How much does a guitar setup or repair cost in Portland?
By The BTR Editorial Team · Last verified · Methodology
A standard guitar setup in Portland costs $45–$115
strings extra. $75 is typical; with a fresh set of strings it's $55–$140, and fret work starts around $110.
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Guitar Setup & Repair costs in Portland are up around 3.2% over the past year, re-verified against 20+ sources in October 2026. The typical Portland price is $75 per job, 6% below the US typical of $80 per job.
Year on yearIn Portland, a standard guitar setup costs $45–$115, strings extra, and most players pay about $75. Smaller markets mean fewer shops but fair prices: fret leveling runs $110–$260 and a full refret $270–$620.
Portland is a smaller market. The cheapest setups come from mobile and home-based techs around South Portland & Westbrook; the busiest benches are in Downtown, Old Port & Bayside, and most of the price gap is experience and turnaround.
Every figure below is the bench price for the job. A standard setup covers the truss rod, action, intonation, a nut check and a clean; strings and parts are priced separately.
Comparing cities, or after the US-wide picture? See the national guide: guitar setup and repair cost in the USA.
$45–$115 for a standard guitar setup in Portland, strings extra — typically $75. With strings fitted it's $55–$140; a full refret is $270–$620. Verified October 2026. Get free Portland quotes →
- Standard setup: $45–$115 ($75 typical), strings extra
- Restring only $20–$45 plus strings; setup + restring $55–$140
- Fret level $110–$260; full refret $270–$620
- Acoustic neck reset $400–$1,150; bench rate $60–$100/hr
- Highest prices: Downtown, Old Port & Bayside; lowest: South Portland & Westbrook
Prices verified October 2026 · Cross-referenced against 20+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Labor only unless the row says otherwise — strings and parts extra. Portland metro, re-verified October 2026.
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard setup, electric or acousticper job | $45per job | $75 | $115 |
| Setup + restring (strings included)per job | $55per job | $85 | $140 |
| Bass setupper job | $50per job | $80 | $130 |
| 12-string or Floyd Rose setupper job | $65per job | $100 | $170 |
| Restring only (labor, strings extra)per job | $20per job | $30 | $45 |
| Fret level and crown (with setup)per job | $110per job | $180 | $260 |
| Partial refretper job | $160per job | $220 | $320 |
| Full refretper job | $270per job | $420 | $620 |
| Nut replacement (bone)per job | $55per job | $100 | $150 |
| Saddle replacement (acoustic)per job | $45per job | $95 | $130 |
| Output jack or pot replacementper job | $20per job | $40 | $65 |
| Pickup install (one)per job | $35per job | $55 | $80 |
| Acoustic pickup / preamp installper job | $70per job | $120 | $180 |
| Neck reset (acoustic)per job | $400per job | $660 | $1,150 |
| Headstock break repairper job | $140per job | $280 | $530 |
| Crack or brace repairper job | $90per job | $190 | $360 |
| Rush turnaround (48 hrs)add-on | $20add-on | $45 | $90 |
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Prices verified October 2026 · Cross-referenced against 20+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Figures are for the Portland metro area. Pickup and return, where offered, adds up to $60; shops in Downtown, Old Port & Bayside run highest.
Guitar repair prices across Portland
Where you drop the guitar off changes the quote. Shops in Downtown, Old Port & Bayside charge the most; techs around South Portland & Westbrook are the cheapest in the metro.
Downtown, Old Port & Bayside
- Hourly
- $65–$110/hr
- Job
- $50–$130 / standard setup
The central part of the metro, where repair counters are easiest to reach. More choice and faster quotes, with prices at the top of the local range.
East End & Munjoy Hill
- Hourly
- $60–$100/hr
- Job
- $50–$115 / standard setup
Independent repair benches and small shops, often run by one or two techs. Prices sit near the city median, and you usually talk to the person doing the work.
South Portland & Westbrook
- Hourly
- $55–$90/hr
- Job
- $45–$100 / standard setup
Mostly small independents and home-based techs. Setups and restrings run at or just under the city median.
Scarborough, Biddeford & Lewiston
- Hourly
- $60–$100/hr
- Job
- $50–$115 / standard setup
Music stores and a few independent benches. Prices are standard; turnaround depends on how busy the store's tech is.
Real-World Guitar Repair Costs in Portland
Here's what common guitar setup and repair jobs cost in Portland in 2026, standard setup, strings extra.
New guitar — setup after purchase
Most new guitars leave the factory with high action and a nut cut on the safe side. A setup with fresh strings costs $55–$85 at most Portland shops and is the cheapest way to make a starter guitar easier to play — worth it for a kid who plays, too.
