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14 Point Setup
Scroll down to see the full description of a 14 point setup — We make sure your guitar plays at its best by adjusting the neck relief, action, and intonation. Routine maintenance not only keeps your guitar in top shape but also helps spot any potential issues early on. Our standard setup includes polishing the frets, cleaning the electronics, and oiling the fretboard. When you bring your guitar to us, we assess and adjust everything to ensure it sounds and feels perfect. Plus, we thoroughly clean and condition the fretboard and hardware, so your guitar looks and plays like new.
Acoustic Guitar or Bass $60
Fixed Bridge Electric $70
Electric Bass $70
Floyd Rose $80
Nut Replacement (Tusq) - $80
Boost your guitar's sound and playability with our Tusq nut replacement service. I'll swap out your old plastic or bone nut with a custom-cut Tusq nut, known for its clear tone, better sustain, and improved tuning stability. It also fixes string height issues. Made from self-lubricating synthetic ivory, Graphtec "Tusq" nuts are a fantastic upgrade, especially for guitars that struggle to stay in tune. This is the top upgrade for Squier, Epiphone, PRS SE, and more.
Fret Dressing - $100
Experience the precision of expert fret leveling to eliminate any buzzing and ensure your guitar plays with impeccable intonation. This service also includes a comprehensive setup for unparalleled performance.
Sharp Fret Ends - $50
We fix sharp fret ends by carefully filing and smoothing them to remove discomfort and prevent finger injuries. This process involves leveling the frets ends, rounding the edges, and ensuring a comfortable playing experience. The result is a smoother, more enjoyable guitar feel.
Tuner Swap
Upgrade your guitar tuners for improved tuning stability, better looks, and easier restringing. Whether you need locking tuners for reliable performance, a different gear ratio, or just want to enhance your guitar’s appearance, our tuner replacement service has you covered. Price for service only - customer will supply replacement tuners.
Direct Replacement $45
With Drilling $75
Paint Touch Ups and Acoustic Crack Repair - Contact for Pricing
We will fill in dings and dents, touch up paint work, and seal cracks to prevent future cracking and separation. Our services safeguard the life and value of your instrument, ensuring it looks and sounds its best for years to come.
Re-Fretting - Contact for Pricing
Guitar frets inevitably require replacement, typically after undergoing several fret dressings. If your frets are deeply gouged or their height is too low for a fret dressing, our refret service will restore your guitar's playability.
Electronics
Upgrade, replace, or repair your electronics. From output jacks to pickups, potentiometers, switches, and even pickup replacement, we've got you covered. Extra fees apply to hollow-body guitars.
Output Jack $45
Replace 1 Pickup $45
Replace 2 Pickups $80
Inquire for other services
Copper Foil Shielding - $100
Enhance your guitar's sound with our copper foil shielding service. This installation reduces electromagnetic interference (EMI) and unwanted feedback, ensuring a cleaner signal. By shielding your guitar's electronics, we prevent noise from nearby electrical equipment, making your guitar less vulnerable to radio frequencies and electromagnetic fields.
Acoustic Bridge Reglue - $120
An acoustic guitar bridge sometimes needs regluing for both structural integrity and sound quality. The bridge's glue joint spreads the string tension, about 160 lbs when tuned, safely over the guitar's top. A weak joint can fail under this stress. Properly gluing the bridge also enhances the guitar's tone by transferring string vibrations to the soundboard effectively.
Headstock Break - $120
If your headstock is broken, I can restore it to like-new condition with expert gluing and refinishing techniques. My repairs are stronger than the original wood, ensuring your guitar is playable and durable.
Anything Else
Reach out to me today so we can chat about the issue you're facing and work together on a solution. I've handled a wide range of challenges in the past, so chances are I've got some ideas that can help. Let's figure this out together.
What is a 14 Point Setup?
We focus on two main things Playability and Preservation
At Up North Guitar, our setups aim to make your guitar play smoothly and feel great. Our focus on the two main things make sure you like the way your instrument feels in your hands and that it will last you a lifetime. Unless you tell us otherwise, our goal is to give you low action with little to no buzzing. Here's how we do it:
Initial Inspection: I start by thoroughly inspecting your guitar to understand what it needs.
Truss Rod Adjustment: I adjust the truss rod to ensure the neck has the proper amount of relief.
Bridge Height Adjustment: I set the string height by adjusting the bridge. For acoustics, I measure at the 12th fret; for electrics and basses, I measure at the 17th fret.
Volume & Tone Pots: I check and rotate the volume and tone knobs. If they’re scratchy, I clean them with Deoxit. If they’re loose, I tighten them.
Clean & Polish Frets: I clean and polish the frets to make them shiny and smooth.
Clean & Oil Fretboard: I clean the fretboard and oil it if it’s made of rosewood, pau ferro, or ebony.
Clean and Polish the Guitar: I give the entire guitar a good cleaning and polish it so it not only looks, but feels new.
Change Strings & Tune: I put on new strings, tune the guitar, and lubricate the nut for smoother string movement.
Tighten Tuning Machines: I check the tuning machines and tighten them if needed.
Tighten Screws: I make sure all screws on the guitar body are tight.
Adjust Pickup Height: I check and adjust the height of the pickups for optimal sound.
Set Intonation: I adjust the intonation so your guitar sounds in tune all the way up the neck.
Play & Check: I play the guitar to check for buzzing, playability, and overall feel. If something isn’t right, I make the necessary adjustments.
Final Cleaning: I perform a final cleaning with a special solution to clean off all my fingerprints, put it back in the case and wait for you to be awed by its beauty.