Established 2008
Expert Guitar Repair
- The Mario Approved Standard -
"The difference is in the details
and the details make all the difference."
Every service listed below is performed personally by a Taylor Factory Service Technician. I don't do "quick fixes"- I do high-performance optimizations. Whether it's a 'Day One Dial-In' on a new rig or a custom hand-carved bone nut, your instrument receives master-level craftsmanship.
Specializing in Guitar, Bass, Banjo, Mandolin, Ukulele and Other Stringed Instruments. Below is a list of some common services and upgrades. Email or Text for quotes on anything not listed below.
Join the Artist Roster. Elevate Your Performance.
I don't just fix guitars; I maintain the tools of your trade. Being part of the Artist Roster at The Guitar Workshop means you have a Taylor Certified Technician and master-grade luthier in your corner, I offer a tiered partnership designed to keep you focused on the music while I handle the physics.
The Roster Experience includes:
- Priority Bench Access: When you have a gig on the line, I ensure your gear is back in your hands with expedited turnaround times.
- Precision Setups: My signature Master-Grade setup is tailored to your specific playing style, ensuring that "plays like butter" feel for every show.
- Complimentary Premium Strings: Every Roster-level setup includes premium strings at no additional cost.
- Digital Artist Spotlight: I leverage my 10,000+ monthly views to promote your gigs, releases, and updates to the local music community.
- Legacy Support: From custom builds to full refrets, you receive the benefit of 18+ years of technical expertise.
To be considered for the roster, you must be an active gigging musician who has had work completed at my bench. Active status is maintained with a professional setup every 12 months to keep your gear at a master-grade standard. In return, just keep tagging the shop in your post so I can share them and help promote your upcoming shows and releases.
Precision Performance Optimization Starting at $120
The factory assembly line focuses on speed; I focus on playability. This is a comprehensive overhaul to ensure your instrument performs at its absolute peak. You've invested in your gear. Now invest in its performance.
Precision Performance Setup Includes:
- **NEW Boutique "Smooth as Glass" Fret Polish - 9 Courses of Fine Sandpaper + Micromesh + Polish
- Detailed inspection of entire instrument
- Personalized recommended upgrades and tweaks
- Inspect & set truss rod relief & lubricate truss rod nut
- Inspect, file & polish nut slots for proper action and string gauge
- Inspect, file & polish saddle(s) for optimal string height, radius, intonation and gauge
- Threadlock saddle screws to lock in adjustments
- Lubricate tuners and other parts
- Tighten all screws and nuts
- Deep Fretboard Cleaning & Conditioning
- Install strings, tune and stretch
- Set up vibrato (when equipped)
- Clean & Lubricate Electronics
- Inspect & adjust pickup and pole piece heights (electric)
- Clean and wax instrument
Vibrato Bridges (ie: Strats, Jags, Jazzmaster), Requires Neck Removal For Setup Add $5| Vintage Instrument, Floating Trem,12 strings, Mandolins, Latin Instruments, Banjos, Rickenbackers Add $20
The Day One "Dial-In" Starting at $120
Don't fight a brand new guitar. Just because its fresh out of the box doesn't mean its finished. Factory assembly lines are built for speed - I build for players. My Optimization service takes your new investment and finishes the job the factory started. I'll perform a full top-to-bottom inspection and calibrate the geometry so it plays like a dream.
***Recommended For Ultimate Playability
Percoco Custom Shop Package Starting at $300
The biggest secret in the guitar world is that a $500 instrument is often built with the same foundation as one costing $2500-the difference is in the time spent on the bench. Factories can't afford to spend hours rolling fingerboard edges, hand-gluing, leveling, and crowning frets and perfecting the setup on an assembly line.
My Percoco Custom Shop Package closes that gap. By stabilizing and leveling the frets, rolling the fingerboard and optimizing the geometry to a master-level standard, I can make a modest workhorse play and sustain with the precision of a high-end boutique build. You don't need to buy a new guitar; you just need yours to be #marioapproved.
1. Clamp & Glue Frets. Factory fret jobs are often loose and poorly finished. Most guitars frets are poorly pressed in at the factory without any adhesive to hold them in. The slots are often too big and the frets can come loose. Clamping and gluing in the frets will create a fuller sound with more resonance and sustain and prevent the frets from coming loose in the future.
2. Precision Fret Leveling, Crowning, Polishing. This will level the frets to allow for low action, minimize fret buzz, eliminate fret divots, scratches and reshape the frets for an amazing feel. The final polishing process results in extremely smooth frets that are easy to play and bend on.
