Neck, bridge and crack repair in Charleston, SC

Adam works out what is actually wrong with a guitar before anything gets cut, glued or sanded. He works on acoustic, electric, semi-hollow, classical and bass guitars, and you deal with him directly from drop-off to pickup.

Close-up of an acoustic guitar bridge and saddle during setup work — The bridge and saddle on an Alvarez acoustic, on the bench at Lanious Guitars.

Repairs Adam does

Neck repairs and resets
Bridge repairs and replacements
Crack repairs and restoration
Headstock repairs
Hardware replacement
Structural work and refinishing

What repairs cost

Structural work is not on the price list because it depends on the instrument, so Adam will look at it and quote it. If you are not sure what is wrong, the diagnosis and bench fee is $35, and it goes toward the repair if you go ahead.

Getting started

Diagnosis and bench fee Applied toward repair cost if you proceed $35

Complex or vintage instruments may need an in-person quote. Working and gigging musicians get 10% off labor, so just mention it.

Diagnosis comes first

Two problems on one guitar do not always have the same cause. The Eastman E20 OO in Adam’s Bench Diaries had high action and a saddle that was loose in its slot. The action came from neck relief. The loose saddle came from the bridge shrinking in dry conditions, and a thin shim stabilized it. If the saddle had just been sanded down, the real problem would still have been there.

That is why Adam works out each problem before removing material or doing anything that cannot be undone.

Signs an acoustic has been too dry

Wood moves with humidity, and a guitar that stays too dry can shrink. Depending on the instrument, that can show up as:

Raised fingerboard inlays
Sharp fret ends
Changes in neck relief and action
A loose saddle
A sinking or changing top
Finish checking or separation around joints
Cracks in the top, back or sides in severe cases

If you see sudden changes like these, have the guitar looked at. Do not try to fix a dry guitar fast by over-humidifying it. Slow, controlled correction is better.

Old guitars are worth saving

A guitar does not have to be expensive or rare to be worth fixing. One well-used Squier came in dirty and worn, and left with a deep clean, a black pickguard routed to fit its humbuckers and a proper Tele-style jack plate. If yours is unreliable or has picked up a few questionable repairs, get it looked at before you replace it.

Entrusted my all original 1967 Mosrite Ventures guitar to Adam at Lanious Guitars, who did a great job with set-up, strings and cleaning. The action is super-fast and the tone & volume controls clean and noise-free. … Adam did a fantastic job, got it back to me quickly, was a great communicator and easy to work with.
Richard McEntee, Google review