Repairs & Restorations

Do you have a problem with your guitar, bass or ukulele?

  • Is it more difficult to play than it was?
  • Does it sound dull and lifeless?
  • Do some chords just not sound right?
  • Are the frets lifting or worn?
  • Did you damage it recently?
If some of these problems seem familiar, then I can probably help you. Give me a call - my advice is FREE. Some typical repairs and their costs are described below.  I strive to provide quality, value and service for you and your instruments.  What drives me, is the pleasure I give, when you get your enjoyment back!

Service and adjustment (Basic Setup)

  • Examine and measure existing setup.
  • Clean fingerboard and body, remove and oil truss-rod adjuster (if possible)
  • Check frets level, polish frets and fingerboard.
  • Examine nut and saddle for wear.
  • Check tuners, tighten fasteners and clean and oil if required.
  • Restring, adjust neck-relief, set action at nut and saddle as required. Adjust bridge/saddles and set intonation (electrics)
  • Typical cost £30 - £60 + strings.

Professional Setup (including fret-dress)

When checking a guitar, I frequently find that the frets need attention before any adjustments become worthwhile.  It is not unusual for frets to be uneven on a new guitar or quite worn on an older one making basic adjustments worthless.  Hence I find that many guitars also require at least a light fret-dress before a setup is worthwhile.
  • Reseat and level frets; dress with whet-stone to remove high spots and wear
  • Re-profile frets to restore crown, polish frets and fingerboard
  • Includes all adjustments above.  Typical cost £60 - £100 + strings

Refret

  • As above plus...
  • Remove all frets with steam to minimise chipping
  • Level and surface fingerboard (as required)
  • Clean and repair fret slots (if needed)
  • Cut and insert frets from selected fretwire
  • Typical cost £140 - £200 + strings

Repair services

Other types of repair include:-
  • Splits to tables, back and sides
  • Neck breaks
  • Lifting bridge
  • Replacement bone or synthetic, nuts and saddles
  • Intonation correction (Fill and re-cut saddle slot) on acoustic guitars
  • Replacement tuning machines
  • Shellac French Polish refinishing (Please note I do not spray nitro-cellulose lacquer!)

Quality.

"Roger has become invaluable to me as a luthier and I would not take my instruments anywhere else. He has worked on a number of my guitars with such expertise and craftsmanship, from action adjustments, to identifying and dealing with manufacturer defects, with such a high level of service and care that you would not find with any other"

Service. 

Who do you trust with your guitars?  The setup and adjustments required for a steel string guitar are entirely different to an electric guitar, ask your repairer if they know the difference!  You could, of course take your guitar to a shop, that is if you can make their opening hours.  There you might find a young lad setting up all the shop electric guitars.  Do you really want to trust him with your baby?  
On the other hand you could bring it to a guitar maker and technician who has been making and repairing guitars for most of a lifetime.  I don't have fixed opening hours, my workshop is at home.  I try and accommodate my customers needs by providing a personal. quality service, that is second to none.  My customers range from professional musicians who need their instruments to work as tools, to the humble amateur who plays for enjoyment.  I don't have specific opening hours - all my service is by appointment!

Value.  

I don't have a fixed scale of charges either, because I believe this doesn't offer you either the best service or value.  I will provide you an estimate of the repair cost after I have examined the guitar and after we have discussed the work involved.  There is no obligation for you - all estimates and advice are freely given. Above I have given a few examples of typical repairs and the range of likely cost.  If you want to send me a few digital pictures I'll do my best to give you an estimate.
We are the recommended luthier for Stafford Classical Guitars
the UK centre for beautiful handmade Classical and Flamenco Guitars