3. The Boutique Comfort Edge. Hand-Rolled Fingerboard Edges. The secret to that "broken-in" feel found on high-end Custom Shop and vintage instruments. Most factory necks have a sharp 90 degree corner where the wood meets the fret. I hand-shape and soften these edges into a smooth ergonomic radius. This eliminates hand fatigue and makes the neck feel like its been your main player for 20 years. Experience the #marioapproved difference in every chord.
4. Precision Performance Setup. Optimized & Personalized to your playing style and preferences.
Signature Bone Nut & Setup Starting at $235
Includes the full Performance Optimization + a hand-carved, custom-fitted bone nut.
Twelve string bone nut. $275
Signature Bone Saddle & Setup Starting at $210
Includes the full Performance Optimization + a hand-carved, compensated bone saddle.
The Total Restoration Starting at $320
Upgrade your tone with a handmade bone Nut & Saddle.
Toss the factory plastic. I hand-fabricate every nut and saddle from raw bone to maximize your guitars natural resonance, sustain, and tuning stability.
Fret End Dressing Starting at $100
Tired of "cheese-grater" frets? Whether it's factory-new oversights or Illinois winter "fret sprout", I hand-dress and round over every fret end to a smooth, comfortable profile. Includes a deep fretboard hydration treatment to prevent future sprout.
The Boutique Comfort Edge - Starting at $85
Hand-Rolled Fingerboard Edges. The secret to that "broken-in" feel found on high-end Custom Shop and vintage instruments. Most factory necks have a sharp 90 degree corner where the wood meets the fret. I hand-shape and soften these edges into a smooth ergonomic radius. This eliminates hand fatigue and makes the neck feel like its been your main player for 20 years. Experience the #marioapproved difference in every chord.
Pickup Swaps/Installations Starting at $50
Don't let mediocre factory pickups hold your tone back Whether your chasing vintage warmth or high-output growl, I provide professional, clean-wire installations for all electric and acoustic systems. Every swap includes a full electronics health check and high-quality solder work for noise free performance. Get the sound you've been chasing. #marioapproved. Pickups and parts extra. Price is per pickup.
Restring Starting at $25
Recommended if your guitar was just recently setup here and you just need a quick string change. Includes restringing, stretch and tune, cleaning/polish and fret buffing. Strings are extra. Vibrato Add $5, 12 string, Latin Instruments, Banjo, Classical, Floyd Rose Add $10
Super Strat Mod $100
The Super Strat Mod replaces a tone control with a blender pot, which gives you the ability to blend the pickups to achieve new tones. You can blend the neck and bridge pickups as well as getting all three. You can blend all the pickups together by choosing either position 2 or 4 and playing with the blender pot.
4 Way Telecaster Mod $140
Unlock new tones! Transform your classic tele with our professional 4 way switch mod. Go beyond the standard three positions and unlock a powerful, hum cancelling tone typically associated with humbucker guitars, right in your familiar single coil setup! Thicker and Fuller Tone, Increased Midrange Punch, Hum Cancelling
Complete Refrets Starting at $550 (Nickel) $650 (Stainless)
As a Taylor Factory Authorized Technician, I specialize in returning necks to "stage ready" condition. Includes installing new frets, fret leveling and full precision performance setup.
Fret Level, Crown, Polish Starting at $250
Whether your guitar is brand new or used, frets that are not level, loose or worn cause many common issues such as excessive buzzing, loss of sustain, dead notes and make playing difficult. Includes clamping and gluing the frets, fret leveling, crown, polish and precision setup. Add $15 for Finished/Maple Fingerboards
Strap Locks Starting at $60
Protect your investment. Strap locks prevent your strap from coming loose so you don't drop your guitar by accident. Includes straplocks and installation.
Tuner Swap/Installations Starting at $25
Higher price for tuners that require widening of peg holes or other modification. Tuners are not included.
Crack Repairs
Stop by for a quote.
Rush fee $50
Guarantees the work to be done in a week or less. Price is per Guitar.
Because I am a one-man shop, bench space is limited and by appointment only. This ensures your guitar gets my undivided attention and a level of precision that assembly-line repair shops cant match.
To ensure the safety and climate-controlled protection of every instrument, please arrange for pickup within 48 hours of completion notice. As a specialized one-man shop, bench and storage space is extremely limited. Instruments left beyond 7 days will be subject to a $10/day storage fee. We appreciate your help in keeping the workshop clear so we can continue providing master-level service to the Chicagoland community.
Thanks for Visiting!
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