What Instruments Do We Work On?

We get asked this constantly: do you only work on guitars and basses? Acoustics only? Electrics only? The reality is no. The bench today makes the point better than a list would: a 36 bar autoharp, an old 70s mandolin and a baritone ukulele, sitting where the Strats usually go.

If it has strings, we have worked on it

Alongside the guitars and basses, the shop regularly sees banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, autoharps, sitars and lutes. The principles are the same everywhere: string height, neck relief, fretwork where there are frets, structural repairs where wood has moved, and electronics where someone has added them. What changes is the geometry and the touch, and twenty years of instruments through the door covers a lot of geometry.

What that experience gets you

More than 25,000 instruments since 2005 means your odd instrument probably is not odd to us. Have a look through the gallery and the before and after shots and you will spot plenty of things that are not guitars.

Common questions

Do you repair mandolins and banjos?

Yes, regularly. Setups, fretwork, structural repairs and electronics across mandolins, banjos and the whole family. They have been part of the shop’s work since 2005.

Can you set up a ukulele?

Yes. Ukes benefit from proper setups just like guitars do, and a well set up uke is a much easier instrument to learn on, which matters since so many of them belong to beginners.

What is the most unusual instrument you have worked on?

The bench has seen sitars, lutes, autoharps and plenty of things without a familiar name. If it has strings and frets, or strings and no frets, chances are something like it has been through the shop.

Do you work on orchestral strings like violins?

Best to call us at 403-253-9006 and ask about your specific instrument. If it is outside what we do, we will point you to the right person rather than guess at it.

Got something with strings that needs help?

Bring your instrument into the shop during opening hours, no appointment needed. Assessments are free and we can usually do them while you’re here, so you leave knowing exactly what it needs. Hours and directions are on the contact page.

For the odd bit of advice from the bench, join the Repair Bench mailing list and get $25 off your next repair or setup.