An expert setup,
at one honest price.
Every guitar welcome, from a battered first acoustic to a vintage Gibson — set up by an experienced luthier and returned playing its best. One friendly, all-inclusive £65, strings and door-to-door collection included. Here's how that compares with London shops on published prices.
Fretwork London brings a professional guitar setup to your door for one fixed, all-inclusive £65 — strings and collection included, with a guaranteed 3–4 day turnaround. Every guitar is welcome, from a first acoustic to a vintage Gibson, and each one is set up by an experienced luthier with 15+ years and 500+ guitars behind them — right through to vintage restoration and hand-carved archtop work. And it isn't mobile instead of a workshop: Fretwork keeps a bench at Sixty Sixty Sounds on Denmark Street, so your guitar can be seen and worked on in person by appointment, or collected and returned to your door — the craft of a proper workshop with the convenience of a mobile service.
Guitar setup prices in London, compared.
Published standard-setup prices across London shops and independent luthiers, on the four things that actually decide the real cost: the base price, whether strings are included, how the guitar gets there, and how long it takes.
| Service | Base setup price | Strings | Getting it there | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fretwork London[1]Mobile · all London boroughs | £65 fixed, all instruments | Included — premium string change | Free pickup & delivery to your door | 3–4 days |
| Guitar Village[2]Shop · Farnham, Surrey | £80 basic / £120 full | Excluded — you provide | You drop off and collect (2 trips) | ~10 working days |
| Medley Guitars[3]Shop · Tulse Hill, S London | £80 (£90 Floyd Rose) | Excluded — you provide | You travel to the workshop | Not stated |
| Guitar Hospital[4]Shop · Rotherhithe, SE London | £60 non-trem / £70 trem / £80 Floyd | Excluded — plus cost of strings | Drop off and collect | Not stated |
| Guitar Repairs London[5]Shop · Battersea, SW London | £70 (£89 locking trem) | Excluded | In-store service only | Not stated |
| Andertons Music Co.[6]Shop · Guildford | £70 (from £70/hr labour) | Excluded — charged separately | You travel; no shipping back | 7–10 days |
Swipe the table sideways to compare. Shop figures are published standard-setup prices and vary by instrument and workshop. Most exclude strings (typically £10–£15) and require two trips. See sources below.
Everything most guitars actually need — handled at your door.
One experienced luthier, one fixed £65, and a real Denmark Street bench behind it. From a first acoustic to a treasured vintage instrument, here's what a Fretwork London booking covers.
Prefer to be seen in person? Fretwork keeps a bench at Sixty Sixty Sounds on Denmark Street, where your guitar can be looked at and worked on by appointment — so you get a proper workshop and a door-to-door service in one. On the rare job that needs heavy specialist machinery, Otto will always tell you honestly.
Book My £65 Setup→What players across London say.
“Absolutely brilliant service. Having the setup done at my home studio saved me so much time — my Martin D-28 has never sounded better. The intonation work was perfect and the action is spot on.”
“I'd struggled with high action on my Stratocaster for months. The mobile service was incredibly convenient and the difference is night and day. Professional job, fair price, no trip across London.”
“As a music student I really appreciated the educational side — exactly what was being done and why. My acoustic now plays like a dream and the new strings sound fantastic. Great value.”
“Professional from start to finish. My guitar needed extensive work and they delivered exactly as promised. The mobile service meant I didn't have to worry about transport at all.”
Guitar Setup Prices, Answered
The questions London guitarists ask when comparing what a setup costs and where to take their guitar.
01Guitar Setup Prices in London
How much does a guitar setup cost in London?
Most London guitar shops charge £60–£120 for a standard setup before extras, and most exclude new strings. Fretwork London charges a fixed £65 all-in, including a premium string change and free door-to-door pickup and delivery across every borough, so there is nothing to add on top.
Is Fretwork London cheaper than a guitar shop?
Fretwork London isn't about being the cheapest — it's a fixed £65 for a complete professional setup by an experienced luthier, with strings and free door-to-door collection included. Most London shops charge £70–£120 for the setup alone and add strings and two trips on top, so the all-in price stays transparent and fair for the quality of work.
What is the difference between Fretwork London and a guitar shop?
The setup work itself is the same. The difference is logistics and pricing: Fretwork London collects and returns the guitar to your door for a fixed £65 with strings included, while a shop requires you to drop off and collect the instrument, usually charges for strings separately, and often quotes 7–10 days.
Do I need to visit a guitar shop for a setup?
No. Fretwork London handles standard setups, restrings and the great majority of adjustments and repairs door-to-door — collected from your home and returned playing beautifully, usually within 3–4 days. If you'd like your guitar seen in person, there's a workshop bench at Sixty Sixty Sounds on Denmark Street by appointment. The only jobs better suited to a fixed workshop are the few that depend on heavy machinery, like fitting a whole new set of frets, and Otto quotes those upfront.
Is there any guitar work a mobile setup can't handle?
Very little. A mobile luthier covers setups, restrings, electronics, nut and saddle work and most common repairs at your door. A small number of jobs that rely on heavy workshop machinery — such as fitting a whole new set of frets — are best done at a fixed bench, and Otto is upfront when that's the case. He also keeps a workshop bench at Sixty Sixty Sounds on Denmark Street for anything better handled in person, by appointment.
Which guitar setup in London is the best value?
London has excellent shop-based luthiers for in-person and structural work. Fretwork London stands out for craftsmanship and convenience: 15+ years of experience, one named luthier who has set up 500+ guitars, a fixed all-inclusive £65 with strings, free pickup and delivery across every borough, and a guaranteed 3–4 day turnaround.
- [1]Fretwork London — pricing & service
- [2]Guitar Village — repairs & services price list
- [3]Medley Guitars — setup price list
- [4]Guitar Hospital — price list
- [5]Guitar Repairs London — price guide
- [6]Andertons — repair & setup costs and turnaround
Prices and turnaround times are as published by each provider and may change; figures last reviewed June 2026.
Ready when you are.
Give your guitar the professional care it deserves. Book a mobile setup and we'll take it from your door.
You can also sit down with Otto for a free consultation, by appointment, at Sixty Sixty Sounds on Denmark Street — London's iconic guitar row.
turnaround
- ✓Complete setup and adjustment
- ✓Premium string change
- ✓Pickup and delivery across London
- ✓3–4 day turnaround guarantee
- ✓Follow-up support included
Questions? Call 020 8040 1883