Guitar Service in Tampere – Professional Guitar & Bass Repair
Guitar and bass service at our workshop in Härmälä, Tampere
A well-set-up guitar simply feels right. The action is comfortable, the neck behaves as it should, the intonation is accurate and the instrument stays in tune. When everything works properly, you hardly need to think about the guitar at all. You can just play.
The need for a service often becomes obvious only when something starts getting in the way. The strings begin to buzz, the guitar feels harder to play than it used to, tuning becomes unstable or bends choke out higher up the neck. A pot starts crackling, the output jack cuts out or sharp fret ends begin to catch your hand.
These are all common problems, and many of them can be solved with the right setup or repair.
GAS Guitarworks provides professional guitar and bass service and repair at our workshop in Härmälä, Tampere, backed by more than 30 years of experience in instrument building and woodworking.
- Electric guitars, acoustic guitars and basses
- All brands and price ranges, including valuable vintage instruments
- Setups from €80, fret levelling €170
- 100% satisfaction guarantee on all work
Need your guitar serviced urgently?
There is occasionally a queue at the workshop, but in urgent cases we will do our best to complete the work while you wait. If you have a gig coming up or need your instrument back quickly, call 050 322 6207 and tell us what you need. We’ll see what we can do.
What our customers say
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What does a guitar service include?
A guitar service rarely consists of just one specific operation. Sometimes an instrument simply needs a proper setup. In other cases, the problem may lie in worn frets, the nut, the electronics or the structure of the instrument itself. An older guitar that has seen years of playing may need a combination of several different jobs.
At GAS Guitarworks, the goal is always to make the instrument perform as well as possible for your playing style, string gauge and tuning.
A player with a light touch may prefer extremely low action. Someone with a heavier picking hand needs more room for the strings to vibrate. The same setup is not ideal for both.
A guitar service may include, for example:
- Truss rod, action, bridge and intonation adjustments
- Fret inspection, levelling, crowning and polishing
- Refretting
- Fretboard cleaning and conditioning
- Nut repair or custom nut fabrication
- Tuner replacement
- Potentiometer, switch and output jack repairs
- Pickup replacement, pickup potting and other electronics work
- Electronics cavity shielding
- Neck profile modification
- Finishing and modification work
For a complete list of services and current pricing, see our Guitar Service Price List.
When should you have your guitar serviced?
Unlike a car, a guitar does not necessarily need servicing at fixed intervals if everything is working properly. The right time to bring an instrument in is usually when something changes or begins to interfere with playing.
The strings are buzzing
A small amount of fret buzz is not necessarily a problem if it cannot be heard through the amplifier and does not affect your playing.
If the guitar suddenly begins buzzing more than before, however, the cause may be a change in neck relief, action that is too low, an individual high fret or worn frets. Finland’s large seasonal changes in humidity can also affect a wooden instrument surprisingly strongly.
The guitar feels difficult to play
If a guitar that used to feel effortless suddenly feels stiff or fretting requires more force than it should, the action or neck relief may have changed. Sometimes even a small adjustment can completely transform the feel of an instrument.
The guitar won’t stay in tune
Tuning problems are not automatically caused by the tuners. A string may be binding in the nut, the bridge may not be functioning properly, or a guitar with a tremolo system may simply need the entire system set up correctly. It is always worth identifying the real cause before replacing parts.
The intonation is off
If the open string is in tune but notes begin sounding increasingly sharp or flat further up the neck, the intonation may need adjustment. Changing to a significantly different string gauge can also affect the setup and intonation of the guitar.
The fret ends feel sharp
A wooden fretboard can shrink slightly across its width in dry conditions, while the metal frets do not. As a result, the ends of the frets may begin protruding slightly from the edge of the fretboard.
Properly finished fret ends should never scrape your hand — and certainly shouldn’t cut your fingers.
Bends choke out higher up the neck
If a note rings normally but dies when bent, the string may be contacting a higher fret further up the neck. This is particularly common on vintage-style guitars with strongly radiused fretboards, as well as on some necks where a slight rise develops towards the upper end of the fretboard over time.
The solution may be precision fret levelling or a carefully executed fall-away levelling.
Pots crackle or the signal cuts out
A scratchy volume or tone pot, intermittent output jack or unreliable selector switch can usually be repaired. An electronics problem does not automatically mean that the entire wiring harness needs to be replaced.
