Repair pricing looks inconsistent from the outside because it's driven by the actual scope of the work, not the instrument's sticker price. Here's what typically drives cost in each instrument family, so you can judge a quote instead of just comparing numbers.
Guitar and Bass
A “setup” is the most common guitar repair request, but the term covers a range of work: nut slotting, action adjustment, intonation, truss rod correction, and electronics cleaning can all be bundled in or billed separately depending on the shop.
| Service | Typical scope | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Basic setup | Action, intonation, truss rod check, string change | Neck condition, number of strings, hardware type |
| Fret level, crown & polish | Restores worn frets to a uniform, domed profile | Fret count, wear severity, fretboard material |
| Refret | Full replacement of all frets | Fret wire choice, binding, fretboard condition |
| Electronics work | Pickup swaps, wiring, pot/jack replacement | Wiring complexity, part quality, shielding needs |
Woodwinds
Woodwind pricing scales with how many pads need attention and whether the mechanism itself needs work beyond the pads.
| Service | Typical scope | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Clean, oil & adjust | Disassembly, cleaning, re-oiling, pad leveling, key regulation | Instrument size, current mechanical condition |
| Repad | Replacement of worn or leaking pads | Number of pads, pad quality, key count |
| Overhaul | Full mechanical restoration, all perishables replaced | Instrument age, corrosion, prior neglect |
Strings
Orchestral string instrument work is priced around precision and risk rather than time alone — a soundpost adjustment takes minutes but requires exact placement, and a bridge or crack repair carries real consequences if done poorly.
| Service | Typical scope | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Soundpost adjustment | Repositioning for tone and fit | Access difficulty, whether a new post is needed |
| Bridge work | Carving, fitting, or replacing the bridge | Bridge blank quality, instrument-specific fitting |
| Bow rehair | Replacing worn bow hair | Hair quality (horsehair grade), bow condition |
| Crack or seam repair | Rejoining separated plates or repairing cracks | Crack length/location, varnish matching, structural risk |
Piano
Piano service is often confused as a single category, but tuning, regulation, and rebuilding are different jobs with very different price points.
| Service | Typical scope | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Tuning | Pitch correction across all strings | How far the piano is from standard pitch, tuning stability |
| Regulation | Adjusting action geometry for consistent touch | Number of adjustment points out of spec, action type |
| Rebuilding | Replacing action parts, strings, or soundboard work | Scope of parts replaced, piano size and age |
How to Read a Quote
A fair quote names the specific work, not just a category — “level, crown, and polish six worn frets” is a real quote; “fret work” is not. It states what's excluded as clearly as what's included, and it leaves room for the technician to come back to you if they find something unexpected once the instrument is open. A quote that's dramatically below every other estimate you've gotten is usually skipping a step somewhere — ask what, specifically, before you decide based on price alone.
Every price range above is illustrative, not a quote. Actual pricing depends on the shop, the region, and the instrument's condition — a written estimate from a specific technician after they've seen the instrument is the only real answer.
Compare listed shops by service and location in our instrument repair shop directory.