guitarworksrepairs@gmail.com
OPEN NOON TO SIX MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY!
Guitar repairs and music lessons, now at Madigan's Guitar Works.
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WHO WE ARE
Conor Madigan
Conor enjoys working with musicians of all levels. He has repaired instruments for Shinobu Sato, Styx, Robbie Fulks, Buddy Guy, Steve Albini, Bob Mould, Ezra Furman, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Poi Dog Pondering, Nicholas Tremulis, Dave Specter, Eddy Clearwater, David “HoneyBoy” Edwards, Justin Roberts, Jeanie B!, and many more.
Hired in 1995 at the age of 13, Conor worked Saturdays at The Guitar Works, Ltd. until his gap year before college in 2000 when he helped build out the new store in their second location. He returned after college in 2006 and continued in repairs where he learned basic and advanced repair under Terry Straker, Eric Lopez, Erwin Yasukawa, and Mr. Bill. He managed repairs for fifteen years before opening Madigan's Guitar Works in Evanston.
Timing and Labor Charges
Most instrument set-ups and minor amp repairs are completed in one week or less, depending on how busy the shop is at the time. More intensive repairs can take longer. Repair estimates for instruments are free. Repair estimates for electronic gear are $35, which can then be applied to the repair fee. Our labor rate is $85 per hour, billed in 15-minute increments plus the cost of parts, with payment due at time-of-service completion. (Our fabrication rate is $160 per hour, billed in half-hour increments.) Typical prices for the most common instrument repairs are listed below. However, prices can vary considerably upon in-hand examination of the instrument.
Conor Madigan
Conor enjoys working with musicians of all levels. He has repaired instruments for Shinobu Sato, Styx, Robbie Fulks, Buddy Guy, Steve Albini, Bob Mould, Ezra Furman, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Poi Dog Pondering, Nicholas Tremulis, Dave Specter, Eddy Clearwater, David “HoneyBoy” Edwards, Justin Roberts, Jeanie B!, and many more.
Hired in 1995 at the age of 13, Conor worked Saturdays at The Guitar Works, Ltd. until his gap year before college in 2000 when he helped build out the new store in their second location. He returned after college in 2006 and continued in repairs where he learned basic and advanced repair under Terry Straker, Eric Lopez, Erwin Yasukawa, and Mr. Bill. He managed repairs for fifteen years before opening Madigan's Guitar Works in Evanston.
Timing and Labor Charges
Most instrument set-ups and minor amp repairs are completed in one week or less, depending on how busy the shop is at the time. More intensive repairs can take longer. Repair estimates for instruments are free. Repair estimates for electronic gear are $35, which can then be applied to the repair fee. Our labor rate is $85 per hour, billed in 15-minute increments plus the cost of parts, with payment due at time-of-service completion. (Our fabrication rate is $160 per hour, billed in half-hour increments.) Typical prices for the most common instrument repairs are listed below. However, prices can vary considerably upon in-hand examination of the instrument.
REPAIR SHOP LABOR AS OF 2026 (does not include the cost of parts)
SETUPS: HOURLY SHOP RATES: $85.00 AN HOUR
HOURLY FABRICATIONS RATES: $160.00 AN HOUR
(+ indicates added cost may be required for repair)
Please note that strings are NOT included in the cost of a setup.
