Along Lincoln Avenue, three of the city's busiest repair benches sit within a mile of each other: Chicago Fret Works, the Old Town School repair shop, and Chicago Music Exchange. Ten verified shops serve Chicago overall, from Third Coast Guitar Repair, which runs an in-house PLEK machine and a staff of ten, to Specimen, founded in 1986 as one of the oldest full-service shops in town.
Chicago 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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Chicago Fret Works
Lincoln Square / North Center · 4229 N. Lincoln Avenue · Chicago, IL 60618Established in 2008 by luthiers Steve Baker and Dan Wolf, Chicago Fret Works is a Taylor Guitars factory-authorized warranty repair center located at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Hutchinson Street.
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Third Coast Guitar Repair
5080 N Elston Ave · Chicago, IL 60630Owner Chris Eudy began as an apprentice in 1996 and purchased the shop in 1997; the current 7,500 sq ft facility runs a staff of 10 technicians, a PLEK machine, and three finish-specific spray booths, backed by a 90-day guarantee on fret and setup work.
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Old Town School of Folk Music - Repair Shop
Lincoln Square · 4544 N Lincoln Ave · Chicago, IL 60625The retail/repair arm of the Old Town School of Folk Music publishes basic setup pricing starting at $75, and refers violin/cello/upright bass work to A440 Violin Shop and amp repairs to Chicago Ampworks.
Setup $75 (acoustic/ukulele/mandolin) - $85 (electric/banjo) -
Specimen Guitar Repair Shop
Humboldt Park · 1240 N. Homan Ave · Chicago, IL 60651Founded in 1986 by luthier Ian Schneller, Specimen has served clients including Andrew Bird, Wilco, and Rise Against, and offers a typical turnaround of a week or less for setups and basic repairs.
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Geoff Benge's Guitar Shop
Lakeview · 1014 W Belmont Ave · Chicago, IL 60657Geoff Benge has over 30 years of repair experience and comes from a family of instrument craftsmen. His great-uncle Elden Benge was known for hand-making Benge trumpets.
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Chicago Music Exchange - CME Repairs
3316 N Lincoln Ave · Chicago, IL 60657The repair department of Chicago Music Exchange, a nationally known vintage and used guitar dealer, publishes tiered setup pricing (from $85 for standard 6-string up to $125 for Evertune) and is open by appointment Tuesday through Saturday.
Setup $85 (6-string electric, nylon-string classical, or steel-string acoustic) -
Rebound Repair
Logan Square · 3228 W Fullerton Ave · Chicago, IL 60647An independent Logan Square shop that rebranded from its longtime name, the Shake Shop; customers describe it as a small, friendly operation handling everything from basic setups to pickup rewiring and amp repair.
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Guitar Center - Central Chicago
Lincoln Park · 2633 N. Halsted St. · Chicago, IL 60614Chain store. The Central Chicago Guitar Center location offers no-appointment-necessary repair service, including a 22-point Signature Setup and a premium Platinum Setup with deep cleaning and hardware restoration.
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Devens String Repair
Beverly · 10117 S Prospect Ave · Chicago, IL 60643Operating since 1997 out of the Beverly neighborhood, Devens String Repair works on everything from banjos to violins and guitars, with a stated focus on keeping repairs affordable for weekend players as well as professionals.
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Rock N Roll Vintage - Repair Shop
4727 N Damen Ave · Chicago, IL 60625Housed inside the Rock N Roll Vintage & Synth City guitar shop, this repair bench is run by luthier Ben Frye, who has been repairing guitars since age 14 and has done restoration work for national museums.
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What a guitar setup costs in Chicago
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 Chicago 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 Chicago: common questions
How much does a guitar setup cost in Chicago?
The Old Town School repair shop in Lincoln Square publishes setups from $75 for acoustic, ukulele, or mandolin up to $85 for electric or banjo. Chicago Music Exchange lists $85 for a standard six-string, rising to $125 for an Evertune bridge. For comparison, 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 Chicago shop is best for fretwork or a refret?
Third Coast Guitar Repair on Elston Avenue runs an in-house PLEK machine and a staff of ten, and is a Gold-level authorized service center for more than 50 manufacturers, with a 90-day guarantee on fret and setup work. Chicago Fret Works in Lincoln Square, a Taylor factory-authorized center, and Rock N Roll Vintage also handle full refrets and crowning. Expect a refret to take several days.
How long does a guitar setup take in Chicago?
Specimen in Humboldt Park quotes a typical turnaround of a week or less for setups and basic repairs. Most other independent shops land around two to three days depending on their queue, while PLEK fretwork and restoration at a shop like Third Coast run longer. Ask for an estimate when you drop off.
Do I need an appointment for a guitar setup in Chicago?
It varies by shop. Guitar Center in Lincoln Park takes walk-ins with no appointment necessary, while Chicago Music Exchange runs its repair bench by appointment Tuesday through Saturday. Calling ahead is smart everywhere, since even walk-in shops can have a backlog.
How often should I get my guitar set up?
Roughly every six months suits most players, because Chicago's swing from humid summers to dry, heated winters moves the neck and changes action and intonation. Frequent gigging or a change in string gauge can call for one sooner. Persistent fret buzz, rising action, or tuning that will not hold are signs it is due.
