Why is a guitar setup so important?
A proper setup keeps your guitar playing smoothly, in tune, and responsive to your touch. When it’s dialed in, every note feels right — and you’ll know instantly when it’s not.
How do I know I need a guitar setup?
- The action will either be too high (making it difficult to play and negotiate chords and runs) or too low causing (lots of annoying buzzing and poor note quality)
- Weather change causes guitar setup to go out of adjustment
- The intonation is off, resulting in the guitar sounding out of tune at certain notes or chords
- You’ve changed string gauges which causes neck to relax to much or pull into excessive relief
Why does my guitar suddenly feel stiff, buzzy, or harder to play?
New guitars and beginner instruments often ship with a generic factory setup, and weather changes can throw them out of adjustment fast. Whether you’re brand-new to guitar or you’ve been playing for years, your instrument will feel off when it needs a proper setup — and that’s exactly what brings it back to life.
The fact that you’re here says a lot. You know when something’s not right with your guitar setup. No matter who you are, every guitar player benefits from having their instrument professionally dialed in.
You’re the kind of player who can tell when something’s off. We’re the shop that helps you make it right.
Why isn’t the setup on my new guitar good enough?
Factory setups are designed for shipping and mass production — not for your hands, playing style, or the climate where you live. Even brand-new guitars usually need a professional setup to feel their best.
Every guitar needs a good setup. That’s why every serious player works with a guitar tech who knows how to bring it back to life.
Why do guitar players across Southern California trust James Hood Guitar?
Players choose us because their guitars come back easier to play, better sounding, and fully dialed-in to their personal style — usually the same day.
You’ve probably heard about us — the guitar repair shop that makes guitars play smoother than they ever have.
We’ve spent years helping players across Southern California fall back in love with their guitars. Every guitar setup is done right here in the shop — by real techs who play, listen, and care. When you pick it up, it’s going to play the way it should’ve from the start.
See what some of our customers have had to say below!
I've been going to James with all my stringed instruments for 12 years. He takes the time to know the player, beginner or advanced and will make your guitar sound amazing. Really nice dude, too. Love the "Same Day Setups".. perfect for procrastinators like me. Dropped it off, went and had tacos.. came back and it was perfectly dialed in. Thx James!
Did a drop off (appointment recommended) for set-up & repair of my 17 yo Parker PM24Pro. James found the problem (not what I thought it was) and Parker now plays like new.
Needed to have the action adjusted on an old acoustic guitar given to me by a family friend, so I searched online and saw James Hood had really good reviews. Sure enough, the process was super easy and the service was great. Turnaround time was just over one week, and they kept me notified with any updates throughout which I really appreciated. I honestly couldn't be happier. Highly recommend!
I am very happy with JH. James corrected some problems created by other repair shops. His tech is great. When I took my guitar to a rehearsal my buds asked me what I had done to make my instrument sound so brilliant.
Ive been going to James for years! He is the only guy i trust to do work on my guitars and amps. Staff is super helpful and responsive too.
Not just “pros” at what they do but more importantly James and team are “craftsmen”….
How fast can I get my guitar professionally set up?
Most guitars can be fully set up the same day — often within just a few hours — so you never have to wait weeks to play your best again.
Don’t wait weeks for a setup that still doesn’t feel right. Book your same-day appointment now and get your guitar back playing better than ever — usually within hours.
What guitar setup options do you offer, and what’s the difference between them?
We offer three levels of same-day guitar setups — Standard, Pro, and Premium — each designed for different players, guitar conditions, and service needs. Every tier includes a full playability evaluation and all the essential adjustments your guitar needs to feel its best.
💳 Payment is made at drop-off - quick, simple, and secure.
Standard Guitar setup
$105 (Electric) / $90 (Acoustic)
Perfect for maintaining stability and playability. Includes truss rod, nut slot file and saddle adjustment. Best for New and the super clean guitars. mechanical adjustments only.
Pro Guitar setup
$135 (Electric) (Acoustic) (Bass)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Everything in the Standard, plus a deep fretboard clean, fret tarnish removal, and hardware check.
Also includes a battery test and complimentary replacement if needed.
This is the setup most players choose when they want their instrument to feel and sound alive again — same-day turnaround included.
(Our most popular service.)
Premium Guitar setup
$180 (Electric) (Acoustic) (Bass)
For guitars that need more than a quick tune-up. The Premium Setup includes everything in the Pro tier, plus:
* Heavy fretboard deep clean to remove built-up grime
* Output jack, pot & switch cleaning to eliminate crackle and noise
* Detailed hardware tightening and alignment
* Light body polish and finishing care to bring back the guitar’s shine
* This is the service for instruments that haven’t been serviced in a while — the full reset that will refresh your guitar.
Complimentary non-coated strings included with all online 6-string guitar setups.
Book Today — Get Your Guitar Playing Its Best. Choose setup options Below!
👉 Same-day setup slots fill fast — book now and get your guitar playing its best today.
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