Explain first
You’ll hear what’s wrong in plain English, what we recommend, and what can wait. No upsell theater.
About the shop
One bench. One standard.
Fretboard & Co. is a small repair shop with a simple rule: don’t send a guitar home until you’d be happy to play it yourself.
Dad on a quiet Tuesday — favorite light, favorite flannel.
The luthier
Hi — I’m the guy at the bench.
I opened this shop in 1998 after years of fixing friends’ guitars on the kitchen table and wincing at what came back from big-box “repair counters.” Players deserve better: clear communication, careful work, and a fair bill.
I’m not a factory. Most weeks it’s me, a full pot of coffee, and a queue of instruments that each get real attention. Whether you bring in a pawn-shop beater or a family Martin, the process is the same — inspect, explain, estimate, then earn your trust with the result.
When I’m not leveling frets you’ll usually find me at a local jam, cheering on my kids’ bands, or arguing good-naturedly about string gauges.
- 25+ years of full-time repair
- Trained in traditional acoustic structural work
- Member, local musicians’ co-op
- Still learning something every week
How we work
Shop values that actually show up in the work
Your yes required
Paid work never starts without a written estimate and your go-ahead. Change orders get the same respect.
Right parts
OEM-quality or the brands you specify. We don’t chase the cheapest pot that fits the hole.
Play-tested
Every job is played before it hits the rack. If it isn’t right under the hands, it isn’t done.
The room
A real workshop on Maple Street
We’re in a brick storefront a few blocks off main — easy parking, a waiting chair if you want to hang out, and a wall of instruments in various stages of “almost ready.” The shop smells like wood, coffee, and the occasional bit of solder smoke.
Humidity is monitored year-round. Cases are tagged and stored safely. If your guitar needs to stay a while for glue to cure, we’ll keep you posted rather than leave you guessing.
Plan a visitTimeline
A few milestones
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1998
Shop opens
First bench in a shared warehouse bay. Mostly setups, string changes, and word of mouth.
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2005
Maple Street storefront
Moved into the current shop. Added proper humidity control and a dedicated fretting station.
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2014
Structural specialty
Expanded into neck resets, serious crack work, and vintage-conscious restoration.
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Today
Still at it
Thousands of instruments later — same promise. Your guitar, better than you left it.
Come say hello
Bring the guitar, the story, and the weird rattle you can’t quite describe. We’ll figure it out together.