Instrument Repair & Setup

Musical instruments are not unlike living, breathing animals. To perform their best they need regular care, which in the case of wooden instruments such as guitars, banjos, mandolins includes cleaning, restringing and proper storage.  

But over time fretted instruments as well as their bowed cousins (e.g. violins, basses) tend to react to changes in their environmental conditions such as fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Even more serious problems can result from impact accidents including drops, shipping disasters and countless other unforeseen calamities.

The good news for players and collectors is that Randy Wood Guitars offers one of the country’s only full-service instrument repair shops, staffed by talented repair techs guided by the experienced hand of Randy Wood—one of the industry’s most experienced and accomplished builders and repairmen.

Been There. Worked on That.

Randy got his start repairing guitars in the early 1960s.  Over the course of his long and storied career he’s worked closely with noted collectors and builders such as George Gruhn and Tut Taylor, and mentored many emerging successful builders including Danny Ferrington, Bob Givens, John Greven and Wayne Henderson. Now, many years and thousands of instruments later, repair work is still one of Randy’s primary interests and a core service of his instrument business. Randy’s services are regularly utilized by many of the country’s finest musicians and collectors, as well as dozens of national touring acts.

Over the course of 50+ years, Randy has tackled just about every imaginable form of instrument repair..from simple cracks to major reconstruction of instruments virtually demolished in car accidents or by angry spouses! In almost all cases, Randy’s experience and steady hand ensured that the instruments returned to their former glory and playability, endearing himself to legions of grateful customers. As a result, his reputation as a top-shelf repairman has grown year after year, leading to a steady stream on repair work from customers near and far.

While each instrument repair can provide unique challenges, some of the most common repair and restoration work performed in Randy’s shop includes:

Set-Ups

The playability, accuracy and intonation of just about every stringed instrument can be greatly improved with adjustments to the truss rod, nut, bridge, saddle or tuners. The end result is an instrument that reaches its full potential while matching your preferred playing style. This work sometimes includes adding a strap button which requires accurate drilling and placement for strength and durability.

Restringing

Replacing worn or mismatched strings with different string types, brands or gauges can make a world of difference, optimizing your instrument to your playing style and preferred tonality.

Fret Work

After years of play wear, most fretted instruments need this service to produce accurate noting without buzzes or dead spots. Sometimes it just involves polishing and reshaping (“dressing”) of otherwise serviceable frets. Other times more heavily worn frets need to be replaced altogether, along with leveling of the fingerboard.

Crack Repair

Cracks of all kinds are a common occurrence in wooden instruments, and are often caused by sudden changes in temperature or humidity, or by direct impact. As a result, these breaks in the instrument’s headstock, neck or body are quite common, and need to be stabilized before they get worse. Properly done, most crack repairs are almost invisible and will last a lifetime.

Refinishing

Randy’s repair shop is one of the few in the area with a professional-grade spray booth, facilitating beautful finishing and refinishing work, as well as discrete touch-ups. Whether lacquer, varnish or other finishes, Randy’s team can really bring out the beauty of the wood.  

Neck Work

Over time fretted instrument necks can develop “permanent” bows due to string tension, causing difficulty in noting on the fingerboard. This condition can often be improved by clamping the length of the neck with a continuous heat source. When the instrument’s neck’s angle is pulled forward due to string tension, however, the preferred solution is often a complete removal of the neck, followed by re-gluing with wedge-shaped spacers to restore the proper string angle and height across the fretboard. These neck resets qualify as “major surgery” that should definitely NOT be left to inexperienced repair shops…especially on fine or vintage instruments.

Engraving, Inlays and Carving

Over the years, Randy has honed his skills as an engraving, inlay and wood carving craftsman, having performed these services for famous musicians and weekend pickers alike. This work takes a steady hand and a keen eye for design…two traits Randy has in spades. You really have to see some of this work to believe it.

Electronics

Whether it’s a simple cleaning or re-soldering job for existing components, or a complete retrofit with new pickups and tone controls, Randy’s staff has the know-how to help your instrument sound its best.

Stop by for an Estimate

Whatever your instrument needs to play its best, the work can likely be repaired quickly and professionally at Randy Wood Guitars. It all starts by bringing your instrument in (or shipping it) for a no-obligation repair assessment and quote.

After all, a broken or incorrectly set up instrument can stop the music altogether—and that’s something no music lover wants.