Fast & Affordable Repairs in Emerald, VIC Australia!
Turn-around time for most services is within 7 days; same day/next day service is often possible.
Appointments available Mon-Weds 11-7pm, call Jon on 0490 189 765
Why Come To Me?
There's several reasons why I am able to offer high-quality repairs at such reasonable prices:
Coming directly to the workshop means you avoid paying any middle-man's commission fee.
Working from a home workshop means I have low overhead costs: I pass this saving on to you.
With over 20 years' professional experience, my techniques have become increasingly time-efficient and highly-refined.
I also have the additional luxury of working off-the-clock until a job is right, to the satisfaction of my own standards, and therefore yours.
Clients include:
Leo Abrahams (Brian Eno / Paolo Nutini / Regina Spektor etc) - Aigie March - Bo Ningen - Boom Crash Opera - Lewis Boyes (Adalita / Jen Cloher) - Brand New Heavies - Cardiacs - Deirdre Cartwright (BBC TV's Rockschool) - Cathedral - Chrome Hoof - Cornershop - Country Teasers - The Dandy Warhols - Johnny Depp - Dodgy - The Drones - Drugstore - The Duke Spirit - Terry Edwards (PJ Harvey / Spiritualized / Tindersticks / Robyn Hitchcock etc.) - Matthew Fagan - Th' Faith Healers - FOALS - Galliano - Roger Glover (Deep Purple) - Gong - Dave Graney (The Moodists / Coral Snakes / MistLY etc) - HTRK - Mick Harvey (PJ Harvey, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Birthday Party) - Howling Bells - Jandek - James Johnston (PJ Harvey / Faust / Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds etc.) - Malcolm Joseph (Grace Jones / Massive Attack / Neneh Cherry / Soul II Soul / Roxy Music etc.) - Lydia Lunch - Mark Bedford (Madness) - Magic Numbers - Ben Mandelson (Magazine / 3 Mustaphas 3) - Laura Marling - The Masonics - Bill McDonald (Frente! / Paul Kelly / Stephen Cummings) - Thee Milkshakes - My Bloody Valentine - The Naked And Famous - Noah And The Whale - Pseudo Echo - Hugo Race & The True Spirit - Vince Ray - Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse / Lady Gaga / Queens Of The Stone Age etc.) - Raul Sanchez (Magic Dirt / River of Snakes) - Ty Segall - Silverfish - Sonic Youth - Bob Spencer (The Angels / Skyhooks) - Jon Spencer (Blues Explosion / Heavy Trash) - Spirogyra - Stereolab - Stu Thomas (Kim Salmon & The Surrealists / Dave Graney 'n' the Coral Snakes) - TISM - Mick Turner (Dirty Three / Moodists) - Martha Wainwright - Matt Walker - Steve Williams (John Farnham band) - and many more!
For any enquiries please call Jon on 0490 189 765 or email: info@blackguitars.com
PRICE GUIDE:
Electrical Service
Get those annoying crackles and hums fixed!
from $40+ (semi-acoustic add $40)
I test that the wiring, components, and screening are all hooked-up and functioning correctly, and can remake any faulty solder joints. I will also test and clean and/or lubricate mechanical switches and volume/tone controls with specialist electrical servicing solvents. Failed components can be replaced during the service for the cost of the parts (subject to customer approval).
Re-String & Light Service
Best Value for Students/Beginners!
Guitar/Bass $60 - 12-String $75
This service includes having the fingerboard cleaned and oiled, frets-dressed and polished, and the instrument fully re-stringed with a new, matched set of your choice of strings. I stock a wide range of d'Addario Guitar Strings at $20 per set, or you may supply your own. Before being returned to you, I will also tweak the truss-rod, ensure all hardware is tightened, and give the body a final polish.
Full Set-Up
Pro-Level Optimisation of your Instrument...
Electric Instrument $125 - True Acoustic Instrument $100
This package includes all of the features of the Re-String & Light Service plus Electrical Service as listed above, plus additional bridge, saddle height and truss-rod adjustment, plus nut optimisation with the nut slots being re-profiled using gauged needle-files. The tuning pegs will be serviced and lubricated, plus pick-up and individual polepiece heights will be set and finally the bridge saddles adjusted for super-accurate intonation.
Why Does A Guitar Need To Be Set Up?
Fret-Levelling plus Full Set-Up
Are certain fret-positions buzzing or not sounding? Heavy play can slowly wear pits in your fret-tops...
Guitar/Bass $275
includes all of the Full Set-Up services as listed above, plus... Fretboard is closely inspected, and any loose 'sprung' frets are carefully re-seated. Fret-tops are levelled until all fret-wear has been removed, and no high frets or dead spots remain. Each fret is then individually re-crowned to a fine point to ensure clarity of tone and accurate intonation, before final hand-polishing to a silky smooth finish.
Structural Repairs
Acoustic Bridgeplate Reglue - $150
Headstock Break - from $150 (respray not included)
Crack or Split Repairs - from $60 each
New Nut or Saddle - Hand-fitted from pre-cut man-made blank $60 - Custom carved from natural Bone blank $120
Re-Fret - Rosewood $400 (Maple, bound, or set-neck add $100 each)
Hardware Upgrades & Custom Work
Bigsby Tremolo Installation - $60+
Custom Binding and Inlays - Call for a quote
Custom Pickguards/Scratchplates - $120+
Tuner/Machine Head Replacement - $60 (direct drop in)
Pickup Installation
Acoustic Piezo Undersaddle - $100+
Solid-body - 1 for $60 - 2 for $100 - 3 for $125
Archtop/Semi-Acoustic - 1 for $75 - 2 for $100
Pickguard Modification / Body Routing - $50+ per area
FOALS' Travis Bean with damaged fingerboard, before...
...and after restoration
Custom Work
Aluminium Bridge made for Bob Spencer's custom solid-body
Hand-Carved Height-Adjustable bridges made to order - from $150
Custom-veneered celluloid pickguard for Anthony's Firebird
Custom Pickguards/Scratchplates - from $100
See more Pickguards I have made
Custom Binding and Inlays - Call for a quote
See an example of my inlay work
Fender Jaguar Switch-Lock, designed for James Johnston (PJ Harvey, Lydia Lunch etc)
See some of my other Custom Solutions
How To Find Me:
Call Jon on 0490 189 765
or email: info@blackguitars.com
Repairs to Other Stringed Instruments?
I also undertake repairs on Auto-Harps, Zithers, Double Basses, Violins, Violas, Cellos etc!
Autoharp Restored 2011
Zither Restored 2007
Double Bass Repaired 2008