The Dallas-Fort Worth metro supports a dense field of independent benches, several of them decades deep. Charley's Guitar Shop has run since 1976 and sets up guitars for $75 plus strings, while Dallas Guitar Repair has served the SMU area since 1987 with pricing published by bridge type. Jimmy Wallace Guitars, named Best Guitar Shop by the Dallas Observer, rounds out the field with an in-house luthier.
Dallas 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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Dallas Guitar Repair
5635 SMU Blvd, Ste 207 · Dallas, TX 75206Run by Dan McCarthy near SMU since 1987, servicing guitars, basses, banjos, mandolins and ukuleles, with setup pricing published by bridge/tremolo type (e.g. acoustic $80, Floyd/Kahler $90).
Setup $40-$150 (varies by bridge/tremolo type) -
Charley's Guitar Shop
2720 Royal Ln · Dallas, TX 75229Independent Dallas guitar store and repair shop operating since 1976; the in-house repair department is led by Bryant Russell, who has headed it since 2005.
Setup $75 plus strings -
Guitar Center Central Dallas
7814 N Central Expressway · Dallas, TX 75206Guitar Center chain location (not an independent luthier) on N Central Expressway offering a 22-point Signature Setup covering truss rod, nut, saddle, action and intonation, plus a higher-tier Platinum Setup with hardware restoration.
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Jimmy's Guitar Repair and Studio
Downtown · 1700 Commerce St, Ste 1610 · Dallas, TX 75201Downtown Dallas repair studio at Commerce Street handling electric, acoustic and bass guitar repair and setup work.
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Tone Shop Guitars
15317 Midway Rd · Addison, TX 75001DFW-area shop headquartered in Addison (with additional locations in Southlake and Fort Worth) that uses an in-house Plek machine for precision fret leveling alongside standard electric and acoustic setups.
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Murphy's Music
940 W Airport Fwy · Irving, TX 75062Long-running Irving-based music store, just west of Dallas, with an in-house instrument repair department alongside its guitar sales and lesson programs.
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Kerry's Guitar Shop
204 W Bedford Euless Rd, Ste 108 · Hurst, TX 76053Independent DFW-area shop operating since 1981 that specializes in fret leveling/crowning and full instrument setups, plus re-fretting and electronics work.
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Gabriel's Guitar Repair
1811 Hood St · Carrollton, TX 75006Carrollton-based shop (just north of Dallas) specializing in classical guitar repair, historical restoration and french-polish refinishing, and using an Earlewine fretting jig for fretwork under simulated string tension.
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Jimmy Wallace Guitars
514 Main St · Garland, TX 75040Garland vintage-and-used guitar dealer named Best Guitar Shop in the Dallas Observer's Best of Dallas awards, with in-house luthier Spencer Deaton providing setup, repair and restoration services.
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Perretta Guitar Company
240 Crooked Ln · Mesquite, TX 75149Mesquite luthier shop run by John Fitzgerald, known for handcrafted acoustic guitars, mandolins and Irish bouzoukis as well as stringed-instrument repair and restoration for area musicians.
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What a guitar setup costs in Dallas
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 Dallas 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 Dallas: common questions
How much does a guitar setup cost in Dallas?
Charley's Guitar Shop charges $75 plus strings for a standard setup, while Dallas Guitar Repair publishes rates by bridge and tremolo type, ranging from $40 to $150 (for example, $80 for an acoustic and $90 for a Floyd Rose or Kahler). For comparison, Guitar Center runs $60 to $75 and Sweetwater about $99. A fret level and crown typically adds $85 to $150 on top, and a restring alone is around $25.
Which Dallas shop is best for fretwork or a refret?
Tone Shop Guitars uses an in-house Plek machine for precision fret leveling and refrets across its DFW locations. Kerry's Guitar Shop in Hurst has specialized in fret leveling, crowning, and refretting since 1981, and Gabriel's Guitar Repair in Carrollton works frets under simulated string tension using an Earlewine fretting jig.
How often should I get my guitar set up?
A professional setup every six months suits most players, because Texas swings in temperature and humidity move the neck and shift string action over the year. Players who gig often, retune frequently, or change string gauges may want one more often. Any persistent buzzing, high action, or intonation problems are also a signal to book one.
What is included in a professional guitar setup?
A standard setup covers truss rod adjustment for neck relief, string action at the nut and saddle, and intonation, usually with fresh strings and a fingerboard cleaning. Guitar Center Central Dallas frames this as a 22-point Signature Setup covering the truss rod, nut, saddle, action, and intonation. Independent shops like Charley's Guitar Shop and Dallas Guitar Repair also adjust to your preferred string gauge and playing feel.
Can I do a guitar setup myself instead?
You can do a basic setup yourself. The three core adjustments (neck relief, action, and intonation) are measurable and repeatable once you have a string action gauge, feeler gauges, and a radius gauge for accurate readings. Heavier work like fret leveling, a bone nut, or a refret is better left to a shop such as Tone Shop Guitars or Kerry's Guitar Shop.
