I take on custom builds as well as the most intricate repairs - including finish work. My love for music fuels my woodworking passion and I've been working on guitars for over a decade. I can customize your current guitar with handmade accessories or build you one from scratch, including you in the wood selection process (making it a much more personal build). Please email matt@darksideofthewood.com for any inquiries.
-Matthew Barrett
Strings not included; please provide your own for all repairs requiring removal of strings.
All setups include: cleaning and oiling instrument (fingerboard AND body); tightening hardware and tuning pegs; MINOR fret leveling, dressing and polishing; truss rod adjustment; bridge, saddle and nut set to proper height and radius to match fretboard; electronics assessed for repair; pickups raised or lowered accordingly. The action will be set to the lowest potential based on quality of neck and existing fretwork.
*note: instruments with more serious neck, fret or electronic issues may require additional work and time. A quote will be given within 24 hrs. of receiving or examining instrument, and work will be halted until new scope of work is prepared.
*note: locking tremolo, whether Floyd Rose or not, is an additional $90 set up due to the extra steps required for optimal performance. The bridge MUST be parallel to the body to provide the proper tension and playability.
All fret levelling includes: complete setup (see above for details); FULL fret levelling, crowning, polishing and rounding of ends; sanding AND polishing nut and saddle to match fret height and radius.
*note: stainless steel frets are an additional $40. They tougher on tools and require more time to polish properly.
All fret replacements include: removal & installation of prefered fret size and material; proper levelling & radiusing of entire fretboard; complete fret level (see above); complete set up (see above for details).
*note: See below for price adjustments. Combinations add up, i.e.: a bound, maple fingerboard with stainless frets is an additional $225.00.
Bound Fingerboard: add $50.00
Lacquered Fingerboard: add $75.00
Stainless steel frets: add $100.00
ALL replacements include: purchase of bone nut (bleached or unbleached); removal of nut; cleaning & levelling of nut slot; shaping, cutting and polishing new nut; installation and slotting of new nut to existing fret height. Set up not included.
* note: It is my personal opinion that bone is a superior material to anything on the market, as sound vibrations are picked up from bones in our eardrums. If you require a different material, see below about pricing. I strongly believe in the bone nut as the number one upgrade to any instrument, but anything is better than plastic!
Includes the same steps as bone, except the material is different. Set up not included.
Plastic: $45
TUSQ Teflon: $60 (a great choice for tremolo players)
Brass or Stainless: $120 (requires filing metal parts)
Before attending luthier school, I had the advantage of attending a vo-tech high school, where I graduated highest honors in the Electrical Occupations program. From residential wiring (service installations to dedicated pool circuits) to industrial motor control, I can rewire anything and back my wiring with a lifetime warranty. Any new installation includes cleaning of other components and soldering all contacts as necessary. Direct replacements only cover the contacts removed.
Parts are not included; price is for labor, only. Customer provides pickups, strings, and electronics OR a deposit is taken for parts to be purchased.
https://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_Electronics/Components_and_Parts/ for a list of electronics from the most reputable luthier supplier on the market. You can visit https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/electronics/ for another suppliers selection.
Setup up and strings not included in pricing; rates for services are listed below.
Direct replacement with existing electronics. Please provide same size strings so your guitar plays the same as when you delivered it. Includes re-string without setup.
Parts needed: pickups; strings.
This is usually swapping a single coil for a humbucker and may require a new pickguard (customer picks and pays for material cost; modifying of existing pickguard is included in price). This is also for a third pickup on a dual humbucker guitar. Includes rewiring pickups to pots and selector switch and checking output jack and bridge for proper grounding. Includes re-string without set up.
Parts needed: 500k pots (quantity depends on guitar; not all pickups have individual tone pots), capacitors (if needed replacement or wanted new), 5 way switch or rotary switch (if desired)
*note: add cost of active pickup installation if upgrading to active pickup(s)
*note: add $75 for rotary switch installation
Includes removal of old electronics (pickups, pots, and input jack) and installation of new parts, wiring and pickups. Includes cost of electronics without pickups. Includes re-string without set up.
Parts needed: pickups; strings; 25k pots (quantity depends on guitar; not all pickups have individual tone pots); capacitors (if needed, are additional but included in labor).
$25.00 jack replacement (mono or stereo)
$35.00 each pot replacement (volume or tone)
$40.00 pickup switch replacement
*note: add $5 labor per part for strat style pickguard
*note: add $10 labor per part for semi-hollow or full hollow guitars.
Includes reaming end pin to accommodate output jack, sanding saddle to compensate for pickup height, and mounting any internal controls and wiring. Includes re-string without set up.
Parts needed: pickup; strings; end pin jack.
This is for a severe diagnosis or complete custom wiring (push pull, DPDT, series parallel, etc.)
All strap button replacements include: removal of old buttons; filling stripped holes; installation of new tuning machine; restring without setup.
*note: add $10 for strap locks.
All tuning machine installs include: removal of old and installation of new tuning machine; restring without setup.
*note: add $25 and 1 day for holes filled and stained to color-match headstock. Additional finish work by quote.
All electric bridge replacements include: removal of old bridge; installation of new bridge; restring without setup.
*note: add $40 for vintage style to 2-point conversion or vice versa. Holes filled and stained to color-match body. Additional finish work by quote.
*note: add $100 and 1 day for recessed floyd route with locking nut install. Additional finish work by quote.
All acoustic bridge replacements include: removal of cracked or damaged bridge; installation of replacement bridge (basic martin-style bridge in rosewood or ebony); restring.
*note: custom fabrication of bridge by quote.
All headstock repairs include: repairing break(s) in headstock and neck; filling in missing voids from break; touching up color and finishing the repair; sanding and buffing repair smoothly; restring without set up.
*note: customer will be informed of expected quality of touch up upon receiving the instrument for inspection.
*note: additional cost if fretboard is damaged.
All neck resets include: steaming and removing neck; cleaning of glue joint; repairing any breaks in heel on neck; resetting neck and angle; replacing saddle and nut, if needed; touching up color and finish; complete set up.
*note: customer will be informed of expected quality of touch up upon receiving the instrument for inspection.
*note: $250 for bolt on neck with or without glued fingerboard.
All bridge resets include: steaming and removing bridge; cleaning of glue surfaces; repairing any breaks on body or bridge; resetting bridge for proper intonation; touching up color and finish on body; restring without set up.
*note: customer will be informed of expected quality of touch up upon receiving the instrument for inspection.
All other repairs include: crack repair using cleats; back, top or brace re-glue; football hole repair. Quote given within 24 hrs of receiving instrument.
*note: customer will be informed of expected quality of touch up upon receiving the instrument for inspection.
$75 for first hour with a $75 color match fee (includes cost of colour and finish) and $50 an hour after.
Finish work is a minimum 10 day turn around due to dry time.
