Nick K.
“I can't recommend Rick Molloy Guitars enough. It's a great environment and Rick's work is spot on. My off-brand jazzmasters have never played better!”
Services
Guitar setup + repair in Auburn, WA.
I do local acoustic and electric guitar setup, fretwork, pickup installs, and common repair work. Some jobs should simply be done. Some are better learned at the bench. I will tell you which path makes sense.
Based in Auburn, WA 98092 and serving the Seattle metro area.
Local proof
Trusted local bench work.
Reviews from Seattle, Sammamish, Graham, Auburn, and the South Sound. The shop name changed, but the bench work and standards did not.
Keith K.
“Rick has a wealth of working knowledge about guitar building and repair. His recommendations have been spot-on, and he really stands by the quality of his work. He's always happy to take time to explain the options and why he recommends the things he does.”
Zara S.
“professional, technical, friendly, and has an enormous body of knowledge about instrument construction... If you care about your instrument, take it to Rick.”
Mark B.
“If you want to learn to to setup your guitar so it plays the way it should then take Rick's classes. He will teach you how neck relief, string height, nut, and bridge all work together...”
“I am so glad I found Rick Molloy Guitars. Rick really knows what he is doing and will teach you how.”
Greg C.
“Really recommend Rick to other guitar enthusiasts. He does excellent work and is a joy to chat with.”
What I take on
Common setup and repair work.
Bring me a standard setup, a fret problem, a pickup install, or an acoustic repair that needs more than setup work. If it fits the normal path, I can usually quote it from your description and photos. If not, I quote it after I see the instrument.
Standard setup and playability
Set relief, nut height, saddle height, action, intonation, and restringing so the instrument plays cleanly and predictably again.
Fretwork and fingerboard
Level, crown, and polish frets, handle partial or full refrets, and clean up the fingerboard when the playing surface is the real problem.
Pickup installs and hardware
Install pickups, repair solder joints, replace noisy pots or jacks, and handle common electric hardware work.
Acoustic repair
Repair loose braces, bridges, cracks, and other common acoustic problems when setup alone will not fix the instrument.
Current bench rates
Pricing for common jobs.
If you already know the job, start with the full price list. If you do not, send a short note and I will tell you whether it belongs as finished service or private bench instruction.
Setup Mastery
Three hours of private bench instruction on one guitar. Learn relief, cut nut slots, set saddle height, set action, and tune intonation.
$250
Standard Setup
A full setup for instruments that are otherwise healthy: restring, stretch, tune, adjust playability, and check the instrument after it has been tuned, stretched, and played.
$130 plus strings and tax
Labor Rate
If the work falls outside the standard setup path, I bill bench time directly.
$130 / hour with a $65 minimum bench fee