Strathcona Guitar Repair and Maintenance Services
At Strathcona Guitar Repair, we offer a wide variety of services to keep your guitar in top condition. For most of our setup and maintenance services, we offer while-you-wait and next-day service. Some of our advanced services include fret, nut, and saddle replacement, as well as electronics repair. If you need major structural repairs, our technician has the expertise to handle anything from a cracked guitar body to a broken headstock, as well as re-touching and finishing services. Additionally, we offer custom guitar modifications to help you achieve the exact sound and feel you’re looking for. Below is a breakdown of our most requested services and their starting prices:
Setups and Maintenance
Our complete set-up service is $90, plus the cost of strings. We stock D’Addario strings in the shop, or you’re welcome to provide your own.
Setup
$90* + strings
Our complete set-up service includes restringing, hardware tightening and lubrication, fingerboard cleaning and conditioning, fret polishing, truss-rod adjustment, bridge and nut adjustment, intonation adjustment, electronics testing, pickup balance adjustment, and a full inspection and play test to ensure your guitar performs at its best.
*An additional $40 charge will be applied to any guitars with a Floyd Rose Tremolo System.
Fretwork Repair or Replacement
Fret leveling and re-fret services are completed with a setup. Setups are $90, plus the cost of strings.
Fret Edge Dress
Starting at $50 + setup
File, shape, and polish sharp fret ends.
Fret Level
Starting at $180 + setup
Level, crown, and polish frets under simulated string tension.
Full Re-Fret
Starting at $450 + setup
If the frets are severely worn or damaged, they may need to be replaced entirely. The full re-fret services include the removal of old frets, installation of new frets, a full fret level, dress and set up. When needed, minor fingerboard planing will be included to ensure level frets and fingerboard.
Loose Fret Repair
$5 per fret + fret level + setup
If your frets are poorly seated they will need to be re-seated and glued prior to any fretwork services. Once loose frets are secured, a full fret level and setup follows.
Nut, Bridge, and Saddle Repair or Replacement
All nut, bridge, and saddle services must be completed with a setup and new strings.
Custom Bone Nut
$100* + setup
Service includes removing the old nut, shaping a new nut to fit the guitar, and installation. Service is completed with a setup and new strings.
*An additional $30 charge will be applied to service on a 12 string or mandolin.
Custom Bone Saddle with Compensation
$90 + setup
Service includes removing the old saddle and shaping a new saddle from a bone blank. Saddles are made to securely fit in their slot, follow the fingerboard radius, provide optimum string height and are shaped for correct intonation.
Ramp Saddle Slots
$50 + setup
In order to have the correct break angle from the back of the saddle, sometimes endpin holes need to be slotted closer to the saddle.
Buzz Feiten Compensated Shelf Nut – Electric Instruments
$210 + setup
Using a shelf nut, the strings are moved closer to the first fret a precise distance based on the scale length, fret width and string gauge. The intonation points are then adjusted according to BFTS patented pitch offsets.
Buzz Feiten Tuning System Installation – Acoustic Instruments
$330 + setup
In order to install the Buzz Feiten Tuning System on acoustic guitars the saddle slot must be plugged and recut to be able to achieve the intonation offsets required. The price reflects plugging and recutting the saddle slot + custom compensated bone nut and saddle.
F-Style EverTune Bridge Installation
$400 + setup and cost of bridge*
EverTune is a patented, all-mechanical guitar bridge system that keeps guitars in tune under any conditions. EverTune maintains constant tension on each individual string, keeping the guitar in perfect tune indefinitely.
*Evertune 6 string bridges are $350USD + $60USD shipping from the supplier. After shipping, duties, and conversion to CAD$ we charge $575CAD
Structural Repair Services
All structural repair services are priced at a bench rate of $90 per hour and calculated per job. Please note that each service must be completed with a setup and new strings.
Broken Headstock
Starting at $135* + setup
Depending on the break, some broken headstocks can be easily aligned and glued back together with minimal finish touchup. Others can require grafting new wood and major finish work. Proper estimates will require assessment of the damage and repair procedure.
Lifting Bridge Removal Re-glue
Starting at $210 + setup
Remove bridge, scrape finish from bridge footprint, insure proper contact between bridge and top, re-glue bridge.
Re-glue bridge without removal
Starting at $45 + setup
Inject glue under lifting section and re-glue. Results may vary and bridge removal may be needed in the future.
Brace Repair
Starting at $90 + setup
Glue loose or cracked brace.
Crack Repair
Starting at $90 + setup
Calculated per job depending on alignment, splines and finish touchup.
Guitar & Tube Amplifier Electronics Repair Services
All electronic services are priced at a bench rate of $90 per hour and calculated per job. Please note that the prices provided are only estimates and subject to change upon physical evaluation before the start of each service.
Shield cavity & pickguard
$90 + setup
Conductive paint is used in cavities, copper tape is used on back of pickguard. All shielding is connected to ground to create a faraday shield and reduce interference.
pickup & endpin jack Installation
$90 + setup
For acoustic guitar. Under saddle or K&K.
Tube Amplifier Service & Diagnostic
$90
Comprehensive amplifier servicing includes: matching power tubes for correct pairing, biasing and balancing power tube plate current, and re-tensioning tube socket pins. Dead or failing tubes are replaced, controls and jacks tightened, and controls cleaned to ensure smooth operation. Coupling capacitors are tested for DC leakage, and filter capacitors are checked for ripple, ensuring peak performance and reliability.