Services
Guitar Repair & Luthier Services in San Francisco
Hi, I’m Matt. I’m a luthier living in San Francisco
Each guitar that appears on my workbench becomes a labor of love. My attention to detail and deep reverence for the instrument's background ensures that every aspect of the guitar reflects the spirit of the music it was born to create.
If you’re interested in booking a repair appoint, please send me an email at mattcstevens1@gmail.com and let’s get you on the books.
*If you do not see what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out and we can discuss!
-
Standard 6 string guitar $120 (for a strat with a floating trem $140)
12 string $150
-
New bone nut $140 (add $60 for 12 string)
Pre cut install $80 (add $60 for 12 string)
Brass nut $220
Fill and re-cut slots $60
-
Compensated bone saddle $130
-
$400
-
If it’s a clean break and the headstock is still connected it’s $250
If the headstock is disconnected AND it’s a relatively clean break it’s $300. *If the break is too gnarly I can refer you elsewhere*
-
Level, Crown, and Polish (setup included) $300
Refret *typically you will need a new nut as well to compensate for new higher frets:
Unbound $500
Bound $600
Stainless Steel $700
File fret ends $80
-
Pickup install
1 pickup $100
2 pickups $140
3 pickups $180
Pot/Switch/Jack/Capacitor replacement:
$50 plus cost of part (assumes no modicfication is needed)
Hollow body electronics: standard pricing plus $100
Diagnostics: $80/hr
Full Rewire: starting at $150, it really depends on the guitar and how complex the wiring scheme is. For common circuits, it’s $50 per component (a strat with 3 pots, a switch, and jack is $250)
Acoustic Guitar Pickup Install: $150 (does not include pickup)
-
My rate for custom work is $100 per hour. Some examples might include: new pickup routes, fretboard inlays, the Jerry Garcia Package, custom pickguard, complex wiring schemes, etc.
HOW IT WORKS
The Process
My goal with anyone I work with is that they feel seen, their concerns are addressed with transparency, and we work within their budget to make their instrument play as best it can.
Check-in & quick eval
You're there with me. We do a fast look-over together and usually learn a lot about what's needed right away.
Deeper inspection
Before I start work, I go deeper. If I find something bigger that needs attention, we talk about it first, nothing extra happens without your go-ahead.
The work
Done carefully, not just quickly. Some operations require laser focus and patience, that's where the quality comes from.
Turn around time
I know you want to get back to playing. I do my best to work efficiently and sometimes you’ll get your guitar back quickly. Other jobs take time and things come up that need to be addressed.
Honest talk about fretwork
Sometimes the reason your guitar isn’t fun to play is because the fretwork is somewhere in the range of awful to mediocre (yes, even on brand new guitars) and no matter how thorough the setup is, it's gonna leave a lot to be desired.
That being said, if fretwork isn't in your budget at the moment, I feel confident that we can make your guitar play and feel better than it did before you brought it to me.
Rush service
I can’t always accommodate this, however, if I’m available I’ll do my best to help you out. For setups and common things, it’s $100 extra on top of the service. Feel free to reach out and ask!
Pricing and Estimates
Standard repairs
Estimates available for straightforward work, though keep in mind it's always an estimate, not a quote.
Custom work
Charged hourly. It takes however long it takes, efficiency matters, but not at the cost of doing it poorly.
The right fit
If your only goal is the cheapest price available, we're probably not a good fit. I'm fair, honest, and I do excellent work.