Detroit's setup shops cluster in the suburbs, with Ferndale, Royal Oak, and Livonia holding most of the benches rather than the city core. Twelve verified shops span the metro, including Pursell Lutherie in Ferndale for PLEK fret leveling and Detroit Guitar in Royal Oak, a premier Taylor and custom-shop dealer. Rock City Music Co. in Livonia publishes setups from $59 to $99.
Detroit 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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Third Wave Music
Midtown / Cass Corridor · 4625 2nd Ave Ste C2 · Detroit, MI 48201Third Wave Music operates out of the renovated Forest Arms building in Midtown Detroit and accepts guitar repair drop-offs on Fridays, charging a $50 bench/assessment fee that is applied toward the final repair cost.
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Echopark Guitars
Milwaukee Junction · 565 E Milwaukee Ave · Detroit, MI 48202Echopark Guitars, founded by luthier Gabriel Currie, relocated from Los Angeles to Detroit in 2017 and hand-builds bespoke electric guitars from aged and vintage-era woods; its players include Joe Perry, Josh Homme, and Johnny Depp.
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Gallagher's Music
25850 Concord Rd · Huntington Woods, MI 48070Gallagher's Music has provided instrument repair and setup services to Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties for more than 20 years, working on guitar, bass, violin, viola, cello, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele.
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Detroit Guitar
32302 Woodward Ave · Royal Oak, MI 48073Detroit Guitar runs a no-appointment-needed repair shop offering free estimates on guitar, bass, and fretted-instrument repair, maintenance, and customization, and holds premier/custom-shop dealer status for Taylor, Fender, PRS, and Gibson.
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Pursell Lutherie
23430 Woodward Ave · Ferndale, MI 48220Pursell Lutherie, formerly known as Bayberry Music, offers PLEK-precision fret leveling, full restorations, and setups from a team of luthiers and technicians, and hosts in-store concerts and workshops.
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Koontz Guitar Repair
600 Hilton Rd · Ferndale, MI 48220Koontz Guitar Repair, run by Mike Koontz, has specialized in electric guitar repair in Ferndale for decades and is frequently cited by Metro Detroit musicians as a top repair recommendation.
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Dajos Guitar Repair
9917 Melrose St · Livonia, MI 48150Dajos Guitar Repair, run by luthier John Dajos, handles both custom guitar building and general repair work for clients throughout Southeast Michigan.
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DLP Music and Repair
38135 Ann Arbor Rd · Livonia, MI 48150DLP Music and Repair has provided guitar and clarinet repair, along with used-instrument sales, to the Metro Detroit area since 1980.
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Rock City Music Co.
33425 Five Mile Rd · Livonia, MI 48154Rock City Music Co. publishes tiered setup pricing from a $25 basic string change up to a $99 premium setup, plus fretwork, full re-frets, and custom partscaster builds.
Setup $59-$99 -
Motor City Guitar
1565 Crescent Lake Rd · Waterford, MI 48327Motor City Guitar has served Metro Detroit musicians since 1988, with an in-house repair bench handling restrings, setups, fretwork, and restoration.
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Huber Breese Music
33540 Groesbeck Hwy · Fraser, MI 48026Huber Breese Music is a Gibson Acoustic Five Star Dealer in Fraser that offers in-house musical instrument repair alongside rentals and lessons.
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Guitar Center Roseville
31940 Gratiot Ave · Roseville, MI 48066Guitar Center's Roseville location (chain store) offers tiered guitar setup packages, including a 22-point Signature Setup and a premium Platinum Setup with deep cleaning and detailing.
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What a guitar setup costs in Detroit
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 Detroit 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 Detroit: common questions
How much does a guitar setup cost in Detroit?
Rock City Music Co. in Livonia publishes tiered pricing, from a $25 basic string change up to a $99 premium setup, with a mid-tier option in between. Third Wave Music in Midtown charges a $50 bench assessment fee that is applied toward the final repair cost. As benchmarks, 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 Detroit shop is best for fretwork or a refret?
Pursell Lutherie in Ferndale, formerly Bayberry Music, offers PLEK-precision fret leveling along with full restorations and nut work. Rock City Music Co. in Livonia lists fretwork and full refret service, and Dajos Guitar Repair in Livonia handles refrets as a custom-build luthier. PLEK leveling and refrets are multi-day jobs, so plan to leave the guitar.
How long does a guitar setup take in Detroit?
A standard setup at most Metro Detroit shops takes about two to three days depending on the bench's backlog. Third Wave Music accepts repair drop-offs on Fridays, so timing your visit matters there. PLEK fretwork, refrets, and restoration work run longer and are quoted separately.
Do I need an appointment for a guitar setup in Detroit?
Many Detroit-area shops take walk-ins. Detroit Guitar in Royal Oak runs a no-appointment repair shop with free estimates, and Guitar Center Roseville accepts walk-ins as well. Third Wave Music in Midtown takes repair drop-offs on Fridays, so it helps to call ahead and confirm hours before visiting.
Can I do a guitar setup myself instead?
Basic setups are doable at home with a few tools. A string action gauge, feeler gauges, and a radius gauge let you measure neck relief, action, and intonation, all of which are measurable and repeatable once you learn the targets. The truss rod is the main hazard, since over-adjusting can harm the neck, so many players leave fretwork and refrets to shops like Pursell Lutherie or Rock City Music Co.
