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Do I need an appointment or can I come by any time?

The shop is open with no appointment necessary 12PM to 6PM Tuesday through Friday and 12PM to 4PM on Saturday. Often times I am here at the shop working before or after those hours so if you need to make a special arrangement to drop off or pick up a guitar at another time please email service@unionstreetguitars.com to set up a time.

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Will you be there on this day/is it OK if I bring my guitar by at this time?

Please feel free to bring your instrument in any time during normal business hours (12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Tuesday – Friday and 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM on Saturday). If the shop is closed at any time during normal business hours I will post in advance on my Google listing which you can find here.

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How long will it take to get my guitar back if I drop it off for a setup?

Average turnaround time for a setup is 3-4 working days. Sometimes more, sometimes less. It just depends on my workload and what day of the week you drop it off. If you drop off on Saturday, keep in mind that the shop is closed Sunday and Monday. I do my best to make setups a priority.

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How long will it take to get my guitar back if I drop it off for repair?

It depends on the type of repair. Sometimes I’m able to squeeze in simple repairs like restrings or tightening up a loose input jack while you wait. Most other repairs can take up to a week. Sometimes two. It just depends on my workload and the difficulty of the repair. It’s best to bring it in for a proper evaluation, but sometimes I can give ballpark estimates if you send pictures.

Other types repairs such as finish repairs can take several weeks or even months. Nitrocellulose lacquer finishes take the longest. They need at least a week after the final coat for the solvents to flash off and cure before they can move to the next phase. Sometimes the instrument will have to go through this process several times before it can finally be sanded and buffed out. If you have a Martin or Gibson or an older instrument (pre 70’s), chances are that it has a nitrocellulose finish. Some newer boutique guitars are sprayed with nitro as well.

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I dropped off my guitar for a setup, took it home and played it for a week and now I’m getting a buzz on this one fret. What happened?

Your instrument is made of wood and just like a sponge, when it is dry, it shrivels and shrinks. When a sponge is wet, it expands and swells. If you are getting a buzz somewhere, chances are that the wood has destabilized from being stored in an overly humid or dry environment. I keep the shop around 45-50% relative humidity at room temperature and you should try to as well. Often times, during the winter, achieving proper humidity levels are not practical. In these situations it’s best to leave the instrument in a hard shell case with a humidifier.  

Acoustic guitars made from solid wood require the most care and attention and they are most susceptible to damage from improper care. Solid body and laminate guitars are a little more stable, but still require attention. If you don’t have some way of controlling the humidity in your home, I recommend leaving your instruments in the case with some sort of humidity control device and a hygrometer to monitor those levels

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Can I drop my guitar off to you and get it back while I wait? ‘I need it for a gig tonight!’ or ‘I’m coming from far away and don’t want to make the commute twice.’

I will do my best to make accommodations for people who are coming from long distances or who need their instruments serviced immediately. Please keep in mind that same day setups are not recommended. If the truss rod is adjusted, it’s best to give the wood time (at least overnight) to adapt and settle in to the change in tension. If you would like to set up a same day service, please email or call me in advance and I will try and schedule a time. There may be additional charges for same day service. Especially if I have a full workload. I typically charge an additional $60 for same day service unless it’s a simple repair.

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I would like to bring my guitar in for a warranty repair. What is the process?

• If you have a Taylor guitar, please make sure you have registered the guitar with Taylor and also have the purchase date and location.
  You can register your guitar here
• If you have a Fender or Fender subsidiary brand, please bring your proof of purchase with you at time of visit or you can email it to me at service@unionstreetguitars.com

I will evaluate the guitar and if it looks like it’s a warrantable service, I will submit the claim to the appropriate manufacturer. Typically I will hear back within 24 hours. Once I get the go ahead, I will begin work as soon as possible. Sometimes I will need to special order parts which can add about a week to the turnaround time.

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I have got 5 guitars I would like to bring down and have you work on. Is that OK?

Wow! I appreciate the business and would love to work on all of your guitars, just not all at once! The shop is REALLY small and often times there simply isn’t enough room. Please try to keep it to a max of 3 or preferable less at a time. If you would like to bring more than 3 instruments, please call or email me in advance.

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