Setup prices across Tyneside cluster tightly: Geordie Riffs, an approved Taylor warranty centre in West Allotment, charges £60 for a standard service, while Sylva Guitars in Heaton starts at £50 and Dave's Guitars in North Shields has taken in instruments since 1993. Six benches serve the area, most offering a pro tier around £90-110 that adds a fret dress.
Newcastle 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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Geordie Riffs
West Allotment · 16 Turner Street, West Allotment · Newcastle upon Tyne NE27 0DWBased in a dedicated workshop in West Allotment, Geordie Riffs is an approved and certified Taylor Guitars Service Center able to carry out Taylor warranty work, alongside standard and pro-level setups for electric, acoustic and bass guitars.
Setup £60 (Standard) / £110 (Pro, incl. fret dress) -
South Shields Guitar Setups
South Shields · Baring Street · South Shields NE33 2EQRun single-handedly by Glen from a South Shields base, South Shields Guitar Setups covers guitar, bass and ukulele setups, fret levelling, crack repairs and electronics work, with optional doorstep collection of instruments.
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Dave's Guitars
North Shields · 29 Waterville Road · North Shields NE29 6SLDave has repaired stringed instruments in North Shields since 1993 and has worked with touring bands, recording studios, schools and retailers including JG Windows and PMT, publishing a fixed starting-price list for setups, refrets and refinishing.
Setup £30 (partial) / £60 (setup and service) / £90 (fret level, recrown and setup) -
Curvy Sounds
Heaton · 31 Heaton Hall Road · Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 5NQOperating from Heaton since founder Andrew Mills opened the shop, Curvy Sounds combines new, vintage and pre-loved instrument sales with in-house repair work covering fretwork, electronics, truss rod adjustment and custom pickup winding.
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Sylva Guitars
Heaton · Unit 17, The Clothworks Business Centre, Industry Road · Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 5XBEstablished in 2022 by Gary, who has over 30 years of experience owning and repairing guitars, Sylva Guitars offers a published price list covering setups, refrets, electrical work and custom parts from a workshop in Heaton.
Setup £50 (electric/bass/acoustic) / £100 (premium, incl. fret dress and polish) -
guitarguitar Newcastle
City Centre · 27 Grainger Street · Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5JEOpened in 2005 and refurbished in 2018, this Grainger Street branch of the national guitarguitar chain runs an in-store repair and technician service alongside its guitar, amp and pedal showroom.
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What a guitar setup costs in Newcastle
UK benchmarks, checked July 2026. A full setup with fret level and dress runs £100-£130, a restring alone £15-£25 plus strings.
| Provider | Standard setup | Turnaround | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent shop or luthier | £48-£110 | 2-3 days, often 1-2 weeks waitlist | Basic setup around £48, full setup with fret dress £100-£130. Strings extra. |
| guitarguitar (chain) | Quote in store | Not published | No published prices; service booked as a 30-minute in-store appointment. |
| Andertons (Guildford) | £70/hour | 7-10 working days | Labour rate after assessment. Plek full service from £170. |
| 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 Newcastle costs £48-£110 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 Newcastle: common questions
How much does a guitar setup cost in Newcastle?
Setups on Tyneside are keenly priced: Sylva Guitars in Heaton starts at £50, Geordie Riffs charges £60 for a standard setup and £110 for its pro service with a fret dress, and Dave's Guitars runs £30 for a partial setup, £60 for a full service and £90 with a fret level and recrown. Across the UK, independents charge around £48 for a basic setup and £100-130 for a full setup with fret dress; guitarguitar quotes in store, Andertons charges £70/hour with Plek from £170, and a restring alone runs £15-25 plus strings.
Which Newcastle shop is best for fretwork or a refret?
Dave's Guitars in North Shields is a strong pick, run by a City of Leeds College of Music qualified luthier repairing since 1993, with a £90 service covering a fret level, recrown and setup, plus full refrets. Sylva Guitars and Geordie Riffs also offer refret work, and Geordie Riffs is an approved Taylor warranty centre for Taylor owners.
How long does a guitar setup take in Newcastle?
A standard setup is often turned around the same day or within a day or two, depending on how busy the bench is. Refrets and fret levelling take longer and are booked ahead. Some shops, such as South Shields Guitar Setups, will even collect and drop off your instrument across South Tyneside.
Do I need an appointment for a guitar setup?
It is best to contact the shop first, as most Newcastle repair benches are small independent operations rather than walk-in counters. Booking ahead means your guitar goes straight onto the bench and lets the tech advise on price and timing. Chain stores like guitarguitar on Grainger Street can often take minor jobs in store without an appointment.
What is included in a professional guitar setup?
A full setup covers truss rod and neck relief adjustment, string action at the nut and bridge, and intonation so the guitar stays in tune up the neck. Most benches also dress the nut slots, check the tuners and clean and polish the frets. Fresh strings are usually fitted as part of the job.
