Guitar Repair in Glens Falls, NY
We do guitar repair at Paul's Guitar Hideout in Glens Falls, from loose hardware and electronics problems to fretwork and structural repairs.
Players bring instruments to us from Glens Falls, Queensbury, Lake George, Saratoga Springs, Warren and Washington counties, and throughout the Adirondacks.
Every repair starts the same way: we look at the instrument, figure out what's actually wrong, and tell you what it needs before any work is done. No surprises on the bill.
What We Repair
Sometimes the problem is obvious. Sometimes the symptom points somewhere completely different.
A guitar that won't stay in tune might have bad tuners, but it might also have strings binding in the nut. Buzzing might be a setup issue, an uneven fret, or something else entirely.
That distinction matters. Replacing parts before figuring out why the guitar is behaving the way it is can turn a small problem into an expensive guess.
Part of the job is figuring out which problem you actually have before doing work you don't need.
Fret Work
Worn or uneven frets can cause buzzing, dead spots, poor intonation, and notes that choke out when bending.
The important part is that fret problems aren't always obvious by looking at the action. A guitar can feel generally fine and still have one part of the neck where a note dies, buzzes, or chokes because one or more frets aren't sitting where they should.
Depending on the instrument, the solution might be isolated fret work, a full fret level, or a complete refret.
A fret level is not the same thing as a setup.
Not sure which one you need? See What's the Difference Between a Guitar Setup and a Guitar Repair?
Nuts and Tuners
The nut has a major effect on both tuning and playability.
Slots cut too high can make a guitar feel stiff in first position and pull fretted notes sharp. Slots cut too low can cause open-string buzz. Slots that bind can make tuning unstable even when the tuners themselves are working perfectly.
That's why "my guitar won't stay in tune" doesn't automatically mean "replace the tuners."
We also replace worn, slipping, damaged, or stripped tuners when the tuner really is the problem.
Electronics
Crackling, cutting out, intermittent output, noisy controls, dead pickups, loose jacks, and other electrical problems need diagnosis before parts start getting replaced.
The annoying problems are often intermittent. A guitar can behave perfectly while sitting still and cut out as soon as the cable moves, the pickup selector changes position, or something inside the cavity shifts.
That's why an electronics repair starts with reproducing the problem, not ordering parts.
Sometimes the fix is simple. Sometimes it takes a little time to figure out what the guitar is actually doing.
Structural Repairs
Cracks, broken headstocks, bridge problems, loose braces, and other structural issues are assessed individually.
A broken headstock, for example, isn't one standardized repair. Where it broke, how clean the break is, whether material is missing, and whether somebody has already repaired it all affect what happens next.
The same is true of acoustic bridge and brace problems.
There isn't a useful one-size-fits-all quote for structural work. We need to see the instrument and understand the damage first.
We'll explain what's involved and what it will cost before proceeding.
Repairs and Setups Are Different
A guitar setup adjusts a functioning instrument so it plays properly.
A repair addresses something that is worn, damaged, malfunctioning, or beyond what normal setup adjustments can correct.
Sometimes a guitar needs both.
If setup work is appropriate as part of a repair, we'll tell you that when we quote the job rather than quietly adding it afterward.
What We Don't Do
We don't do full refinishes, finish restoration, or extensive cosmetic finish work.
Spray finishing needs ventilation we aren't tooled up for.
If a job needs it, we'll say so up front.
What Does Guitar Repair Cost?
Most common bench work has a set price. We don't quote a repair we haven't seen, but you don't have to come in blind either.
Setups run $79 standard, $109 deluxe, and $99 specialty for a locking tremolo, 12-string, or classical. The deluxe is the one we usually recommend, and every setup includes nut-slot filing.
Fretwork is $179 for an edge dress, $229 for a partial level, and $299 for a full level, which includes the edge dress. All three include a deluxe setup.
A refret is $499 on a rosewood or ebony board and $499 on maple, or $699 on maple with refinishing. A bound board adds $99, stainless frets add $149, and a bone nut fitted at the same time adds $99. A deluxe setup is included.
Nut and saddle work is $179 for either or $249 for both, hand-whittled bone fit to your instrument, with a deluxe setup included.
Electronics diagnosis is $69 an hour with a half-hour minimum, applied to the job if you go ahead. An output jack repair is $39 plus parts, and a control pot is $39 plus parts.
Tuners are $69 for a whole set, $109 if the headstock needs modifying, or $29 individually. The tuners themselves aren't included.
Structural work runs $79 for a crack, $129 with a cleat, and $179 with two, plus $49 if it needs humidification first. A bridge reglue is $299 and a dovetail neck reset is $699, which includes a new bone saddle. Broken headstocks and bolt-on neck resets are quoted at the bench, because those genuinely do vary.
Strings and parts are always extra, and you're welcome to bring your own. Any job that needs the strings off includes the restring labor.
We don't add work because we happened to find something else while the guitar was on the bench. If a job is going to run over the quote, we call you before doing it.
The full list is on our Repair & Setup Pricing page.
Turnaround
Repair work is first come, first served.
Simple jobs may move quickly. Fretwork, structural repairs, parts orders, and jobs that require more diagnosis naturally take longer.
If you need the instrument back for a show, session, lesson, or another specific date, tell us when you drop it off. We'll give you a realistic idea of what's possible.
The Repair Vault
We document some of the instruments that come across the bench: real guitars, real problems, and what it took to put them right.
Browse The Repair Vault to see the kind of work we do and how we approach it.
Guitar Repair FAQ
Does my guitar need a repair or a setup?
If the guitar is functioning but needs adjustments to play properly, it may only need a setup. If something is worn, damaged, malfunctioning, or can't be corrected through normal setup adjustments, it needs repair work. If you're not sure, bring it in and we'll tell you which it is.
How much does guitar repair cost?
Most common bench work has a set price. Setups run $79 standard, $109 deluxe, and $99 specialty. A full fret level is $299 and a refret starts at $499. Nut or saddle replacement is $179. Electronics diagnostic is $69 an hour. A whole set of tuners is $69. Crack repair starts at $79 and a bridge reglue is $299. Strings and parts are extra, and anything unusual is quoted at the bench after we see the instrument.
How long does guitar repair take?
It depends on the job and the current bench workload. Simple repairs may move quickly. Fretwork, structural repairs, parts orders, and difficult diagnosis take longer. We'll give you a realistic timeframe when we inspect the instrument.
Do you repair guitar amps?
We evaluate amp repairs case by case. If you have an amp that needs work, call or text us or bring it in and we'll tell you whether it's something we can handle.
Do you repair Fender and Gibson guitars?
Yes. We work on Fender, Gibson, and guitars from many other manufacturers. The repair depends on the instrument and the problem, not the name on the headstock.
Bring Us the Guitar
Not sure what's wrong?
Bring it in. We'll look at it and tell you what you're actually dealing with before anything is done.
Paul's Guitar Hideout is located at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY. Use the Cooper Street entrance and take the stairs up. If stairs are difficult or you're bringing in something you don't want to carry up, call or text us and we'll arrange access.
The Shirt Factory
71 Lawrence St., Suite 201B, 2nd Floor
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Wednesday–Sunday, 12–5 PM
(518) 217-8695 · info@paulsguitarhideout.com