Guitar Repairs Melbourne

Professional Guitar Repairs & Servicing in South Melbourne

Is your guitar buzzing, difficult to play, refusing to stay in tune or simply not feeling the way it should?

Colemans Music offers professional guitar repairs, setups and servicing from our South Melbourne store. From a straightforward restring through to fret work, electronics repairs and complete guitar setups, we provide practical advice and honest service from people who work with guitars every day.

We service electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, mandolins and ukuleles. No complicated booking system and no unnecessary work—just experienced help to get your instrument playing properly again. 

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Guitar Repair Services

Professional Guitar Setups

A proper guitar setup can completely change how an instrument feels.

Our guitar setups are designed to improve playability, tuning stability and intonation. Depending on the instrument and what it needs, a setup may include:

• Truss rod and neck relief adjustment
• String action adjustment
• Intonation adjustment
• Pickup height adjustment
• Nut and saddle inspection
• Tremolo and bridge adjustment
• Tuning and general playability check
• Hardware and electronics inspection

Whether you have recently purchased a guitar, changed string gauges or noticed that your instrument is becoming harder to play, a professional setup can help bring it back into shape.

Typical setup turnaround is approximately 7–10 days, depending on the work required and current workshop demand.

Guitar Restringing

Yes, we do guitar restrings—and it is one of our most requested services.

Our restring service includes:

• Removal of the old strings
• Installation of your chosen new strings
• Fretboard clean
• Tuning
• A general check-over of the instrument

Restrings are often completed on the same day and may take approximately 1–2 hours, depending on workload and the type of instrument. Restring labour is currently $45 plus the cost of strings.

Fret Dressing and Refrets

Worn, uneven or damaged frets can cause buzzing, dead notes and inconsistent action.

Our fret services include fret levelling, dressing and polishing to help restore smooth playability across the neck. For instruments with heavily worn frets, a complete refret may be recommended.

We will inspect the fret condition before work begins and explain the most suitable option for your instrument.

Guitar Pickup Installation

Changing pickups can give your guitar a completely different voice, but correct installation is essential.

We can install replacement pickups in electric guitars and check the surrounding wiring, switches and controls. Whether you are replacing a faulty pickup or upgrading the sound of your instrument, our team can help make sure everything is installed and working correctly.

Guitar Electronics Repairs

Crackling controls, unreliable switches, loose output jacks and faulty wiring can make an otherwise good guitar frustrating to use.

Our common electronics services include:

• Pickup installation
• Potentiometer replacement
• Pickup selector switch replacement
• Output jack repairs
• Wiring fault diagnosis
• Complete guitar rewiring
• General electronics checks

Parts are charged separately where required.

Nut and Saddle Work

The nut and saddle have a major effect on tuning stability, string height and overall playability.

We can inspect and adjust nut slots, saddles and related hardware to help correct issues such as high action, tuning problems or uneven string height.

Acoustic Guitar and Bass Servicing

Our servicing is not limited to standard electric guitars.

We also work on:

• Acoustic guitars
• Electric bass guitars
• Acoustic bass guitars
• Mandolins
• Ukuleles

Bring your instrument into our South Melbourne store and we will assess what it needs before any work begins.

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Guitar Repair Price Guide

The following prices provide a general guide for common guitar repair and servicing jobs.

Prices may vary depending on the instrument, its condition, the parts required and the complexity of the work. We will assess your instrument and provide a clearer indication of cost before proceeding.

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Experienced Guitar Servicing

Our in-store technician Hayden brings extensive guitar repair experience to the bench, including experience running his own workshop, The Guitar Mechanic.

That background provides an understanding of guitars from both a player’s and repairer’s perspective. The aim is not simply to adjust measurements—it is to make the instrument feel comfortable, reliable and enjoyable to play.

Whether it is a beginner guitar that needs its first setup, a dependable gigging instrument that has started developing problems or a favourite older guitar that needs attention, every instrument is assessed on what it actually needs.

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Honest Advice Before Work Begins

Not every problem requires a major repair.

Sometimes a guitar only needs new strings, a small adjustment or a loose component tightened. In other situations, fret work, replacement parts or more extensive servicing may be required.

We will inspect the instrument, discuss the available options and give you an indication of pricing and turnaround time before the work begins.

