Few cities lean on their guitar techs like the self-proclaimed Live Music Capital. Erlewine Guitars has been dressing frets on Burnet Road since 1969, and Straight Frets was among the first area shops to adopt a Plek machine. Setup pricing runs from a $40 basic tier at Rock It Science up to Mythic Guitar Company's $199 same-day service booked before 2pm.
Austin guitar shops that do setups
Every listing below was checked against the shop's own website or a current public source. Call ahead for exact pricing and turnaround.
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Straight Frets
5214 Burleson Rd #501 · Austin, TX 78744Founded in Austin in 2007, Straight Frets was among the first shops in the area to use a Plek machine for precision fret work and is an Authorized Taylor Repair Center.
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South Austin Guitar Repair
12706 Sherbourne St · Austin, TX 78729Run by luthier Andrew since 2004, the shop publishes flat-rate setup pricing ranging from $70 for hardtail bridges to $100 for Floyd Rose/locking-tremolo guitars.
Setup $70-$100 -
Doubleday Guitars
10107 Signal Hill Road Unit A · Austin, TX 78737Builder Walker Doubleday runs this shop combining hand-built custom electric guitar construction with full-service setups, refrets, and electronics work.
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Erlewine Guitars
4402 Burnet Road · Austin, TX 78756Founded by Mark Erlewine in 1969, this is one of Austin's longest-running guitar repair shops, offering setups, refrets, and vintage restorations; a $75 evaluation fee applies only if recommended repairs are declined.
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Mythic Guitar Company
1914 W. Howard Ln, Ste B · Austin, TX 78728A Martin-certified repair shop offering same-day guitar setups for $199 when booked before 2pm, alongside custom builds and refinishing work.
Setup $199 (same-day setup) -
Rock It Science Guitar Repair (at Space ATX)
7915 Menchaca Road · Austin, TX 78745Technician Peter Skermetta, with over 25 years of experience, operates this repair bench out of Space ATX rehearsal studios, offering setups from a $40 basic tier up to a $100 deluxe tier.
Setup $40-$100 -
Austin's Guitar Repair
7406 Poinsetta Ln · Austin, TX 78744A small independent Austin shop that describes its focus as combining woodworking craftsmanship with instrument restoration.
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Landis Guitars
1717 E Cesar Chavez St · Austin, TX 78702Sam Landis runs this appointment-based East Austin shop specializing in setups, fretwork, and electronic modifications.
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Austin Vintage Guitars
4306 Red River St · Austin, TX 78751Primarily a vintage and used-guitar dealer, the shop also offers in-house setups, re-frets, and pickup swaps with a typical 5-7 business day turnaround, handled by techs Bill Webb and Jesse Duke.
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Strait Music
13945 Highway 183 N · Austin, TX 78717A family-owned Austin music retailer with in-house guitar techs at both its North Austin (Hwy 183) and Bee Caves Road locations; setups start at $90, or $115 for locking-tremolo/Floyd Rose guitars.
Setup $90 (starting; $115 for locking tremolo/Floyd Rose) -
Guitar Center Austin
2817 W Anderson Ln · Austin, TX 78757This is a Guitar Center chain location; it offers a 22-point Signature Setup and a Platinum Setup tier that adds deep cleaning and hardware restoration, with no appointment required.
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What a guitar setup costs in Austin
US benchmarks, checked July 2026. A fret level and crown adds $85-$150, a restring alone runs about $25.
| Provider | Standard setup | Turnaround | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent local shop | $45-$90 | 2-3 days typical | Often the best value. Prices vary by shop and city. |
| Guitar Center | $60-$75 | Up to 1 week | Signature Setup with restring. Platinum tier runs $150+. |
| Sweetwater | $99 | Ship-in service | Plek Pro setup from $200. Parts and strings extra. |
| DIY with proper tools | One-time tool cost | About an evening | Tools pay for themselves after 1-2 setups and last for decades. |
Or set it up yourself in an evening
A pro setup in Austin costs $45-$99 and most players need two per year. With precision tools you do the same three adjustments (neck relief, action, intonation) on your own bench, whenever your guitar needs it. FRTLZR precision tools pay for themselves after the first setup.
FRTLZR® Checkcard String Action GaugeMeasure and dial in your string action
Precision Feeler Gauges SetCheck neck relief at the truss rod stage
FRTLZR® Radius GaugeMatch saddle heights to your fretboard radius
FRTLZR® Fret Polishing Kit PREMIUMBring dull frets back to a mirror shine
Guitar setup in Austin: common questions
How much does a guitar setup cost in Austin?
Austin setups start low and climb by service tier. Rock It Science offers a $40 basic setup up to a $100 deluxe, South Austin Guitar Repair charges $70 to $100 by bridge type, and Strait Music starts at $90 ($115 for locking-tremolo guitars); Mythic Guitar Company's same-day setup is $199. For reference, Guitar Center runs $60 to $75 and Sweetwater about $99. A fret level and crown usually adds $85 to $150, and a restring alone is roughly $25.
Which Austin shop is best for fretwork or a refret?
Straight Frets specializes in Plek-machine fret leveling and is an Authorized Taylor Repair Center, making it a strong choice for refrets and precision fretwork. Erlewine Guitars, open since 1969, handles refrets and vintage restoration, and Landis Guitars offers fret leveling and crowning by appointment on the east side.
How long does a guitar setup take in Austin?
Timing depends on the shop. Mythic Guitar Company offers same-day setups when booked before 2pm, while Austin Vintage Guitars quotes a typical 5 to 7 business day turnaround. Most Austin benches complete a standard setup in two to three days, with added fretwork or busy stretches pushing it longer.
Do I need an appointment for a guitar setup?
It depends where you go. Guitar Center Austin takes walk-ins with no appointment required, while Landis Guitars runs on an appointment basis and Mythic Guitar Company asks you to book its same-day setup before 2pm. For independent techs, calling ahead ensures your instrument gets on the bench sooner.
What is included in a professional guitar setup?
A professional setup covers truss rod adjustment for neck relief, string action at the nut and saddle, and intonation, typically with new strings and a fingerboard cleaning. Strait Music lists intonation and neck adjustment plus bridge saddle and nut work in its service, and Guitar Center Austin packages this as a 22-point Signature Setup. Most techs also tailor the setup to your preferred string gauge and playing style.