Buzzing acoustic — fret level + setup
Buzz that a setup can't fix usually means uneven frets. A level and crown with a setup is $110–$260 in Portland, plus $10 or so for strings. If the frets are too worn to level, a full refret is $270–$620.
Vintage acoustic — neck reset
Older acoustics slowly pull forward until the action can't be lowered. A neck reset in Portland runs $400–$1,150; if the frets are worn too, many techs refret at the same time — budget about $1,080 for both.
Bass — active electronics swap
Two pickups, new pots and jack, and a bass setup to finish: $140–$355 in labor in Portland. The pickups and preamp are extra, and active systems can need routing for the battery.
Headstock snapped in a case
A clean break that's still attached is the cheaper end — $140–$280. A full break, reinforcement or finish touch-up pushes it toward $530. Don't glue it yourself first; it makes the repair harder.
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How much does a guitar setup cost in Portland?
For a standard setup, budget $45–$115 in Portland. Basses and 12-strings cost more — $50–$130 and $65–$170 — because there's more to adjust.
Fret work is the big jump: $110–$260 for a level and crown, $270–$620 for a full refret. A refret takes most of a day at the bench ($60–$100/hr) and includes the fret wire, leveling and a full setup. Re-verified against 20 sources in October 2026.
Guitar repair fees and shop terms in Portland (2026)
The headline price is for a standard setup: $45–$115. These are the lines that move the final bill — strings, parts, rush work and how the shop handles big jobs.
| Line on the quote | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strings (one set, guitar) | $6 | $10 | $20 |
| Parts markup (pickups, nuts, tuners) | At cost | 10–25% | 30%+ |
| Bench / diagnostic fee | Free estimate | $40 | $75 |
| Rush turnaround (48 hrs) | $20 | $45 | $90 |
| Pickup and return | Drop off yourself | $25 | $60 |
| Deposit on major work (refret, neck reset) | None | 25–50% | 50% |
| Turnaround | 1–3 days | 1–2 weeks | 4–6 weeks |
| Warranty on work | 30 days | 90 days | 1 year |
A $60 quote and a $100 quote in Portland usually differ on three things: strings, how much fret work is included, and turnaround.
What moves a guitar repair quote in Portland:
- Job size — a setup is $45–$115; fret work starts at $110; structural repairs run into the hundreds.
- The instrument — basses cost $50–$130 and 12-strings or Floyd Rose guitars $65–$170 to set up.
- Fret condition — worn or uneven frets turn a setup into a fret level or a refret.
- Parts — a bone nut is $55–$150 and a pickup install $35–$80, plus the part.
- Turnaround — rush work adds $20–$90; busy shops quote weeks for big jobs.
Get the same five things from every Portland shop: what the job covers, strings and parts, turnaround, warranty and the deposit. Compare those, not the headline price. Get a quote for your repair →
Guitar Repair Cost in Portland by Job Size
Setup: $45–$115. Fret work: $110–$260 for a level, $270–$620 for a full refret. Structural: $400–$1,150 for an acoustic neck reset.
Worked example: a used acoustic bought in Portland with buzzing frets and no pickup — a fret level with setup at $180, an acoustic pickup install at $120 and strings at $10 comes to $310 in labor and strings. Skip the pickup and it's $190.
Electrics, acoustics and basses cost about the same to set up — $75 is typical in Portland — with basses a little higher at $80. Acoustics cost more when something goes wrong, because cracks, bridges and neck resets are hand work.
Portland Guitar Repair Costs by Shop Type
| Shop Type | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Big-box store counter | $55–$100 | A first setup on a new guitar, restrings and simple fixes |
| Independent repair shop | $70–$100 | Most setups, fret work and electronics in Portland |
| Luthier (builds and repairs) | $80–$115 | Acoustic cracks, neck resets and anything structural |
| Touring / pro tech | $100–$170 | Players gigging every week who want a guitar set up exactly their way |
| Mobile tech (comes to you) | $45–$80 | Setups and restrings at home — no drive, no drop-off |
| Music-store in-house tech | $55–$95 | Starter guitars, school-year checkups and quick turnaround |
| Boutique shop (vintage) | $110–$160 | Vintage and high-value guitars where original parts matter |
| DIY kit | $15–$75 for the kit | Not a provider. Small truss rod, action and intonation tweaks if you're handy — not fret, nut or crack work |
Pro setup vs DIY vs a new guitar in Portland
A pro setup in Portland costs $45–$115. A DIY setup kit costs $15–$75 once and covers the adjustments — truss rod, action, intonation — but not fret, nut or crack work. Those still need a tech.
Replacing the guitar only makes sense when the repair costs more than the guitar is worth. A full refret ($270–$620) or neck reset ($400–$1,150) on a guitar that cost $150–$300 new is a hard sell; a $75 setup on that same guitar almost never is.
