Guitar Repair & Setup on the Upper East Side
Setups, restrings, fretwork, structural repair, electronics and custom mods, done in our shop at 316 East 84th Street. Full-time tech, published prices, play-tested before pickup.
All prices are labor only. Strings, parts and sales tax are extra. Final quotes after inspection. Most setups 3 to 7 days; fretwork and larger jobs 1 to 2 weeks.
Setups2 services
| Standard SetupElectric, acoustic or bass. Truss rod, action, intonation, nut slots, fret polish, fretboard conditioning, hardware and electronics check. | $145 |
|---|---|
| Advanced SetupFloating tremolo, Floyd Rose, locking nut, Bigsby or 12-string. | $200 |
Every setup includes a play-test and a basic labor warranty. Most setups are done in 3 to 7 days.
Restrings & Cleaning4 services
| Standard Restring6-string electric, acoustic or bass. | $65 |
|---|---|
| Advanced / 12-String Restring12-strings, Floyd Rose and other locking systems. | $115 |
| Basic CleaningBody, neck and hardware wipe-down. | $60 |
| Full DetailDeep clean and polish of body, neck, fretboard and hardware. | $135 |
Strings are priced separately so you get exactly the set you like. Pick one from our string wall, or bring in your favorite set and we'll put it on.
Fretwork9 services
| Fret Level, Crown & PolishLevels the frets, recrowns and polishes. Fixes buzzing and dead spots from uneven frets. | $225 |
|---|---|
| Fret End Bevel & DressRounds and smooths sharp fret ends. | $125 |
| Fret End Bevel OnlyFlush to the board edge, no dress. | $65 |
| Edge Rolling Add-onUnfinished or certain bound boards. Added to Bevel & Dress only. | +$75 |
| Partial LevelLast octave or fallaway. | $175 |
| RefretBase price. Does not include level, fret ends, setup or nut. | from $350 |
| Twist Correction Add-onUnfinished boards only. | +$100 |
| Set-neck, Bound or Maple Fingerboard Add-onEach that applies. | +$100 |
| Stainless Steel Frets Add-on | +$150 |
Most refrets are followed by a level, fret ends and a setup. Finished boards with twist are quoted individually. Fretwork and larger jobs take 1 to 2 weeks.
Structural6 services
| Crack RepairQuoted after we see the guitar. | from $300 |
|---|---|
| Bridge ReglueStandard steel-string acoustic. | $385 |
| Headstock ReglueBase price. Quoted after inspection. | from $525 |
| Binding Repair, Single-plyPer zone. | from $125 |
| Binding Repair, 2-piecePer zone. | from $165 |
| Binding Repair, 3-piecePer zone. | from $200 |
Zones for binding are upper bout, lower bout, side and bottom. Finish blending, new material and cleats are extra.
Electronics & Pickups12 services
| Solid-body Pickup Install, First Pickup | $100 |
|---|---|
| Solid-body Pickup Install, Each Additional | $60 each |
| Semi-hollow or Hollow-body Pickup Add-onAdded to the pickup install. | $50 to $100 |
| Pre-wired Pickguard or HarnessStrat or Tele style. | $125 |
| Soundhole Pickup Install | $125 |
| Undersaddle Transducer + Endpin Install | $185 |
| K&K or Bridge-plate Pickup Install | $175 |
| Output Jack | $60 |
| Single Potentiometer | $60 |
| Additional PotSame job. | $40 |
| Blade or Toggle Switch | $75 |
| Endpin Jack Replacement or Repair | $60 |
Parts are extra on all installs.
Upgrades8 services
| Tusq Nut or Saddle | $150 |
|---|---|
| Hand-carved Bone Nut or Saddle | $200 |
| Full Tuner InstallFull set. | $125 |
| Single Tuner ReplacementEach. | $30 each |
| Floating Trem ConversionNeck shim so a 2-point trem floats properly. $50 labor plus $10 shim. | $60 |
| Bridge Shaving or ThinningAcoustic action solution. | $180 |
| Copper Foil ShieldingControl cavity and pickup cavities. Combine with paint for near-zero feedback. | $160 |
| Conductive Paint Shielding | $100 |
Parts are extra on all installs.
