pedal repair pricing
Bench or diagnosis fee: $25–$80 depending on amp vs. pedal
Hourly labor: $75–$125 per hour typical
Minor fixes: $20–$60 labor plus parts
Major service or recap/restoration: often 2–3 or more hours of labor plus parts
Again, there’s a huge gap between “bad jack” and “this amp smells like old fire.”
What happens when you bring your instrument in
When you bring an instrument in, I inspect it and write down what matters.
That means stuff like relief, action, nut notes, fret wear, and humidity notes. I also send you home with a simple inspection card to keep in the case so you have a record of where the instrument stood on that date.
Then I tell you the next step clearly.
If it’s a quick fix, I’ll say so.
If it needs real work, I’ll explain why.
If it’s a money pit, I’ll say that too.
That last one matters.
Not every instrument deserves a hero’s death on the repair bench.
hOwEvEr
I do this work for a reason. I could work for daddy Elon like the rest of the world but my lovely soul desires to heal things.
Why I publish my pricing
Most musicians are not hunting for the cheapest repair shop.
They’re looking for a shop they can trust.
Publishing prices is part of that. It helps you decide whether the repair makes sense before you ever make the trip. It helps you compare maintenance versus replacement. It helps you understand when a setup is enough and when your instrument needs more than a prayer and fresh strings.
Mostly, it removes the mystery.
And mystery is where people start feeling like they’re getting played.
Plus in my middle age, honesty is all I have left.
How about some frequently asked questions
How much does a guitar setup cost?
A standard guitar setup starts at $90, with more complex instruments and added fretwork costing more.
How much does a restring cost?
Most restring-and-tune services start at $40, with higher pricing for 12-strings, classical instruments, mandolins, and Floyd Rose systems.
Why are some repairs quote-only?
Because structural repairs, cracked acoustics, amps, vintage instruments, and previous repair attempts can vary wildly in time, difficulty, and parts.
Are parts included in repair prices?
Usually not. Strings, pickups, tuners, switches, pots, saddles, and nut blanks are typically extra.
Do you work on more than guitars?
Yes. This includes pricing guidance for mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, drums, amplifiers, and pedals too.
Here’s the thing
If you already know what you need, this page should help you ballpark the cost before you ever reach out.
If you don’t know what your instrument needs, bring it in. I’ll inspect it, tell you what’s worth doing, and tell you what isn’t.
That’s the whole point of transparent pricing.
Not making things sound fancy.
Not hiding behind shop talk.
Not acting like basic information is some trade secret.
Just telling people the truth.