Services
Electric Guitar Setup, Repair & Mods
Electric guitars come in with all kinds of issues. Sometimes it is a straightforward setup. Sometimes it is fret buzz, tuning drift, scratchy controls, weak pickups, or a tremolo that never seems to come back to pitch. I work on Stratocasters, Telecasters, Les Pauls, SGs, offsets, semi-hollows, and boutique builds every week.
I am a Fender Certified Professional with more than 25 years of experience, and I start every appointment by playing the guitar and checking what is actually going on. Then I walk you through the options so you know what is worth doing and what is not.
Schedule an appointment or call or text (949) 533-0959 if you want to talk through your guitar before bringing it in.
Electric Guitar Services
Setup & Playability
String height at nut and saddle, neck relief, pickup height, intonation, and tremolo calibration (sync, Floyd Rose, Bigsby). A proper setup is the base of everything.
Fretwork
Fret level, crown, and polish for consistent action and clean bends across the whole neck. Full refrets in nickel or stainless steel. Fret end dressing for smooth feel.
Electronics & Wiring
Pickup installation (humbuckers, single coils, P90s, active systems), pot and switch replacement, output jack repair, cavity shielding for noise reduction, and custom wiring mods.
Structural Repairs
Headstock breaks, bridge work, finish cracks, and other structural issues handled with care. Preserves playability and value.Common Electric Guitar Problems
Fret buzz or dead spots
Usually caused by uneven frets, insufficient neck relief, or action that's too low. A setup or fret level fixes this in most cases without a full refret.
Tuning instability
Can stem from a poorly cut nut, worn tuning machines, bridge saddle issues, or string installation technique. I check all of these systematically.
Noisy electronics
Hum, crackle, and static often come from dry pots, a failing output jack, insufficient shielding, or a wiring issue. Most electronics problems can be diagnosed and fixed in a single appointment.
High action
Makes the guitar harder to play than it should be, especially above the 5th fret. Usually resolved with saddle adjustments, truss rod correction, and nut slot work.
Tremolo issues
A tremolo that goes out of tune, returns inconsistently, or sits at the wrong angle needs careful setup. Spring tension, saddle height, and pivot point all interact.
Pickup not balanced or sounds thin
Pickup height affects both volume and tone. A simple height adjustment can restore the balance between pickups without swapping anything.
Electric Guitar FAQ
What's included in a full electric guitar setup?
I check neck relief, nut slots, action, pickup height, intonation, and the overall feel of the guitar. If it has a tremolo, I set that up too.
Can you wire custom pickup configurations?
Yes. I install pickups from the major brands and handle coil splits, series and parallel switching, blender controls, and other custom wiring ideas all the time.
What's the difference between a fret level and a refret?
A fret level works when the frets still have enough life left in them. A refret is the better move when they are too worn down or you want to change fret material.
Do you work on vintage guitars?
Yes. I take a careful approach, explain the tradeoffs, and make sure you understand what is reversible and what is not before I do anything.