Home / Guitar Repair
Guitar repair, setups and restoration.
From a quick setup before a gig to a full vintage restoration, every job gets the same hands-on attention. Electric, acoustic and bass guitars welcome.
Services
Not sure what your guitar needs? Bring it by. Emmett will take a look, explain what he finds and give you an estimate before any work starts.
Setups & maintenance
The single biggest improvement most guitars can get.
- Full setup, electric or acoustic
- Bass setups
- Truss rod adjustment
- Action & string height
- Intonation
- Pickup height balancing
- Floating & locking tremolos
- Restring, clean & polish
Frets & fingerboards
Fix buzzing, dead notes and worn-out frets.
- Fret level, crown & polish
- Partial refrets
- Complete refrets
- Stainless steel fret upgrades
- Fret end dressing
- Fingerboard cleaning & conditioning
Nuts, saddles & bridges
Better tuning stability and tone where the strings meet the wood.
- Hand-cut bone nuts
- Bone & compensated saddles
- Acoustic bridge reglues
- Bridge plate repair
- Tuner & hardware replacement
- Bridge & tailpiece upgrades
Electronics & hot rodding
Clean, quiet wiring and custom tone options.
- Pickup installation & swaps
- Complete rewiring harnesses
- Pots, switches & output jacks
- Shielding & noise reduction
- Coil-split & custom wiring mods
- Acoustic pickup installation
Structural & acoustic repair
Careful repairs that keep an instrument stable for years.
- Crack repair & cleating
- Broken headstock repair
- Loose brace repair
- Neck resets
- Humidity damage assessment
- Taylor service
Restoration & refinishing
Bringing vintage and well-loved guitars back to life.
- Vintage guitar restoration
- Full refinishes
- Finish touch-up & repair
- Custom colors
- Period-correct parts sourcing
- Fender authorized service
Buzz Feiten Tuning System
Standard tuning is always a compromise, especially in the first few frets. As an authorized installer, Emmett can retrofit the Buzz Feiten Tuning System to your electric or acoustic guitar, adjusting the nut position and intonation so chords ring truer all over the neck.
How a repair works
Call or send a request
Describe what's going on and set a time to drop off your guitar.
Get an estimate
Emmett looks the guitar over, explains what he finds and quotes the work before starting.
Bench time
Your guitar is repaired and set up by hand, then play-tested before it's ready.
Pick it up and play
You'll get a call when it's done. Every repair is backed by a satisfaction guarantee.
Restoration gallery
Drag each slider to see the difference.
BeforeAfter
Jaguar refinish
A stripped body with filled cavities, prepped and refinished in metallic blue, then reassembled with fresh hardware and a full setup.
BeforeAfter
1980 Les Paul restoration
A tired 1980 Les Paul with worn-through finish, restored in deep gloss black with gold hardware. It's the same guitar, ready for another forty years.
Common questions
Do I need an appointment?
Please call ahead at 707-538-5494. O'Hara Guitars is a one-person shop, so a quick call makes sure Emmett is at the bench when you arrive.
How much will my repair cost?
Every guitar is different, so Emmett looks it over first and gives you an estimate before any work begins. No surprises when you pick it up.
How long will it take?
It depends on the job and how busy the bench is. Setups and small fixes are usually quickest; fretwork, refinishing and restorations take longer. You'll get a timeframe at drop-off.
Do you work on acoustics and basses?
Yes. Electric, acoustic and bass guitars are all welcome, from student instruments to vintage collectibles.
Can you service my Fender or Taylor?
Emmett is a Fender Certified Technician and a Taylor Technician, so your Fender or Taylor is in trained hands.
Should I bring my own strings?
You're welcome to bring your preferred brand and gauge. A setup is done for a specific string gauge, so let Emmett know what you like to play.