Experience Matters
One Three Guitar is Richmond’s premier destination for fretted instrument repair. We routinely handle the basics such as restrings, setups, and electronics, as well as more involved repairs such as fretwork, neck resets, structural and cosmetic repairs, and full restorations.
We do get backed up from time to time. Check our Status page for information on turnaround time.
Setups
When your instrument feels difficult to play, buzzes on the frets, or sounds out of tune (after you have tuned it up), the instrument might need a setup. After a setup, your instrument will play at top of its capabilities. Here are some of the things included in a setup:
- Clean
- Polish frets
- Clean and oil fretboard
- Tighten hardware
- Replace missing hardware
- Restring
- Adjust neck (truss rod)
- Balance tremolo system
- Set action to matching the board radius
- File nut slots to correct height
- Shim or dress saddle
- Set intonation
- Inspect and clean electronics (semi-hollows require additional labor)
- Set pickup heights or balance under saddle element output
Below are our bench rates for setups. Parts and strings are not included. If the expected total will exceed this number, we’ll contact you to discuss.
| Electric Guitar Setups | Rate |
| 6-String Electric, hardtail | 75 |
| 4 or 5 String Electric Bass | 75 |
| Bigsby's & Strats w/ floating bridges | 85 |
| 6-String Electric, double locking trem (e.g. Floyd Rose) | 115 |
| 12-String Electric | 150 |
| Partscaster | 150 |
| Acoustic Instrument Setups | Rate |
| 6 String Acoustic Guitar | 75 |
| Classical Guitar | 75 |
| Mandolin, Banjo | 95 |
| 12 String Acoustic | 115 |
| Resonator | 115 |
| Taylor with NT neck (includes neck reset) | 130 |
| Ovation 6 String | 150 |
Restrings
Things get busy in the shop, so we unfortunately can’t accommodate walk-in requests for restrings. However, we can typically restring for you by the next day. Strings are not included in the prices below.
We carry D’addario, Ernie Ball, and Stringjoy strings in the shop, but if those aren’t what you need, please feel free to bring any strings you’d like us to install.
| Instrument | Rate |
| 6-String electric, hardtail, Strat, or Bigsby equipped | 25 |
| 6-string acoustic | 25 |
| Everything else | Time / Materials |
Common Add-Ons
These are commonly requested (or required, depending on circumstances) items which accompany a setup.
| Item | Notes | Rate |
| New Bone Nut | Includes bone blank. | 90 |
| New Bone Saddle | Includes bone blank. | 90 |
| Shim for Bolt-On Neck | Common for Fender electric guitars, especially offsets (e.g. Jazzmaster). Required if the neck angle does not allow for setting the action properly. Includes precision fitted neck shim. | 15 + 12 for full pocket neck shim |
Electronics
Electronics can be challenging to estimate, because every guitar has different wiring methods. A few notes about the estimates:
- Parts are not included
- If we need to loosen a tremolo (such as a Floyd Rose or Ibanez Edge) to access the electronics, a setup is required.
- Estimate +50% for work on semihollow guitars, where access to the electronics is through the F holes only.
Diagnostic labor is common, as sometimes we need to reseach a problem to determine the root cause. This is charged at time and materials.
| Item | Rate |
| Replace Output Jack | 25 |
| Replace Pickup (electric guitar) x1 | 50 |
| Replace Pickup (electric guitar) x2 | 75 |
| Replace Pickup (electric guitar) x3 | 85 |
| Replace Pickup Switch | 40 |
| Replace Potentiometer | 40 |
| Install Acoustic Guitar Pickup | 60 |
| Full Rewire, Electric Guitar | 150 |
Fretwork
Over time, frets become worn and pitted through repetitive contact with the guitar strings. This leads to fret buzz and other playability issues. When a typical setup won’t resolve the issue, the answer may be fretwork. This means either a “level and dress”, where we file the frets to the correct height, “crown” them to restore their rounded tops, and polish them to a high gloss. We use a neck jig to keep your guitar’s neck in a state of simulated string tension while we level the frets, which produces highly accurate results.
We will also dress fret ends to your specifications.
Fretwork is a point of pride at One Three Guitar. We perfected our fretwork process over many years, and while it is labor intensive, it produces results which frequently exceed the original factory condition.
Structural
We provide an estimate for all structural fixes. These are some common fixes we perform, and the rates can be considered ball park starting points. Parts are not included.
| Item | Rate |
| Repair Loose Brace | 40 |
| Reattach Acoustic Guitar Bridge (requires setup) | 115 |
| Repair Headstock Crack (minor finish touch up, no color matching) | 150 |
| Neck Reset - Martin / Gibson 6 String. Setup included, bone nut & saddle not included. Refret recommended. | 600 |
| Neck Reset - Guild 6 String. Setup included, bone nut & saddle not included. Refret recommended. | 800 |
What to Expect
Bringing in your instrument to us is like bringing your car to an auto repair shop. We’ll collect your contact information and create a repair ticket for you.
We might have some questions for you about your instrument and playing style. For example:
- What style of music are you playing?
- What tuning do you keep your instrument in?
- If we are changing strings, what gauge strings do you prefer?
- Do you prefer your string action high, medium, or low?
If you are just getting started on your instrument, you might not know the answer to these questions. That’s ok, we’ll figure it all out together!
Communication
You have access to a dedicated shop manager! If you have questions on the status of your repair, or need to relay some information to us, just contact us.
Most communication is done via text. Our shop is pretty automated, so when we create your repair ticket, you’ll receive a text. To contact us, just reply to the text. You can of course call the shop, though we may not be able to get to the phone right away.
Bring a Case and a Humidifier
Wood is sensitive to changes in climate, and changes in humidity can cause cracks to develop in the wood of your guitar. To combat this, we keep our shop humidity and temperature controlled as best as possible. However, we strongly recommend that you bring your instrument, especially acoustic instruments, stored in a case equipped with a functioning humidifier as protection against climate variations.
If you don’t own a case or a humidifier, we can provide one if they are available in the shop. Shameless plug, we sell both.
Repair Warranty
We do our utmost to make sure your repair is perfectly executed the first time. However, if something is not to your satisfaction, let us know!
We provide a 30 day guarantee on fret work and setup work. If your setup has moved within that time, drop by and we’ll do a quick spot adjustment if at all possible. If you find the action too high or too low for your taste, let us know within 30 days and we’ll take care of it.