Setup for Acoustic Guitars, Electric Guitars, Basses and Mandolins: $85.00
Setup for standard guitar with whammy bar: $90.00
Setup for 12 string Acoustic Guitar: $110.00
Setup for Electric Guitar with Floyd Rose Bridge: $110.00 Restring guitar with Floyd: $30.00
Setup for Rickenbacker 12 string: $100.00
Block Trem: Fender type: $40.00 Floyd Rose: $50.00
Swap neck: $55.00 - $65.00
Fit bridge for an arch top: $65.00 - $85.00
New banjo head: $160.00 - $220.00
Tuner install: $25.00 - $45.00 plus cost of the tuners (with setup: $30.00) Sperzel: $50.00
Restring with truss rod adjustment: $45.00
Lower or raise action: $40.00
Truss rod adjustments: $10.00 - $25.00
Intonate guitar or bass: $30.00 - $45.00
Fabrication of pick guard: $100.00 - $130.00
Roller nut install: $170.00
New Nut: $100.00 (Fender), $100.00 (Martin), $140.00 (Mandolin),
Compensated bone nut: $225.00, Floyd/Roller, rout: $170.00
12 string: $200.00, Graphite: $100.00, Brass: $180.00, Banjo: $75.00
New Saddle: $70.00
CRACKS AND STRUSTURAL ISSUES:
Cracks in acoustic guitar bodies: $85.00+ Cracks with finish work: $135.00
Cracks in headstock: $130.00+ (no finish work), with finish work: $190.00 +
Cracks in fretboard or bridge: $35.00 - $100.00
Loose braces: $60.00 per braces
Dowel strap button hole and reinstall strap button: $30.00
Install tune-o-matic: $120.00 - $160.00
Install strap button: $15.00
Heat press neck: $55.00 (works best w/refret)
New bridge plate: $250.00 - $400.00
Fabrication of a new bridge: $400.00+ (includes saddle and setup)
Reinstall pickguard: $180.00 - $240.00
Install new pickguard: $10.00 - $80.00
Neck Resets: $400.00 and up (most resets work best w/refret)
Bridge re-glue: Martin style: $140.00, Classical: $160.00, Ovation or poly finish: $160.00-$200.00
Inlay: Dot: $50.00, Side dots: $140.00+, Trapezoid block inlays: $680.00
Rout saddle slot: $150.00
FRETS:
Complete re-fret: $325.00 (rosewood or ebony fretboard without binding)
$400.00 (rosewood or ebony fretboard with binding)
$450.00 - $500.00 (maple neck involving finish work)
Stainless steel fret upgrade: $80.00
Nut w/refret: $70.00 / 12 string: $115.00
Fretless Bass CA: $500.00
Partial re-fret: (we do not do partial re-frets past the 7th fret)
1 fret: $85.00
2 frets: $90.00
3 frets: $130.00
4 frets: $135.00
5 frets: $200.00
6 frets: $220.00
7 frets: $230.00
Complete fret dress with no fret crowning: $85.00 (with setup: $40.00)
Complete fret dress with fret crowning: $125.00
Partial fret dress: $65.00 (with setup: $30.00)
File fret edges: $45.00
Re-seat fret: $15.00 - $30.00 for each loose fret
Replace fingerboard: $700.00
Rebind fingerboard, touch up refret: $700.00+
NECK RESETS:Martin and Martin-style: $400.00+Gibson and Guild: $600.00-$800.00+(works best with refret) ELECTRONICS: Install pickup in acoustic guitar: $80.00+ Install new P/U’s without rewiring, or install new pots, quick install: 1 pickup: $70.00 2 pickups: $110.00 3 pickups: $140.00 Install P/U’s new wiring solid body guitar/bass or repairing someone’s previous work: $75.00+ Install new P/U’s with routing involved: $90.00+ Install P/U’s with completely new wiring for hollow body guitar or bass: $120.00+ Wax potting for pickups: $60.00 Re-solder broken connection, installing a new jack (depending upon the jack required), cleaning jack and pots: $45.00+
NECK RESETS:Martin and Martin-style: $400.00+Gibson and Guild: $600.00-$800.00+(works best with refret) ELECTRONICS: Install pickup in acoustic guitar: $80.00+ Install new P/U’s without rewiring, or install new pots, quick install: 1 pickup: $70.00 2 pickups: $110.00 3 pickups: $140.00 Install P/U’s new wiring solid body guitar/bass or repairing someone’s previous work: $75.00+ Install new P/U’s with routing involved: $90.00+ Install P/U’s with completely new wiring for hollow body guitar or bass: $120.00+ Wax potting for pickups: $60.00 Re-solder broken connection, installing a new jack (depending upon the jack required), cleaning jack and pots: $45.00+
Lessons
We have half-hour and hourlong lessons for $36 and $72 with Marshall Dawson, Gus Freidlander, Dan Polonsky, and Josh Sperger. We offer guitar, electric bass, ukelele, and more.