Rob DiStefano
Doctor of Teleocity
(link removed)
Repair cost estimate ala Dan Erlewine - interesting (to me, at least)
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maestrovert
Poster Extraordinaire
Thanx Rob !
It's always interesting to see Dan Erlewine's take on things, his Guitar Player Repair Guide get a lot of use 'round my place...
It's always interesting to see Dan Erlewine's take on things, his Guitar Player Repair Guide get a lot of use 'round my place...
B Valley
Tele-Afflicted
Reminds me how easy it is to overlook something initially and either have to go back and give the customer a different price, or end up eating part of a repair. Sometimes folks are understanding and sometimes they're not.
The worst part is telling someone their $400.00 guitar needs $500.00 worth of repairs.
The worst part is telling someone their $400.00 guitar needs $500.00 worth of repairs.
Rob DiStefano
Doctor of Teleocity
Exactly.
Methinks Dan's fees reflects his notoriety.
Using the neck jig is a bit more time consuming (I've found), and limiting for refrets in that the wire needs to be pressed in, can't be banged in ... but still, $325 for a rosewood bound board? I need to jack up my prices a bunch ...
Daddydex
Friend of Leo's
Exactly.
Methinks Dan's fees reflects his notoriety.
Using the neck jig is a bit more time consuming (I've found), and limiting for refrets in that the wire needs to be pressed in, can't be banged in ... but still, $325 for a rosewood bound board? I need to jack up my prices a bunch ...
For a minute I thought you were advocating these prices. Whew....
I don't think there is a place for that kind of repair work in my world. My Les Paul needs fret work but at those prices I would go out and by an Epi and leave my Gibson on the wall looking pretty.
Dan
Whoa nelly... Do people actually pay that kind of money for guitar work??
I may have to go into business for myself. I've been doing work on guitars for years. I'll get a phone call, and say "sure, bring it over, and spring for the pizza and beer". No wonder I never get haggled with.
I may have to go into business for myself. I've been doing work on guitars for years. I'll get a phone call, and say "sure, bring it over, and spring for the pizza and beer". No wonder I never get haggled with.
No matter what your name is , some of those prices are a little high .
$325 + $11.67 + $6 = $342.67 for a refret and $75 + $5.05 = $80.05 for a bone nut ? Is he for real ?
In the UK , the same would cost about £100 and £25 , and our prices normally reflect a straight swap , i.e £100 v $100 .
Surely you guys aren't paying those prices over the pond
$325 + $11.67 + $6 = $342.67 for a refret and $75 + $5.05 = $80.05 for a bone nut ? Is he for real ?
In the UK , the same would cost about £100 and £25 , and our prices normally reflect a straight swap , i.e £100 v $100 .
Surely you guys aren't paying those prices over the pond
Rob DiStefano
Doctor of Teleocity
I think it's a case of - "Methinks Dan's fees reflects his notoriety."
What's the average non bound refret cost over your side Rob ?
1293
Doctor of Teleocity
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He may likely charge even more than those prices. Did you notice how he prefaced the price chart?
"These figures give a good idea of charges at a well-established, but not high-end, shop:"
I use Joe Glaser for any repair or mod that is out of my league... or that I'm just too lazy to do... that is, if I have the extra money for it.
I've found out over the years that I should not assume ANYTHING is done free of charge, and that some things (like strings) cost much more in Joe's shop than I get them for at the big box.
So I always include strings in the bag or case when I carry a guitar to Joe... even if I don't think he'll need to remove the old ones. There have been times that I thought the old ones did not need to be removed for a repair (like.. to the input jack or something).. but Joe felt that he needed to get under a pickguard or something... and removed the old strings, put new ones on... charge me for the new ones...PLUS charged me for installing the new ones.
I've also been charged for things like "adjusting the tremolo" on a Strat... when I took a guitar in for a refret. I'm like..."of course you have to adjust a bridge when you do a refret... why are you charging me for a refret, and adjusting the bridge? Shouldn't it all fall under the refret charge?"
So now I'm very specific with Joe. Refret, crown and polish the frets - and that's it. Don't install strings. And don't do a set up. I can install strings, and I'm probably going to re-adjust things several times myself over the next week or so of getting used to the new frets... so why pay for him to do it the first time? ...especially when I'm really good at a basic setup on my own guitars.
But hey - I like Joe a lot, and he's one of the best there is. I'm thankful that I have local access to him, and the guy's got to make a living. His reputation (just like Dan's) allows him to charge a premium. I'll guarantee you - there are plenty of hacks around here. So I'm not begrudging Joe his ability to charge what he feels is a fair price. Plus - there have been a few times when I had to carry something back to him the day after I picked it up... and he stopped what he was doing and "fixed his repair" immediately.
I've found out over the years that I should not assume ANYTHING is done free of charge, and that some things (like strings) cost much more in Joe's shop than I get them for at the big box.
So I always include strings in the bag or case when I carry a guitar to Joe... even if I don't think he'll need to remove the old ones. There have been times that I thought the old ones did not need to be removed for a repair (like.. to the input jack or something).. but Joe felt that he needed to get under a pickguard or something... and removed the old strings, put new ones on... charge me for the new ones...PLUS charged me for installing the new ones.