What's included in a Portland guitar setup (and what costs extra)
A standard setup covers truss rod adjustment, string height at the bridge, a nut check, intonation, pickup height on electrics, a fretboard clean and a tune-up. Usually extra:
- Strings — $6–$20 a set unless the shop includes them
- Nut or saddle replacement — $55–$150 for a bone nut, $45–$130 for a saddle
- Fret leveling — $110–$260 if the frets are uneven
- Rush turnaround — $20–$90 on top of the job
Ask whether strings are included. It's the most common surprise on a setup bill.
Setup, fret work or structural?
A setup in Portland is $45–$115. Fret work jumps to $110–$260 for a level and $270–$620 for a refret, and structural jobs like a neck reset run $400–$1,150.
The instrument
Basses cost $50–$130 to set up and 12-strings or Floyd Rose guitars $65–$170, because there's more to adjust and restring.
Fret condition
Worn or uneven frets can't be fixed by a setup. A level and crown ($110–$260) fixes most buzzing; deep wear means a partial ($160–$320) or full refret.
Parts and materials
A bone nut is $55–$150 and an acoustic saddle $45–$130. Pickups, tuners and preamps are priced on top of the labor.
Who does the work
Big-box counters sit at the low end, independent techs in the middle, and vintage specialists and luthiers at the top. In Portland that's the difference between $45 and $115 for a setup.
Location — Downtown, Old Port & Bayside vs South Portland & Westbrook
Shops in Downtown, Old Port & Bayside pay the highest rents and charge accordingly. Mobile and home-based techs around South Portland & Westbrook are the cheapest in the metro.
Turnaround
Most setups take a few days to two weeks. Rush work adds $20–$90, and big jobs at busy shops can take over a month.
- Combine jobs.Having the nut or pickups done with a setup saves paying for the same restring and adjustments twice. Ask Portland shops for a combined price.
- Ask if a fret level will do.A level and crown is $110–$260; a full refret is $270–$620. If the frets have enough height left, leveling is the cheaper fix.
- Keep acoustics humidified.A humidifier costs far less than a crack repair at $90–$360. Dry winters and air conditioning do most of the damage.
- Learn the small tweaks.A $15–$75 kit and a few videos cover string changes and small truss rod adjustments between pro setups.
- Skip the rush.Book ahead of a gig or recital. Rush work adds $20–$90 to the bill.
- Bring your own strings.Many shops let you supply the strings you like. Ask first — some only fit their own stock.
Portland techs often quote at the counter or by text. Before you leave the guitar, get these in writing:
- Exactly what the setup covers — truss rod, action, nut, intonation, fret check
- Whether strings are included, and which brand and gauge
- Parts and their prices — nut, saddle, pickups, jack
- The bench rate for anything found once the work starts
- Turnaround time, and the rush price if you need it sooner
- A promise to call before doing extra work
- Warranty on the work
- Deposit for big jobs like a refret or neck reset
How much does a guitar setup cost in Portland?
$45–$115 for a standard setup on an electric or acoustic, strings extra, and $75 is typical. With a new set of strings fitted it's $55–$140.
How much does it cost to restring a guitar in Portland?
$20–$45 in labor plus $6–$20 for the strings. A setup with restring is $55–$140.
How much is a refret in Portland?
$270–$620 for a full refret and $160–$320 for a partial. If the frets just need leveling, a level and crown is $110–$260.
How much does a bass setup cost in Portland?
$50–$130, strings extra. A 12-string or Floyd Rose guitar is $65–$170.
How much is an acoustic neck reset in Portland?
$400–$1,150, usually including a setup. If the frets are worn too, a refret at the same time adds $270–$620.
How much does it cost to fix a broken headstock in Portland?
$140–$530. A clean break that's still attached costs the least; finish touch-up and reinforcement cost more.
How much do pickup and electronics repairs cost in Portland?
A pickup install is $35–$80 per pickup, a jack or pot $20–$65, and an acoustic pickup or preamp $70–$180 — parts extra.
What is the hourly rate for a guitar tech in Portland?
About $60–$100/hr for bench work. Most common jobs are flat-priced, so you'll only see the hourly rate on unusual repairs.
How long does a guitar repair take in Portland?
A setup usually takes a few days to two weeks; fret work and neck resets can take longer. Rush service adds $20–$90 where the shop offers it.
How often should a guitar be set up?
Once a year for most players, or when the seasons change and the action moves. At $75 a setup in Portland, that's the cheapest way to keep a guitar easy to play.
Prices verified October 2026 · Cross-referenced against 20+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Prices for the Portland metro area, October 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.