A guitar is the intermediary between what’s in your head and what lands in your ears. It should make you want to play — and get out of your way when you do. That’s true whether it’s a ’58 Les Paul, a $250 Jackson, or your dad’s ’82 Roadstar. All get the same bench time, the same care, as if it were mine. A well set up guitar will speak to you. Whether you found it or saved for years. A career as an art director trained the eye to see what most people miss. A lifetime at the bench trained the hands to fix it. Same discipline. The job is to get your guitar playing the way you want it — not judge what’s on the headstock.
Four disciplines, all performed on-site by one set of hands — from standard setups to Floyd Rose work, Evertune retrofits, 7-string baritones, active electronics, and stainless refrets. Rates below are starting points for standard instruments; each guitar is assessed on intake and a firm quote is confirmed before any work begins.
Playability calibrated by hand. Every setup is a full bench workup — truss rod relief, nut slot geometry, saddle height, intonation, and pickup height — measured, adjusted, and dialed in to how you actually play. No templates, no factory specs.
The structural work that separates a good guitar from a great one. Level, crown, polish, or a full refret in nickel or stainless. Every fret job returns with a fresh setup included.
Wiring, shielding, your favorite mods. From a single pot swap to an active EMG retrofit, a full harness rebuild with vintage-correct specs, or custom switching. Returned tested, quieted, and documented with a wiring diagram.
Scratch builds, partscaster assembly, hot-rodded superstrats, and sympathetic vintage restorations. Every build is documented end-to-end — component list, measurements, and photos — so you see exactly what was done and why.
All rates exclude strings and replacement parts. Rush service available (+30%) based on bench availability. Out-of-town clients welcome — ship in or drop off.
A running selection from the bench — setups, repairs, fretwork, restorations, and the occasional build. More added as projects finish.
Everything off the bench — complete builds, parts and pickups through authorized accounts, shop merch, and the occasional rarity. Documented, tested, priced honestly.
One-of-one builds, restorations, and curated vintage finds.
Pickups, bridges, tuners, and electronics from 30+ authorized brands.
Shop tees, accessories, and workshop goods.
Oddities, tools, and rarities from the bench.
For setup work, custom builds, restorations, or a marketplace inquiry — send a note. Every message is read and answered personally.
Authorized reseller
