Guitar Repair & Setup — Burlington, VT

Looking for a guitar repair shop near Burlington? I'm Dan at Lakeside Guitar, a dedicated repair and setup shop in Colchester's Malletts Bay — about 10 minutes from downtown Burlington, right above the New North End.

Burlington has one of the most active music communities in New England — between the Church Street scene, the bars on Main, and the deep college population, there's no shortage of guitars that deserve proper care. I've worked on instruments for Burlington players ranging from first-time acoustic owners to seasoned professionals who've been gigging here for decades.

Services

Setups · Fret Work · Electronics · Repairs · Restoration — and everything in between. Whether it's a quick Restring+ ($50, while you wait), a full Signature Setup ($100–150), electronics work ($150–300), fret leveling ($150–200), or a full refret ($400–600), I quote honestly and track my time so you see exactly where your money went.

I'm a certified warranty technician for Martin and Taylor — which means I can handle warranty claims, order OEM parts, and access factory support directly. If you bought your guitar new and something's wrong, bring it to me before you ship it anywhere.

I work on acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars — and also mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, and most fretted stringed instruments. Brands include Martin, Taylor, Gibson, Fender, PRS, Gretsch, Ibanez, Epiphone, Yamaha, Takamine, and many more, including rare and vintage makes most shops have never seen.

Why Lakeside Guitar

Precision. Guitar repair isn't art — it's math, physics, and materials science. Action is a measurement. Relief is geometry. I use both sides of my brain to find the sweet spot in every instrument.

Passion. I've been playing for over 35 years. I love guitars — all of them, regardless of brand or condition. When you bring me your instrument, I treat it like it matters. Because to you, it does.

Integrity. I'm a straight shooter. If I make a mistake, I'll tell you. If your job is going to run over estimate by more than 15%, I'll call before I proceed. No surprises.

Turnaround:

• While you wait — quick jobs up to ~30 minutes (Restring+, output jack, minor adjustments)
• 2–3 weeks — single-visit jobs on the fast track
• 30–60 days — multi-step projects, handled in order of arrival

What Customers Are Saying

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I'm a very experienced guitar maker and repair tech. I took my Telecaster to Dan to see how he works. He did an exceptional job."

— Craig Anderson — Burlington, VT

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Bought a slightly used Taylor 814ce, my first acoustic! Took it to Dan — Taylor certified tech right here in Vermont. Couldn't be happier."

— Gary Barush

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Dan did a phenomenal job repairing a tricky headstock break on a prized Martin D-28. Super knowledgeable and skilled, and he clearly cares deeply about his work."

— Sean Ryan

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Dan is THE man! Extremely responsive and had my setup done lightning fast."

— Creighton King

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Dan provided prompt service and fixed my guitar the same day. Other guitar shops will take the guitar and you won't hear back for a week. Dan deserves the best review."

— Heather Fitzpatrick

50+ five-star reviews on Google →

Book or Get an Estimate

Ready to get your guitar playing its best? Schedule online or call/text 802-249-4983. Estimates are always free — I just need to see the instrument in person.

Location: Colchester, Vermont (Malletts Bay) · ~10 minutes from downtown Burlington · By appointment only

Also serving: South Burlington · Winooski · Colchester · Essex Junction