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 lubricate 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

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.
I am the recommended luthier for Stafford Classical Guitar