I've also been charged for things like "adjusting the tremolo" on a Strat... when I took a guitar in for a refret. I'm like..."of course you have to adjust a bridge when you do a refret... why are you charging me for a refret, and adjusting the bridge? Shouldn't it all fall under the refret charge?"
So now I'm very specific with Joe. Refret, crown and polish the frets - and that's it. Don't install strings. And don't do a set up. I can install strings, and I'm probably going to re-adjust things several times myself over the next week or so of getting used to the new frets... so why pay for him to do it the first time? ...especially when I'm really good at a basic setup on my own guitars.
But hey - I like Joe a lot, and he's one of the best there is. I'm thankful that I have local access to him, and the guy's got to make a living. His reputation (just like Dan's) allows him to charge a premium. I'll guarantee you - there are plenty of hacks around here. So I'm not begrudging Joe his ability to charge what he feels is a fair price. Plus - there have been a few times when I had to carry something back to him the day after I picked it up... and he stopped what he was doing and "fixed his repair" immediately.
That is high.
I can get a retret, new nut + a PLEK at Glaser's for less than that.
And that's another thing. I always order my parts, and carry them with me. I never ask Joe to provide a new nut blank. I order it from Stew Mac, and include it a zip lock, rubber banded around the neck, when I carry it in for the repair.
BAW4742
Tele-Afflicted
I got a price guide from another site a few months ago.
Their estimated price for a refret, level and crown on an unbound fretboard was $340. New bone nut for 6-string was $120. Setup for 6 string electric was $85.
These prices sound like they are in line with Erlewine's. Since I do all of my own work these prices sounded high to me too. Maybe I need to start doing setups for hire but that would probably take the fun out of it.
Their estimated price for a refret, level and crown on an unbound fretboard was $340. New bone nut for 6-string was $120. Setup for 6 string electric was $85.
These prices sound like they are in line with Erlewine's. Since I do all of my own work these prices sounded high to me too. Maybe I need to start doing setups for hire but that would probably take the fun out of it.
See that line under "Parts" labeled "Supplies (sand paper, glue, steel wool, solvent/cleaner)...
That's a "bogus" charge in my book. Glaser does it too, and I've asked them to remove it in the past. All of that should be covered in the charge for the refret. You don't take your car in for a new wind shield and get a line item charge for the black sealant/glue they used to secure it in place, or the cleaner they use on it after it's been installed. Nope... it's all included in the price for new windshield.
You can't install a wind shield without using that black sealant, and you can't refret a guitar without using glue. It's part of the cost of the labor involved, in my opinion, and to me, that's charging twice for it.
Next there will be a line item charge for the paper that the receipt is printed on.
tboy
Friend of Leo's
DE just keeping his shop fees in line with what Stew Mac charges for parts. In a word, outrageous.
Looks like about a hundred an hour. Or in music terms, a C note. Who needs law school?
Looks like about a hundred an hour. Or in music terms, a C note. Who needs law school?
jhundt
Doctor of Teleocity
When I give an estimate for painting a house, I include all (foreseen) costs in the estimate. IF I am working on a time & materials basis, I always add a charge for "sundries", patching materials, masking and sanding supplies, other things that I keep in my truck. I guess he's doing a little bit of both systems....
I agree, if you say "a fret job costs 200 bucks, frets included" then you probably shouldn't charge extra for the supplies that you use in performing the fret job.
I agree, if you say "a fret job costs 200 bucks, frets included" then you probably shouldn't charge extra for the supplies that you use in performing the fret job.
Rob DiStefano
Doctor of Teleocity
You have a PM ...
tiktok
Poster Extraordinaire
That re-fret charge sounds like the going rate for a well-established shop in a major city, in my experience. $70-100/hour doesn't seem outlandish for skilled labor.
I've had cheaper fret-jobs, for a lower price. They were not worth it.
I've had cheaper fret-jobs, for a lower price. They were not worth it.
This all just goes back to the age old "what's it worth" argument...and the answer is the same...it's worth whatever someone will pay for it.
In Dan's case, he commands those rates because of his longevity, relationships, and stellar reputation in that business. Trust me, ANYONE who is in business had better be making it his business to find out exactly what his market will bear and adjust pricing to that. To leave money on the table is foolish. If you're overpricing your goods/services, you'll find out pretty quickly...folks won't buy.
In Dan's case, he commands those rates because of his longevity, relationships, and stellar reputation in that business. Trust me, ANYONE who is in business had better be making it his business to find out exactly what his market will bear and adjust pricing to that. To leave money on the table is foolish. If you're overpricing your goods/services, you'll find out pretty quickly...folks won't buy.
Steve McGinnis
Tele-Afflicted
Why the grief?
Guitar repair is not a commodity. He charges what he thinks his time and talent is worth. The market will decide if he is high or low depending on his reputation.
Fender Custom Shop Tele's cost 5 times what a decent usable Fender tele would cost. IF someone wants an Erlewine fret job on their baby, it's their business.
Now if you tell me he is shipping them to a sub contractor that is doing a terrible job....
Guitar repair is not a commodity. He charges what he thinks his time and talent is worth. The market will decide if he is high or low depending on his reputation.
Fender Custom Shop Tele's cost 5 times what a decent usable Fender tele would cost. IF someone wants an Erlewine fret job on their baby, it's their business.
Now if you tell me he is shipping them to a sub contractor that is doing a terrible job....
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