A do-it-yourself streak runs through this city's repair benches, though the work here is anything but amateur. The 12th Fret has held down Belmont Street since 1979 and lists setups from $100, while Portland Fret Works staffs six luthiers and prices electrics from $120. Eastside Guitar Repair was the only shop Johnny Marr trusted while he lived in town.
Portland 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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Portland Guitar Repair
Montavilla · 7714 SE Stark St · Portland, OR 97215Opened in January 2019 on SE Stark St, Portland Guitar Repair takes walk-ins with no appointment required and is an authorized dealer for boutique parts brands including Lollar and LR Baggs.
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Portland Fret Works
Alberta Arts District · 3027 NE Alberta St · Portland, OR 97211A staff of six luthiers on NE Alberta Street handles everything from simple restrings to full refinishing and neck resets, and the shop serves as a factory-authorized warranty repair center for Martin, Taylor, Fender, Guild and Jackson.
Setup $110+ acoustic / $120+ electric -
Eastside Guitar Repair
3904 NE MLK Blvd, Suite C · Portland, OR 97214Founded in October 2008 by luthier Ryan Lynn, Eastside Guitar Repair is part of the 'MLK Music Mall' cluster of music businesses on NE MLK Blvd and was the only repair shop former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr trusted with his instruments while he lived in Portland.
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The 12th Fret
Belmont · 2402 SE Belmont St · Portland, OR 97214Operating on historic Belmont Street since 1979, The 12th Fret is one of Portland's oldest repair shops, working on guitars, basses, mandolins, banjos, dobros, dulcimers, and even 3-string cigar box instruments.
Setup $100+ acoustic/electric, $125+ 12-string -
Stumptown Stringworks
12339 SE Long St · Portland, OR 97236Run out of a private Southeast Portland workshop by luthier Aaron, Stumptown Stringworks offers personalized, one-on-one guitar setup and repair to players across the Portland metro area.
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Tsiorba Guitars
3816 SE Liebe St · Portland, OR 97202Luthier Peter Tsiorba has built, serviced, and restored guitars for over two decades from his SE Portland studio, specializing in classical, flamenco, romantic and baroque nylon-string guitars as well as folk instruments like jarana jarocha, oud, and charango.
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Char Lutheries & Guitar Repair
5922 N Willamette Blvd · Portland, OR 97203Kerry Char has spent more than 30 years building and restoring vintage and classic stringed instruments, offering work ranging from basic saddle and nut setups to advanced neck resets, refrets, and full rebuilds with finish work.
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Guitar Works
3416 NE 13th Ave · Portland, OR 97212Run by Jim Loewenherz since 1996, Guitar Works is a longtime NE Portland shop offering high quality repair and restoration of acoustic and electric stringed instruments.
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Guitar Center (North Portland)
1147 Hayden Meadows Dr · Portland, OR 97217The repair counter at this North Portland Guitar Center chain location offers tiered 'Signature' and 'Platinum' 22-point setups alongside restrings, detailing, and pickup/electronics modifications.
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What a guitar setup costs in Portland
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 Portland 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 Portland: common questions
How much does a guitar setup cost in Portland?
The independents publish their rates. The 12th Fret lists setups from $100 ($125 and up for 12-strings), and Portland Fret Works starts at $110 for acoustics and $120 for electrics. For comparison, Guitar Center charges $60 to $75, Sweetwater is $99, a fret level and crown adds $85 to $150, and a restring on its own is about $25.
Which Portland shop is best for fretwork or a refret?
Portland Fret Works, a factory-authorized warranty center for Martin, Taylor, Fender, Guild, and Jackson, staffs six luthiers and handles refrets and neck resets. The 12th Fret, open since 1979, and Eastside Guitar Repair, whose fretwork earned the trust of Johnny Marr, are also strong picks.
How long does a guitar setup take in Portland?
Hands-on bench time is usually under an hour, but shop turnaround typically runs two to three business days, longer for a busy multi-luthier bench. Walk-in shops like Portland Guitar Repair in Montavilla can sometimes turn simpler jobs faster.
What is included in a professional guitar setup?
A setup dials in three core areas: neck relief via the truss rod, string action, and intonation up the neck. Portland shops typically also address nut and saddle height, pickup height, cleaning, and a fresh set of strings. Structural jobs like neck resets, offered at The 12th Fret and Portland Fret Works, are separate repairs.
Can I do a guitar setup myself instead?
Yes, and it suits Portland's DIY streak. Neck relief, action, and intonation are measurable, repeatable adjustments you can make with a string action gauge, feeler gauges, and a radius gauge. A one-time tool kit costs less than two $100-plus setups and stays useful for every string change after.
