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All of the repairs I've done to date have been based on a rough estimate of time and materials. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't. I think it's time for me to put together a price list of the repairs that I have the tooling and experience to provide. I would appreciate it if anyone would be willing to share their guitar repair price list (PM for my email if you don't want to share it on the forum) so I can get an idea of where I need to be, especially on setups, refrets, new nuts/saddles and so on. I will use the information to generate my own price list. Thanks!

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Not sure how accurate or up to date this is,

http://www.guitarrepairshop.com/blu.html

Chuck

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Thanks Chuck, that's very helpful. The site says it was updated in 2014 so it's not too old.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I suppose a better question would have been: Is there anything out there that is standardized? I suppose there is no luthiery flat-rate manual

Based on the prices I have found on the internet from various repair shops (I've tried to pick the one's with legitimate store fronts) there is a lot of variation and it doesn't always track with the region. So I've put together a price list for the limited services I'm willing to offer.

I have to say that some of the information printed on some of these websites was very "interesting" to say the least. Lots of myths being perpetuated out there.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

I found what works best for me a long time ago and that was to simply just charge an hourly rate. Sometimes I would get in a guitar for a setup and all it needed was a new set of strings and a tweaked truss rod and it didn't seem right to charge a whole set up fee. Then other times I'd get one in that turned out to be a nightmare of trouble shooting that took hours more then a normal set up. So even for neck resets and restoration work I try to just give a reasonable estimate based on my time with the caveat that I charge by the hour. I picked my hourly rate based on cost of living and my experience level and so far no one seems to complain. Helps that I live in a low cost of living area.

Kevin, thanks for the link, those prices are in the ballpark of what I was looking at. Obviously, I'm not going to get into consults or appraisals though.



That makes sense and I have no desire to charge a lot for something I can do in 30 minutes. I have already set up an hourly shop rate (I also live in a relatively low cost of living area).

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I find the economics of the trade fascinating. Clearly charging a flat rate for something like a neck-reset is problematic. You either build headroom for yourself into the price and make those with easily-servicable instruments subsidise those with basket-cases, or you choose to lose your shirt on occasional jobs. Neither seem to be attractive options.

Everyone I know in the business operates on the hourly rate for bench-time suggested above, and uses their hard-won experience to get close on estimates once they have the actual instrument in-hand.