John fitting the pickups and guard to a customer's sonic blue Tele-shaped body on the bench

Repairs · setups, fretwork, finishing

Setups, fretwork, refrets, rewires and finishing. Vintage Fenders to charity shop specials come through the door; a price for most of it is below.

John, on repairs

What comes through the door is almost impossible to pin down. Most of it is a setup or a service, a guitar that's never been set up properly or was once and has drifted, and the rest is a mixed bag — frets, nuts, pickups, wiring, a headstock that's decided to go solo, or a refinish. Relic work's the speciality. No seven-strings, and please don't ask me for a Floyd. There's a guy who loves them, and I'll send you his way.

The prices are below and they say ‘from’ for a reason. It's very tricky to price a guitar I haven't had in my hands. Once it's here, it's a different story and I'll tell you what it needs and what it'll cost. Nothing gets done to it that you haven't said yes to. Although I may ask if you want the fretboard edges rolled while it's on the bench. Hand it back and you'll see why.

The prices

The prices · 2026–27

Strings and parts on top.

Professional setups
Electric, acoustic and bass setup, no tremolo	From £60–£65 + strings
Tremolo-equipped guitar setup	From £75 + strings
12-string setup	From £90 + strings

Fretwork
Complete fret dress and professional setup	From £125–£145 + strings
Partial fret dress and professional setup	From £90–£105 + strings

Refretting
Unbound rosewood, ebony or similar refret	From £275–£300 + strings
Bound fingerboard refret	From £325–£375 + strings
Stainless-steel surcharge	+ £75–£100

Headstock repairs
Headstock re-glue and finish	From £200
Headstock re-glue, splint and finish	From £250–£350

Nuts
Moulded or pre-slotted nut fitted	£55–£65
Custom hand-cut nut	£75–£90

Pickups
Same-size pickup installation, first	£45–£50 + parts

Further mods on request.

Electronics
Switch, pot or jack replacement	£45–£50 + parts
Electric or bass rewire	From £75 + parts
Full cavity screening, copper foil	From £60–£75
Custom modification, minimum	£50–£60 + parts

Bridges and tremolos
Depending on requirements	Price on request

Finishing — body
Block colour	From £250
Two- or three-tone sunburst	From £400–£450
Rub down worn topcoat, clear lacquer and polish	From £175

Relic work a speciality.

Finishing — neck
Block colour	From £85
Rub down worn topcoat, clear lacquer and polish	From £85
Strip finish back to wood	From £60

Scratchplates and parts
Custom scratchplate	From £60

Depending on material and finish.

How it works

Describe it. It's priced once it's in the shed.

First: Describe it below: the guitar, what it's doing, and a photograph if there's something to see.
Then: We come back with what it needs and what it costs, from the sheet. If it needs something we can't see from here, we say so.
Getting it here: Bring it to the shed, by appointment, or send it, insured for what it's worth.
Paying: Nothing is paid until the guitar is in the shed and we've seen it. We invoice you then, and you pay online from the invoice.
While it's here: Ask to play one of ours. Bring yours back to the same room and hear the difference.