Guitar Repair & Setup — Shelburne, VT

Looking for a luthier near Shelburne? I'm Dan at Lakeside Guitar in Colchester — about 20 minutes north on Route 7, an easy drive up the lake corridor.

Shelburne attracts serious musicians and serious gear. I've done work on a range of high-end acoustics and electrics from Shelburne players — people who know what a proper setup feels like and won't accept anything less. The Champlain Valley setting seems to breed that kind of discernment.

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

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "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 always seems ready to take on a challenge, and I appreciate both his good work and his ability to know when an instrument needs something different."

— Andy Hard

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I took my PRS Custom 24 to Dan to be brought back to life and he delivered. My PRS is now an absolute joy to play."

— Will Downey

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I had given up on a guitar and Dan brought it back to life. He is a master!"

— Gary DuCharme

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) · ~20 minutes from Shelburne center · By appointment only

Also serving: Burlington · South Burlington · Charlotte · Vergennes