Not sure what the problem is?
You don’t need to diagnose the problem yourself. Bring the instrument to the workshop and we can take a look together, identify what is causing the issue and decide what actually needs to be done.
Guitar setup – a small adjustment can make a big difference
A basic guitar setup covers the areas that matter most to the way the instrument plays: neck relief, string action, bridge setup and intonation.
The options are Basic Setup €80 and the more extensive Full Service €100. In addition to the basic setup, the Full Service includes fretboard cleaning and conditioning, lubrication of the potentiometers, an electronics check and fret polishing. Instruments with a Floyd Rose bridge are €40 extra.
A good setup can change the feel of even a familiar guitar dramatically. Sometimes there is nothing technically wrong with an instrument brought in for service. It has simply never been properly set up.
Fretwork – when a setup is no longer enough
Frets are wearing parts. On an instrument that has been played extensively, grooves gradually form beneath the strings. Individual frets may end up at different heights, eventually causing buzzing or notes choking out during bends.
If there is still enough material left in the frets, they can often be levelled and trued. After precision fret levelling, the frets are carefully re-crowned and polished. The result can be a considerably more consistent feel and often allows for lower action.
When required, fret levelling can also be carried out in a jig that simulates string tension. This allows us to remove only as much material as is actually necessary.
When the original frets no longer have enough material left — or their condition otherwise calls for replacement — the guitar can be completely refretted. Also available are stainless steel frets, which offer exceptional wear resistance.
Fret levelling €170 (in jig +€60), fall-away levelling €100 and refret from €280.
Why does a guitar change with the seasons?
A guitar is largely made of wood, and wood reacts to changes in humidity. In Finland, the difference between a humid summer and the dry indoor air of the heating season can be substantial — and sometimes the guitar shows it.
The neck may move slightly, the fretboard can dry out and the action can change. A guitar that plays perfectly during the summer may behave very differently in the middle of winter.
This does not necessarily mean that there is anything structurally wrong with the instrument. Often, the correct setup — together with appropriate storage conditions when needed — is enough to bring everything back where it belongs.
Humidity is even more important with acoustic guitars, as their thin wooden components react more strongly to environmental changes than the solid bodies of most electric guitars.
The nut, tuners and tuning stability
When a guitar refuses to stay in tune, the first instinct is often to replace the tuners. But the actual problem may be somewhere else entirely.
One of the most important areas is the nut. The strings need to move smoothly and predictably through the nut slots, returning to the same position after a bend or use of the tremolo. A poorly cut factory plastic nut is a common reason for strings binding and returning sharp after bending.
A new nut can be made from materials such as bone, TUSQ, graphite or brass. A custom-made bone nut costs €80, and tuner replacement starts at €50.
A nut that is too tight, incorrectly shaped or otherwise poorly cut can create tuning problems even when the tuners themselves are perfectly fine. That is why it makes sense to diagnose the cause before replacing parts.
Guitar electronics and pickups
Not every guitar problem is mechanical. An intermittent output jack, scratchy potentiometer or unreliable switch can make an otherwise excellent instrument frustrating to use. Electronics can be repaired and individual components replaced as needed.
Changing pickups is also one of the most effective ways to reshape the sound of an electric guitar without replacing the instrument itself.
If single-coil pickups are picking up excessive electrical noise, shielding the electronics cavities (€120) can help reduce unwanted hum. A pickup that squeals uncontrollably at higher volumes may benefit from wax potting (€55 per pickup).
How our guitar service works
1. Bring your instrument to the workshop
You are welcome to stop by and show us the guitar. Once we have seen the instrument and its actual condition, we can give you an accurate estimate of the cost and expected turnaround time.
2. We agree on the work
We go through what the instrument needs and what kind of feel you are looking for. The work to be carried out, price and schedule are agreed before anything is started.
3. The work and collection
The guitar is finished and set up ready for playing, and we go through the work carried out when you collect it. All work comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Guitar service prices
The cost of servicing a guitar depends mainly on the amount of work involved. Basic setups and many common service jobs have fixed prices. With fretwork, electronics repairs and structural repairs, the true extent of the work can often only be determined after the instrument has been inspected.
| Basic Setup | 80 € |
| Full Setup | 100 € |
| Fret Leveling | €170 (in jig +€60) |
| Refret | from €280 (stainless steel +€140) |
| Bone nut fabrication | 80 € |
| Pickguard Shielding | 120 € |
| Workshop labour | €80/hour |
Prices include 25.5% VAT. For all services and current prices, see our Guitar Service Price List, which also includes prices for tuner replacements, pickup work, neck reshaping, relic work and finishing services.
