Repairs
Norman’s has been repairing guitars in the San Fernando Valley since 1975. The same hands that have handled some of the rarest instruments in the world are here for your guitar too. Whether it needs a quick setup or a full structural restoration, we treat every instrument with the same care.
Norman’s has been repairing guitars in the San Fernando Valley since 1975. The same hands that have handled some of the rarest instruments in the world are here for your guitar too. Whether it needs a quick setup or a full structural restoration, we treat every instrument with the same care.
Not Just Any Guitar Shop. A Guitar Institution.
There is no shortage of guitar repair shops in Los Angeles. What is rare is finding one where the technician has spent decades working on pre-war Martins, vintage Fenders, and collectible Gibsons and genuinely knows the difference between a repair that preserves value and one that destroys it.
At Norman’s, our repair team has that knowledge. We specialise in vintage and high-value instruments, use era-correct materials wherever possible, and approach every job with one goal: keeping your guitar exactly what it is, just playing better.
Proof points:
- 50 Years of Expertise: Repairing guitars in Tarzana since 1975, trusted by collectors and touring professionals alike.
- Vintage Specialists: Pre-1980 instruments handled with era-correct materials and methods.
- Trusted by the Famous: Norman’s has been the go-to repair destination for LA’s music community for generations.
- Walk-Ins Welcome: No appointment needed for estimates and most repairs.
Everything Your Guitar Could Need.
From a routine setup to a full structural restoration, our technicians handle the complete range of guitar repair work. For custom or highly specialised jobs, contact us for a quote.
Fretwork & Playability
- Fret Level, Crown & Polish – $200
(+ $150 Stainless Steel) - Full Fret Replacement:
- Rosewood/Ebony – $500
- Rosewood/Ebony with Binding – $600
- Maple/Lacquered – $600
($750 if board needs refinishing) - Compression Fret (non-truss rod) – $700
(+$100 bound fretboards) - + $100 for Stainless Steel Frets
Bridge Work
- Bridge Lift & Re-glue – $325
(includes new saddle) - Acoustic Bridge Replacement:
- Standard Martin/Gibson – $550
- Gibson Mustache/Custom – Contact for quote
- Acoustic Bridge Plate Replacement – $350
- Acoustic Bridge Plate Plug & Redrill – $200
- + $100 for Brazilian Rosewood
- New Saddle – $125 (+ setup)
Electronics & Pickups
- Acoustic Pickup Install – $150
- Electric Pickup Install – $150
(+ $50 for Hollow/Semi-hollow) - Electric Pickup Re-wind – $125 per coil
($250 for humbucker) - Pot Replacement: Solid Body – $65
(Hollow/Semi-hollow – $100) - Switch Replacement – $75
(+$50 for hollow/semi-hollow)
Structural Repairs
- Acoustic Neck Reset
- Base Price – $1,050
- Gibson style/finished over + $200
- Maple Heel + $300
- New saddle and finish touchup included
- All neck resets require at least a fret level; most require a refret due to neck shift – not included, see prices below
- Base Price – $1,050
- Headstock/Neck Breaks
- Level 1 – $850
(standard repair, finish touch-up) - Level 2 – $1,250
(carbon fiber reinforcement, finish touch-up)
- Level 1 – $850
- Body Cracks (Standard Acoustic)
- per crack (3–4 inch max) – $125
- per additional 4 inches – $100 for extended cracks
Cosmetic & Binding Work
- Binding Re-glue – $25 per inch
- Reserved for small pieces or loose sections that can be easily reglued. Contact for quote on more complex repairs
- NOTE: We do not repair Gretsch binding if it has rotted or decomposed due to the nature of celluloid
- Body Binding Removal & Re-glue – $250 per section
(includes finish touch-up)
Setups & Other Services
- Basic Guitar/Bass Setup – $125
- Floyd Rose/Kahler Setup – $185
- 12-String Setup – $200
- Classical/Slotted Headstock Setup – $150
- Bone Nut – $125
(+ setup) - Tuner Swap – $45 per set
(+ cost of tuners) - Tuner Conversion – $100 per set
(+ cost of tuners) - Strap Button Install – $20
Simple. Straightforward. No Surprises.
Tell Us What's Going On
Fill out the form, call, email, or walk in. Describe the issue and we’ll give you a estimate.
Drop It Off
Bring your guitar to our Tarzana store during opening hours. Shipping options available for non-local customers.
We Get to Work
Our technicians carry out the repair and keep you updated. No work starts without your sign-off on the quote.
Pick It Up Playing Right
Come collect your guitar or arrange return shipping, fully insured.
Ready to Get Your Guitar Fixed?
Walk-ins are always welcome. Bring your guitar in during store hours and one of our technicians will take a look at no charge. For major vintage restoration work, we may set a dedicated assessment appointment to give your instrument the time it deserves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Repairs
Pretty much everything. Setups and restrings, fret levelling and refrets, neck resets, headstock repairs, bridge work, electronics. If it has strings and frets, we can almost certainly help. We specialise in vintage and pre-1980 instruments but work on all guitars.
No. Walk-ins are always welcome. Just bring your guitar in during store hours and we’ll take a look. For major restoration projects or vintage instruments needing a detailed assessment, we may book a dedicated appointment with our senior technician.
A standard setup is usually ready within a week. More involved work such as neck resets, refrets, and structural repairs takes longer depending on our queue. We’ll give you an honest timeline at drop-off and update you if anything changes.
We’ll give you a clear quote before starting any work. Our pricing is listed on this page, but every guitar is different. We’ll walk you through exactly what your instrument needs and what it will cost before we touch it.
Quick visual estimates are always free. If a deeper inspection is needed, we’ll let you know before doing anything.
This is what we were built for. Norman’s has been handling vintage instruments since 1975 and our team uses era-correct materials and methods wherever possible. Pre-war acoustics, vintage Fenders, vintage Gibsons. This is our wheelhouse.
Yes. Guitars, basses, mandolins, banjos, and most fretted instruments. Get in touch and we’ll let you know if we can help.
If you have a gig or a tour coming up, let us know. We’ll do our best to accommodate urgent jobs. Rush repairs may carry an additional fee.
We can give ballpark figures, but the most accurate quote always comes after we see the guitar in person. Every instrument tells a different story, and we like to hear it firsthand.
We take all major cards, cash, and Apple Pay. Repairs are paid at pickup, and we’ll always give you an itemized invoice for your records.
Visiting the Store
We are open Tuesdays – Saturdays from 11:00am-6:00pm. We are closed on certain holidays, so check out our Instagram and Facebook page for updates on special closures.