Guitar Setup on the Upper East Side
A setup is the single most useful thing you can do for a guitar. Action, intonation, neck relief and nut slots all drift with the seasons and with playing. We put them back where they belong, in our shop at 316 East 84th Street, with the price on the wall before you hand it over.
What a setup includes
- Truss rod adjustment for the right neck relief
- Action set at the bridge to your playing style
- Intonation at every saddle so chords ring true up the neck
- Nut slot check and light cleanup so first-position chords are in tune
- Fret polish and fretboard conditioning
- Hardware tightened, electronics checked, a fresh set of strings if you bring one
- A play-test before it goes on the pickup shelf
Which setup do you need
Standard Setup ($145) covers hardtail electrics, acoustics and basses: Teles, Les Pauls, Strats with a decked trem, dreadnoughts, P-basses.
Advanced Setup ($200) is for anything with a floating or locking tremolo (Floyd Rose, Ibanez Edge, two-point floating Strat), a Bigsby, a locking nut, or 12 strings. Balancing a floating bridge against string tension is a different job and takes twice the time.
Full Acoustic Setup ($185) adds nut and saddle work: filing and compensating the saddle for intonation, cutting nut slots to depth. Saddle work is permanent, so it costs more than a standard setup. Acoustic Maintenance ($95) is the lighter version: restring, lemon oil, light fret buff and a quick truss adjustment, no nut or saddle work.
Prices
| Standard SetupHardtail electric, acoustic or bass | $145 |
|---|---|
| Advanced SetupFloating trem, Floyd Rose, locking nut, Bigsby, 12-string | $200 |
| Extended Range Add-onPer extra string beyond 6 | +$25 |
| Acoustic MaintenanceRestring, oil, buff, quick truss | $95 |
| Full Acoustic SetupWith nut and saddle work | $185 |
See the full repair and setup menu for everything else we do.
Strings are extra: bring your own set or pick one from the wall. Most setups are done in 3 to 7 days. If the guitar needs more than a setup, say fret leveling or a new nut, we call you with a quote before doing anything.
Get a free quote
Common questions
- How much is a guitar setup in NYC?
- At Brothers Guitar Shop a standard setup is $145 labor. Floyd Rose, floating tremolo, Bigsby and 12-string setups are $200. A full acoustic setup with nut and saddle work is $185.
- How long does a setup take?
- Most setups are done in 3 to 7 days. Ask about current lead times when you drop off, and we can usually turn a single guitar faster before a gig.
- Should I bring my own strings?
- Yes if you have a brand and gauge you like. We stock D'Addario, Ernie Ball, Elixir and Martin in the shop if you don't.
- Do you set up basses and acoustics?
- Yes. A standard setup covers 4 and 5-string basses and all steel-string and nylon acoustics. Extended range 7, 8 and 9-string guitars add $25 per extra string.
- Where are you?
- 316 East 84th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue in Yorkville on the Upper East Side. Four blocks from the 86th Street Q and the 4, 5, 6 at 86th and Lex.