From Center City to the Main Line, Philadelphia guitarists can choose among nine verified repair benches. Braxton and Hyde in South Philadelphia publishes flat-rate pricing, while Bluebond Guitars has run an in-house repair shop since 1989. Russo Music is a factory-authorized service center for Fender, Gibson, and Taylor, and the Classical Guitar Store has served nylon-string players since 1967.
Philadelphia 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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Bluebond Guitars
Center City · 1524 Sansom St · Philadelphia, PA 19102Founded in 1989 by Dale Bluebond on South Street as a repair and custom-build shop, it later added retail and lessons and now operates uptown as, by its own account, the longest-standing guitar shop in the city. All repairs and setups are performed in-house rather than sent out.
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Braxton & Hyde Philadelphia Fretworks
South Philadelphia / Passyunk · 1901 S 9th St, Ste 503 · Philadelphia, PA 19148Publishes an itemized price list covering basic ($85) and deluxe ($100) setups, fret leveling and polishing ($200), and refrets ranging $375-$475 depending on fretboard material. Also offers private instruction in guitar, bass, music theory, and songwriting.
Setup $85-$100 -
DiPinto Guitars
Fishtown · 407 E Girard Ave · Philadelphia, PA 19125In business since 1995, DiPinto designs and builds its own line of guitars and basses (the Safari series) in addition to offering full repair work on fretted instruments, banjos, mandolins, and upright strings, with 24-hour rush service available for an extra fee.
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Common Beat Music
West Philadelphia / Cedar Park · 4916 Baltimore Ave · Philadelphia, PA 19143Combines a vinyl record shop with a full instrument and electronics repair service in West Philadelphia, handling guitar setups and repairs alongside amplifiers, pedals, and turntables.
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The Classical Guitar Store
Center City / Rittenhouse · 2038 Sansom St · Philadelphia, PA 19103Operating since 1967, this Center City shop deals exclusively in classical and acoustic guitars, serving as a longtime hub for classical guitar activity in Philadelphia and offering adjustment and repair services alongside instrument sales.
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Danny's Guitar Shop
Narberth (Main Line suburb) · 102 Forrest Ave · Narberth, PA 19072A family-run guitar shop just outside Philadelphia in Narberth, selling acoustic and electric guitars, basses, amps, and accessories, and offering lessons and repairs; reviewers note the shop offers a more personal experience than large chain stores.
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South Street Sounds
South Street / Bella Vista · 1531 South St · Philadelphia, PA 19146A South Street fixture offering guitar sales, repairs, music lessons, and a small recording studio; the shop also buys used instruments.
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John Trefz Guitars & Pianos
Norwood (Delaware County suburb) · 202 South Ave · Norwood, PA 19074Coming from a family of piano craftsmen dating to 1835, John Trefz specializes in guitar setup, fret restoration, and bone nut/saddle replacement, and is an authorized installer of the Buzz Feiten Tuning System.
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Russo Music
Spring Garden · 1004 Spring Garden St · Philadelphia, PA 19123Part of the family-owned Russo Music chain (founded 1960 in Trenton, NJ), the Philadelphia location opened in 2021 and includes an in-house repair shop that is an authorized service center for Fender, Gibson, and Taylor, plus a complimentary deluxe setup with new guitar purchases.
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What a guitar setup costs in Philadelphia
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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia: common questions
How much does a guitar setup cost in Philadelphia?
Braxton and Hyde in South Philadelphia publishes the clearest rates: $85 for a basic setup and $100 for a deluxe, with fret leveling and polishing at $200 and refrets from $375 to $475 depending on fretboard material. Several other shops, including Bluebond and Russo Music, quote per instrument. As a benchmark, Guitar Center runs $60 to $75, Sweetwater about $99, a fret level and crown adds $85 to $150, and a restring alone is about $25.
Which Philadelphia shop is best for fretwork or a refret?
Braxton and Hyde is the most transparent choice for fretwork, listing fret leveling and polishing at $200 and full refrets from $375 to $475 by fretboard material. John Trefz in Norwood specializes in fret restoration and bone nut and saddle work, and is an authorized Buzz Feiten Tuning System installer. Refrets are multi-day jobs regardless of shop.
How long does a guitar setup take in Philadelphia?
Most independent Philadelphia shops turn a standard setup around in two to three days depending on their queue. DiPinto Guitars in Fishtown offers 24-hour rush service for an added fee when you need it sooner. Larger jobs such as fretwork or electronics repairs take longer and are usually quoted separately.
What is included in a professional guitar setup?
A setup adjusts the truss rod for neck relief, sets string action at the nut and saddle or bridge, and corrects intonation at the bridge, typically with new strings and a cleaning. Braxton and Hyde separates this into basic and deluxe tiers, the deluxe covering more detailing. The result is even, repeatable action along the fretboard.
How often should I get my guitar set up?
A setup about every six months is a good baseline for most players, since seasonal humidity and temperature swings in Philadelphia move the neck and shift action and intonation. Gigging musicians or players who change string gauge often may want one more frequently. If the neck develops buzz or the action climbs, it is time regardless of the calendar.
