Recommended Guitar Repair Shops in Boston

Triage: Do You Need a Tech?

In my years of experience teaching guitar in Boston, many of the problems I've encountered are quick fixes that don't require professional guitar repair services. Understanding when to DIY vs. when to seek expert help can save you time and money.

⚠️ Signs Your Guitar Needs Expert Help

❌ Visible damage that affects the functioning of the instrument; small cracks and cosmetic damage aren't usually a concern.
❌ Bridge lifting (unless only a hair). See if you can slide a piece of paper under the bridge.
❌ Unplayable action. If the strings are too high (or so low that the notes don't all ring) you need a setup and this is best handled by someone with experience.

🟢 Signs You Can Take Care of It Yourself

✅ Guitar worth less than $200-300. A setup can cost almost $100; many prefer to put the money towards a new instrument if possible.
✅ Anything to do with strings. It's not hard to change a string (I even offer periodic workshops to help you learn how); or you can ask your teacher to help. All players should know how to tune their guitar and change its strings.
✅ Problems with loss of humidity, such as fret sprout (a spiky sensation along the neck where the frets poke out, indicating the wood shrank a bit) are best addressed by first humidifying the guitar.
✅ Guitar is playable and action (string height) is OK.
✅ Loose jack or simple electronics problems. Some guitars have built-in batteries that need replacements; others sometimes have minor electronic problems like loose connections that are easily sorted out without professional help.

Recommended Guitar Repair Shops in Greater Boston

Personally, I take all of my guitars to Music Emporium in Lexington. It's an extremely reputable shop and I trust them with my instruments. I have also had great experience with Third Floor Guitars in Malden as well as Steve Morrill in Boxborough, MA is also excellent. I generally do not use any of the luthiers in the immediate Boston area.

If you have diagnosed your problem correctly so that you know what to ask for, almost any luthier should be able to help you with simple jobs such as setup, intonation, string change, fret leveling, addressing fret sprout, and the like.

Top Guitar Repair Recommendations

Music Emporium
Lexington, MA
Primary Choice
Third Floor Guitars
Malden, MA
Highly Recommended
Steve Morrill
Boxborough, MA
Highly Recommended

Where to Buy Guitars in Boston

Looking to purchase a new guitar? Check out our recommendations for the best guitar shops in the Boston area.

Used Guitars in Boston

Looking to buy or sell a used guitar? Learn why guitar stores aren't the best option and discover the best local platforms.

My Teaching Journey in Boston

Learn about my experience teaching guitar in Boston since 2011 and how I developed my unique learning method.

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