Modifications17 services
| Solid-body Pickup Install, First PickupPickup swaps. Full list under Electronics & Pickups. | $100 |
|---|---|
| Solid-body Pickup Install, Each Additional | $60 each |
| Pre-wired Pickguard or HarnessStrat or Tele style. | $125 |
| Push-pull, Push-push or Push-in Pot | $85 |
| Specialty SwitchIncludes drilling a new hole. | $80 |
| Treble Bleed Circuit | $20 |
| Blender Pot Modification | $80 |
| New Pickup Leads, Single Coil | $75 |
| New Pickup Leads, Humbucker | $100 |
| Coil Shielding, SRV-stylePer coil. | $50 / coil |
| Steel Baseplate, Tele BridgePer pickup. | $40 each |
| Pickup RewindPer coil. | $125 / coil |
| Pickup RoutingSingle to humbucker and similar. Per route. | $80 to $150 |
| Direct-mount Conversion | $60 to $100 |
| Active System or Battery BoxQuoted after inspection. | Quoted |
| Control Cavity Modification or Expansion | $60 to $120 |
| Tremolo Stabilization or Upgrade | $90 to $160 |
Drop in any day we're open, or send us a note with the instrument and what it's doing. Call 646-559-8771 for current lead times.
Common questions about guitar repair & setup
- How much does a guitar setup cost at Brothers Guitar Shop?
- A standard setup is $145 for electric, acoustic or bass. An advanced setup for floating tremolo, Floyd Rose, locking nut, Bigsby or 12-string instruments is $200.
- What is included in a standard setup?
- Truss rod adjustment, action, intonation, nut slot check, fret polish, fretboard conditioning, hardware check, electronics check and a play-test. Strings, parts and tax are extra.
- How much is a restring?
- A standard restring is $65. A 12-string or locking tremolo restring is $115. Strings are priced separately so you get exactly the set you like: pick one from our string wall, or bring in your favorite set and we'll put it on.
- Do you do fret leveling and refrets?
- Yes. A fret level, crown and polish is $225. A partial level is $175. A fret end bevel and dress is $125. Refrets start at $350 and are usually followed by a level, fret ends and a setup. Stainless steel frets add $150.
- Can you repair cracks, loose bridges and broken headstocks?
- Yes. Crack repair starts at $300 and is quoted after we see the guitar. A bridge reglue on a steel-string acoustic is $385. Headstock reglues start at $525 and are quoted after inspection.
- Do you install pickups and do wiring work?
- Yes. A solid-body pickup install is $100 for the first pickup and $60 for each additional. Acoustic pickups run $125 to $185 depending on the system. Jacks, pots, switches, push-pull pots, treble bleeds, blender pots, shielding and pickup rewinds are all on the menu.
- Are your prices labor only?
- Yes. Every price is labor. Strings, parts and sales tax are extra, and larger jobs get a final quote after inspection.
- How long does a repair take?
- Most setups take 3 to 7 days. Fretwork and larger jobs take 1 to 2 weeks. Ask about current lead times when you drop off.
- Where is the repair shop?
- Brothers Guitar Shop is at 316 East 84th Street, New York, NY 10028, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, near 2nd Avenue. Call 646-559-8771.
Where to find us
Brothers Guitar Shop316 East 84th Street
New York, NY 10028
Telephone: 646-559-8771
Book a repair
Specialty repair pages
Guitar setups
Restrings
Bass setup and repair
12-string setup
Floyd Rose and floating tremolo setup
Fret leveling and refrets
Stainless steel refrets
Bone nuts and saddles
Acoustic cracks and bridge reglues
Broken headstock repair
Pickup installation and wiring
Acoustic pickup installation
Pickup rewinding
Pickup routing and direct mount
Shielding and hum fixes