For complex structural repairs, including major headstock breaks or finish damage, we may recommend or arrange work through one of our trusted specialist repair partners.

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No Booking Required

You do not need to make an appointment to bring your guitar into Colemans Music.

Visit our South Melbourne store with your instrument and our team will take an initial look. In most cases, the guitar will need to remain with us while the servicing is completed.

If you are unsure what is wrong, that is completely fine. Tell us what you have noticed—buzzing, high action, tuning problems, crackling controls, dead notes or anything else—and we will help identify the likely cause.

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When Does a Guitar Need a Service?

Your guitar may benefit from professional servicing if:

• The strings feel unusually high or difficult to press
• Notes buzz in certain areas of the neck
• The guitar will not stay in tune
• Chords sound out of tune higher up the neck
• The volume or tone controls crackle
• The pickup selector cuts in and out
• The output jack feels loose
• The tremolo does not return to pitch
• The frets feel rough or uneven
• You have changed string gauge
• The instrument has not been played for a long time
• A new guitar does not feel comfortable out of the box

Small changes in temperature, humidity, string tension and regular use can affect how a guitar plays. A setup or service can often correct these issues without the need for extensive repairs.

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New, Preloved and Vintage Guitars Welcome

We work on instruments at every stage of their playing life.

That includes affordable beginner guitars, professional instruments, heavily played gigging guitars and older preloved instruments that need some attention before returning to regular use.

You do not need to have purchased the guitar from Colemans Music. Bring it into the store and we will assess it on its condition and the work required.

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Guitar Repairs Near Melbourne CBD

Colemans Music is located at 266 Coventry Street, South Melbourne, close to Melbourne CBD, Southbank, Port Melbourne, Albert Park and surrounding inner-Melbourne suburbs.

Our South Melbourne showroom is also stocked with guitar strings, pickups, electronics, nuts, saddles, machine heads and other guitar parts that may be required during servicing.

Colemans Music
266 Coventry Street
South Melbourne VIC 3205
Phone: 03 9654 5115

Suggested buttons:

Call 03 9654 5115
Get Directions to Colemans Music

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Guitar Repair FAQs

How much does a guitar setup cost in Melbourne?

Standard guitar and bass setups at Colemans Music currently start from $45. The final price depends on the instrument, its condition and whether strings, parts or additional repair work are required.

Do I need to book a guitar repair?

No. You can bring your instrument directly into our South Melbourne store for an initial assessment. More involved work will generally require the instrument to remain with us.

How long does a guitar setup take?

Our usual setup turnaround is approximately 7–10 days, although this can vary depending on workshop demand and the work required.

Can you restring my guitar on the same day?

Restrings are generally completed on the same day and commonly take around 1–2 hours, depending on workload and instrument type. Contact the store before travelling if you need the guitar completed by a particular time.

Do you repair acoustic guitars?

Yes. We provide acoustic guitar setups, restrings, fret work, nut and saddle adjustments and general servicing.

Do you service bass guitars?

Yes. We service electric and acoustic bass guitars, including restrings, setups and common playability adjustments.

Can you install new guitar pickups?

Yes. We install replacement electric-guitar pickups and can also inspect switches, controls and associated wiring.

Can you fix crackling guitar controls?

In many cases, yes. Crackling or intermittent controls may be caused by worn pots, dirty components, loose connections or wiring faults. We will inspect the electronics and recommend the appropriate repair.

Can you repair a broken guitar headstock?

Major headstock breaks and other complex structural repairs may be referred to one of our trusted specialist repair partners after an initial assessment.

Should a brand-new guitar be professionally set up?

It can be worthwhile. Factory setups are designed to suit general playing conditions, but every player has different preferences for action, string gauge and feel. Transport and Melbourne’s changing conditions can also affect neck relief and tuning stability.

Do I need to supply my own strings?

You can bring your preferred strings or choose from the range available in-store. The cost of strings is additional to restring and setup labour.

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Get Your Guitar Playing Properly Again

A guitar that feels right is easier to play, more reliable and far more enjoyable.

Whether you need a quick restring, a professional setup, new pickups, fret work or help diagnosing a problem, bring your instrument into Colemans Music in South Melbourne.

We will take a look, explain what it needs and help get it back into playing condition.

Suggested final buttons:

Visit Our South Melbourne Store
Call Our Guitar Team – 03 9654 5115