We continue to offer our unrivalled repair service to guitarists worldwide. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, we can set-up your guitar so you can realise your true playing potential whatever your style.

Several levels of guitar set-up are available in our workshop from basic adjustment to our legendary Plek set-up and then on to our re-fretting service if more major work is required. Splits, cracks, head-breaks, flood damage, 'domestic' damage, we’ve seen it all. You’ll be amazed what can be done - almost anything is fixable. Drop your guitar in for an intonation assessment if you're having tuning problems – often these can be rectified with a basic set-up. We are also authorised Buzz Feiten retrofitters for electric and acoustic guitars if you want to take your intonation to the next level.

We now have a fully equipped, purpose built 1100 square foot workshop facility based near our Hampton Wick shop to cater for the increasing demand for our guitar skills and to keep our turnaround time to a minimum.  Please note that all booking in and collection of completed work still takes place at our Hampton Wick shop address; if you're un-able to make it in person we can arrange insured collection and/or delivery from any UK address, simply give us your postcode and we can supply a quote. Typically a return trip is between £40-£50.

Currently our turnaround for most jobs - excluding major refurbishments and refinishing - is 2-3 weeks. Should you need a quicker turnaround please call or pop in to discuss ‘fast-tracking’ your repair. Currently we are able to turnaround basic set-ups and Plek fret dresses much quicker. Alternatively pre booking a slot in advance with a small deposit will cut down the time we would need to have your instrument.

More details of our individual repair services follow, vand extra information will be added. However, if you have any questions that have not been answered here feel free to get in touch. From custom wiring options, to custom hardware installation, to custom string gauges – we have the experience at every level to help.

Standard Set-up

Our standard set-up/service is designed to improve the action and playability of your guitar with its current fret condition. Neck relief, nut height, saddle height, string camber, string gauge, intonation, fret ends and electrics are just some of the factors taken into account, allowing us to customise playability depending on required action. To create the best possible playing action we recommend upgrading to a Plek set-up, which includes dressing your guitar’s frets to maximise its playing potential.

Plek fret dress

A fret dress can be required for a number of reasons. If the current frets are worn and pitted, if you are having trouble achieving your required action with the frets and neck relief as is, or if you simply want to maximise the playability and set-up of a new guitar our Plek fret dress and set-up service will help.

Pioneered in the U.K. by Charlie Chandler the Plek system gives you the ultimate set-up optimised for your exact string gauge and playing style. The revolutionary Plek technology scans your guitar’s neck whilst strung up and tuned to pitch, allowing it to record the exact state of your fingerboard and frets in playing conditions. The machine scans to an accuracy of 1000^th of a millimetre and can help to highlight any high or low frets, poor neck relief, twists, bumps and excessive fingerboard kick-up or fall-off. The detailed graphs produced allow us to adjust each string’s action to suit. The guitar is then de-strung and the Plek machine processes the frets to our set quality. The instrument is then final finished and set-up by hand.

We are very proud to announce that we have recently installed in our workshop the all-new Plek Station machine. Our unit is only the second in service worldwide, and the first in Europe. The Station is the workshop/service version of the Plek Pro and it is superseeding our Plek Basic. Currently Gibson Custom Shop are running two Pros, Gibson Montana have two, Martin run the majority of their production through four Pros, while other Pro users include Takamine, legendary Nashville luthier Joe Glaser and Suhr Guitars. Guitar repair author, consultant and luthier Dan Erlewine has just taken delivery of a PlekStation too.

For the last eight years we have championed the quality and accuracy of the Plek technology and the advances in the Pro/Station software and hardware have further ‘raised the bar’ in terms of accuracy, fret shape, playability and intonation. Exemplary nut cutting using a high frequency spindle cutter is now a feature of the Station too. No more poorly spaced, angled, pinching or sloppy nut slots.

For more information on how the Plek process can improve playability, tone and intonation on your guitar feel free to get in touch.

Re-frets

We have built our reputation by carrying out the finest quality fret work with the utmost attention to detail. Each instrument is carefully assessed before work commences and the care taken at each stage – from fret removal to fret end dressing – results in a rejuvenated and perfectly profiled/smooth playing surface.

When excessive fret wear, low fret height or other playing issues cannot be resolved with a fret dress alone a re-fret is necessary. Typical candidate instruments are those with excessively worn or uneven frets leading to buzzing, necks that have twisted or bowed unevenly overtime or those that have simply become over straight and are therefore impossible to set-up. A change of fret width and height may also be required.

In extreme cases of neck unevenness it may be necessary to re-profile or ‘shoot’ the top surface of the fingerboard before installing and dressing the new frets. This allows us to build in an even and accurate amount of relief to the board that will be reflected in the fret tops, and helps to minimise any final work on the frets themselves maximising fret height and therefore future playing life. While re-shooting a board it is the ideal time for us to even up or adjust the camber of the boards surface, and if required we can even flatten out tight vintage style radiuses to allow for choke-free string bending.

Each re-fret includes a full Plek set-up, and can be customised for string gauge, nut height, action required etc. In addition we offer the highest quality German made fret wire of varying sizes/shapes in both nickel silver (standard) and stainless steel. Stainless steel frets are an option for those that truly test the wear life of nickel silver, and they are proven to last far longer than the traditional material.

For more details and specific information on your guitar please feel free to pop it into the shop to be assessed or alternatively give us a call or email. Guitars with bound fingerboards or those opting for stainless steel frets should be prepared for a small up-charge for these more complex options.

Nut replacement

A new nut is a great way of improving your tone, changing your set-up, maximising tuning accuracy or simply replacing a worn or broken one. They can be made from a number of materials, most traditionally bone but more modern materials such as graphite, Tusq and Slipstone can be great alternatives. Due to constant upgrades to the Plek technology we are now able to cut extremely accurate nut slots with the ideal amount of break angle, customised to your preferred string gauge. Poor spacing issues and outer string fingerboard slip-off can also be relieved.

Along with traditional slotted nuts we also installlocking/roller units. We also recommend the Buzz Feiten Tuning System to achieve true tuning accuracy. When fitting a new nut you should allow for a mini set-up as truss rod adjustment and action will affect at which height we cut your nut.

Buzz Feiten Tuning System

We are an approved installer for this revolutionary tuning system now used by many manufacturers. By installing the Feiten patented shelf nut, and adjusting your guitar’s intonation at the bridge, it becomes possible to even out traditional tuning compensations common on non Feiten-ed instrument. The result is balanced intonation over the entire fingerboard. We are also an official U.K. retro-fitter for acoustic guitars. Of the system Larry Carlton said “After 40 years of playing the guitar it’s finally in tune”. To get the full benefit from the system we recommend your guitar is set-up exactly how you like it, as action and neck relief can have a huge affect on intonation and tuning. It is also important that your frets are in good condition and well profiled – this on its own can improve tuning. Typical Buzz Feiten Tuning candidates will also opt for a Plek set-up.

Curriculum vitae

We have done repair work for David Gilmour, PeteTownsend, Chris Rea, Elvis Costello, Pat Metheny, Metallica, U2, Prince, DavidBowie, Gary Moore, Angus Young, Scott Gorham, Stereophonics, Blur, Jon BonJovi, ZZTop, Ash, Eric Clapton, Beastie Boyz, Bush, James Taylor, JacksonBrowne, Mike Oldfield, Hank Marvin, Bryan Adams, Terry Britten, Jeff Beck,Steven Street, Paul McCartney and many more.