Guitar Repair & Setup — Essex & Essex Junction, VT

Searching for a luthier near Essex or Essex Junction? Lakeside Guitar is in Colchester — about 15 minutes from the Five Corners, straight up Route 2A.

Essex and Essex Junction have a ton of working musicians and gear-minded guitar players — I see that in the range of instruments people bring in, from budget acoustics to vintage electrics. The GlobalFoundries crowd has a lot of engineers who think about their gear the same way they think about everything else: they want it done right.

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

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Very professional and thoughtful, and a great communicator. I highly recommend Lakeside Guitar."

— Brian Leven

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Excellent service. Dan's professionalism and abilities are a testament to his work. Great communication and fast turnaround."

— M Tryhorn

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Absolute joy to work with. Dan clearly knows his stuff and fixed the output jack on my Gretsch in about ten minutes."

— Chris Farnsworth

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "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

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) · ~15 minutes from Essex Junction · By appointment only

Also serving: Colchester · Burlington · Jericho/Underhill · Westford