In the city that shaped a swinging strain of jazz, Fountain City Guitarworks earned a Best of KC nod in 2023 and lists $105 setups with PLEK fretwork from $285, specializing in Evertune bridges and offset guitars. Nine other benches round out the metro, from Westport mainstay Big Dude's Music City to KC Fret Shop across the line in Merriam.
Kansas City 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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KC Guitar Setups
Northland · 9316 NE 109th Terr · Kansas City, MO 64157Run by Ron W. Richards out of a home-based shop in the Northland, this one-person operation focuses on dialing in playability (action, truss rod, intonation) rather than heavy restoration work, and also does Tusq nut/saddle swaps and pickup installs.
Setup varies by instrument and work needed -
Wendler Instruments (Electrocoustic)
101 W. Minor Dr. · Kansas City, MO 64114Operated by a former Peavey guitar-factory quality assurance engineer who holds U.S. Patent #4,941,389 for an acoustic amplification design; the shop has built more than 200 custom 'electroCoustic' instruments in addition to standard setups and repairs, and was featured in Acoustic Guitar magazine in 2009.
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Heritage Music Repair
3119 Gillham Rd · Kansas City, MO 64109In business since 1988, Heritage Music Repair is primarily a woodwind and brass instrument repair shop that also repairs guitars and other stringed instruments, and does its own in-house spray lacquering and refinishing.
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KC Guitar Repair
606 E 31st St · Kansas City, MO 64109Established in 2015, KC Guitar Repair works exclusively on guitars, basses, mandolins, banjos, and ukuleles, and is open just three days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Friday).
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Fountain City Guitarworks
3617 Virginia Ave · Kansas City, MO 64109Appointment-only shop that specifically advertises expertise in Evertune bridge setups and offset guitars (Jazzmaster/Jaguar), and offers PLEK-precision fretwork ($285+) alongside an itemized repair menu billed at a $115/hour shop rate; named a Best of KC pick by The Pitch in 2023.
Setup $105 (add-ons for Bigsby, Floyd Rose, Evertune, mandolin/12-string) -
Bentley Guitar Studios
7 Main St · Parkville, MO 64152Open since 1995 and previously named one of the nation's top independent shops by Guitar Player magazine, Bentley's repair department includes luthier Jacob Rife, who apprenticed under two luthiers and specializes in classical and arch-top instrument restoration using traditional hand tools.
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Shining Light Music
616 SW 3rd St · Lee's Summit, MO 64063A family-owned Lee's Summit store whose repair department mainly serves band and orchestra instruments, but which also offers guitar, ukulele, and folk instrument repair, tuning, and restringing; it absorbed the inventory and lesson programs of the former Legacy Music in 2020.
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KC Fret Shop
Downtown Merriam · 5826 Merriam Dr · Merriam, KS 66203Opened in downtown Merriam in December 2024 as an extension of the 30-plus-year-old K.C. Strings, this shop focuses on acoustic and folk fretted instrument repair and restoration (guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele) and is the flagship dealer for KRUTZ fretted instruments.
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Big Dude's Music City
Westport · 3817 Broadway Blvd · Kansas City, MO 64111Billed as Kansas City's oldest and largest family-owned music store, in business for nearly 40 years, Big Dude's services guitars and amps it sells as well as gear bought elsewhere.
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Guitar Center North Kansas City
Northland · 9188 NW Skyview Ave · Kansas City, MO 64154(Chain: Guitar Center) The North Kansas City location's repair counter offers a 22-point 'Signature Setup' covering truss rod, nut, saddle, action, and intonation adjustment, plus a 'Platinum Setup' that adds deep cleaning and hardware polishing.
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What a guitar setup costs in Kansas City
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 Kansas City 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 Kansas City: common questions
How much does a guitar setup cost in Kansas City?
Fountain City Guitarworks lists a $105 setup and bills its itemized repairs at a $115 hourly shop rate, with PLEK fretwork from $285. Independent one-person shops in the metro often come in lower. For comparison, Guitar Center charges $60 to $75, Sweetwater is $99, a fret level and crown adds $85 to $150, and a restring alone is about $25.
Which Kansas City shop is best for fretwork or a refret?
Fountain City Guitarworks offers PLEK-precision fretwork from $285 and specializes in Evertune bridges and offset guitars. For traditional hand work, Bentley Guitar Studios in Parkville, open since 1995, includes luthier Jacob Rife, who restores classical and arch-top instruments using traditional hand tools.
How often should I get my guitar set up?
A common recommendation is roughly every six months, or whenever the seasons change, since swings in humidity move the wood and shift the neck. Daily players often go twice a year, while occasional players can usually manage once. Get one sooner if you notice fret buzz, fretting out, or action that has crept too high or low.
Do I need an appointment for a guitar setup?
Often, yes, in Kansas City. Fountain City Guitarworks and KC Guitar Setups, a home-based Northland shop, both work by appointment, and KC Guitar Repair is open just three days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Friday). The Guitar Center in North Kansas City takes walk-in setups at its counter.
Can I do a guitar setup myself instead?
Yes. Neck relief, action, and intonation are all measurable and repeatable, so you can work to numbers instead of guessing. A string action gauge, feeler gauges, and a radius gauge are the core tools, and a one-time kit costs less than two $105 shop setups.
