🐝 BUZZING & RATTLING
"My guitar buzzes on certain frets"
Likely: Uneven frets (some higher than others)
Fix: Fret level, crown, and polish
"My guitar buzzes everywhere"
Likely: Neck relief issue (truss rod), action too low, or worn frets
Fix: Setup adjustment, possible fret level or refret
"Buzzing only on open strings"
Likely: Nut slots too deep or nut wearing out
Fix: Nut replacement (bone, TUSQ, etc.)
"Something is rattling inside my guitar"
Likely: Loose brace (acoustic), loose component, broken wire
Fix: Internal inspection and repair
"Buzzing from the bridge/tailpiece area"
Likely: Loose saddle screws, worn saddle, bridge issue
Fix: Bridge adjustment or replacement
😤 HARD TO PLAY / ACTION PROBLEMS
"Strings are too high / hard to press down"
Likely: Needs a setup — bridge height, nut height, neck relief
Fix: Professional setup (our most common service)
"Action is good in some spots but bad in others"
Likely: Uneven frets or neck warp/twist
Fix: Fret level or in severe cases, heat press / refret
"My guitar used to play great but now it doesn't"
Likely: Seasonal wood movement (humidity/temperature changes)
Fix: Setup adjustment — SD weather swings cause this constantly
"I want the lowest possible action without buzz"
Needs fret level + precision setup — this is the combo that transforms a guitar
Fix: Level, crown, polish + full setup — our specialty
🔊 SOUND PROBLEMS
"Dead notes / notes that choke out"
Likely: High fret at that position or worn fret
Fix: Fret level (spot or full) or refret
"Guitar sounds dull / lost its tone"
Likely: Old strings, worn frets, pickup height, electronics
Fix: Start with strings + setup, may need fretwork or pickup swap
"Guitar doesn't sustain like it used to"
Likely: Worn frets (flat spots), nut issues, or hardware loosening
Fix: Fret level or refret + setup
"Acoustic guitar sounds muffled or dead"
Likely: Loose brace, dried out wood, saddle/nut issue
Fix: Internal inspection, humidification, bone saddle/nut upgrade
🎵 TUNING / INTONATION PROBLEMS
"Guitar won't stay in tune"
Likely: Nut binding (strings stick), worn tuners, string stretch
Fix: Nut lubrication/replacement, tuner upgrade, proper stringing
"Chords sound out of tune even when tuned"
Likely: Intonation is off (saddle positions wrong)
Fix: Intonation setup at the bridge. Worn frets can also cause this.
"Tuning goes sharp/flat when using whammy bar"
Likely: Nut friction, spring tension, trem not returning to zero
Fix: Nut upgrade (GraphTech, roller), trem setup, spring adjustment
⚡ ELECTRONICS / PICKUP PROBLEMS
"Pickup cuts in and out"
Likely: Cold/cracked solder joint, loose wire
Fix: Resolder connections (our #1 electronics repair)
"Scratchy/crackling when turning knobs"
Likely: Dirty or worn potentiometer
Fix: Pot cleaning or replacement (CTS upgrade recommended)
"Loud hum / buzz from amp (not fret buzz)"
Likely: Grounding issue, unshielded cavity, single coil hum
Fix: Rewire, copper shielding, or pickup upgrade
"Pickup sounds weak or thin"
Likely: Pickup height too low, dying pickup, or wiring issue
Fix: Pickup height adjustment, or upgrade. We're dealers for Lollar, EMG, Fishman, TV Jones, L.R. Baggs, and more.
"Want to upgrade my pickups / electronics"
We supply + install: Full rewire, pickup swaps, coil splitting, kill switches, treble bleeds, custom wiring
💔 PHYSICAL DAMAGE
"Broken headstock"
Headstock reglue + reinforcement. Serious but fixable — we've repaired hundreds.
Fix: Structural glue, clamp, reinforce, finish touch-up
"Crack in the body or neck"
Stabilize, glue, clamp, finish touch-up. Acoustic top cracks are common in dry climates (SD!).
Fix: Crack stabilization and structural repair
"Stripped screw holes"
Common with strap buttons, pickguard screws, tuner screws
Fix: Fill, redrill, or insert threaded inserts
"Neck is warped / twisted"
Heat press (if mild), refret (if moderate), or neck replacement (if severe)
Fix: Depends on severity — bring it in for assessment