Guitar service in Tampere and Pirkanmaa
The GAS Guitarworks workshop is located in Härmälä, Tampere, at Lentokentänkatu 49. Electric guitars, acoustic guitars and basses of all brands and price ranges are welcome. We also have extensive experience working on valuable vintage instruments.
You can bring your instrument to the workshop for inspection, and we can give you an estimate of both the cost and turnaround time. If you are bringing or sending an instrument from elsewhere in Finland, please contact us beforehand and tell us a little about the instrument and the work you have in mind.
GAS Guitarworks
Lentokentänkatu 49
33900 Tampere
Phone: 050 322 6207
Email: info@gasguitarworks.fi
Not everything can be fixed
Sometimes a guitar is technically in perfect working order — but something about it simply no longer feels right.
The sound doesn’t inspire you the way it used to. The neck profile no longer feels comfortable in your hand.
The guitar is too heavy, the pickups no longer match the sound you are looking for, or for some reason you simply find yourself leaving it on the stand.
Of course, we can replace the pickups, modify the electronics, reshape the neck or carry out other modifications.
But there is another option.
What if you had your own hand-built custom guitar, crafted with more than three decades of experience from carefully selected tonewoods and some of the finest components available?
The woods can be individually selected. The neck profile can be shaped specifically for your hand and preferred playing feel. Pickups, bridge, electronics, frets, finish and even the smallest details can all be chosen to suit exactly what you want from the instrument.
At GAS Guitarworks, even the ends of our stainless steel frets are finished so smoothly that you simply don’t feel them while playing.
At its best, a new instrument is more than just beautifully made and effortless to play.
It can be the guitar you want to pick up every time you walk past it — and a source of inspiration for decades to come.
Every GAS guitar also comes with a personal lifetime warranty for the original owner.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about guitar service
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about guitar servicing, pricing and turnaround times. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, get in touch!
There is no fixed, time-based service interval for a guitar. If the instrument is playing well and nothing has changed in its setup or playability, there is no need to have it serviced simply because a certain amount of time has passed.
For instruments that are played a lot, however, it is worth checking the condition regularly. Seasonal changes can also create a need for adjustment.
Turnaround time depends on the work required and how busy the workshop is at the time. Setups and smaller jobs can usually be completed relatively quickly, while refrets and finishing work naturally take longer. There may occasionally be a queue.
For urgent cases, we will do our best to complete the work while you wait. If you have a gig coming up or need the instrument quickly, call 050 322 6207 and tell us about the situation. We can give you a more accurate estimate once we have seen the instrument.
A Basic Setup costs 80 € and the more extensive Full Service costs 100 €. Fret levelling is €170 and a refret starts at €280. Workshop labour is €80/hour. All prices include 25.5% VAT.
Larger repairs are quoted individually after inspecting the instrument. Current prices can be found in our Guitar Service Price List.
That depends on their condition. If there is still enough material left in the frets, wear can often be corrected by levelling. Frets that are heavily worn or have already been dressed too low will need to be replaced.
Yes. Stainless steel frets are extremely wear-resistant and an excellent choice for players who put a lot of hours on their instruments. Stainless steel frets add €140 to the price of a refret.
Yes. Pickup and electronics modifications can easily be carried out while the instrument is in for service. Pickup replacement starts at €50, with the final price depending on the pickup type and guitar model.
Yes. In addition to electric guitars, GAS Guitarworks services and repairs basses and acoustic guitars, regardless of brand or price range. We also regularly work on valuable vintage instruments.
The construction of the instrument naturally determines which adjustments and repairs are possible. Structural work on acoustic guitars and fretwork on set-neck instruments are always assessed individually.
Our workshop is located in Härmälä, Tampere, at Lentokentänkatu 49, 33900 Tampere, Finland. Phone 050 322 6207, email info@gasguitarworks.fi.
You are welcome to bring your instrument in for inspection, after which we can give you an estimate of both the cost and turnaround time.
Absolutely. Our workshop is in Tampere and we regularly serve players from across Pirkanmaa.
If you are coming from further away in Finland, please contact us first and tell us what kind of instrument and service or repair you have in mind.
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