Stu’s Guitar Set Ups – Your Guitar, But Better…
Guitar feeling off? Get a tune up!
When Your Guitar Plays Better, So Do You!
Welcome to Stu’s Guitar Setups, I’m your local guitar care expert and guitar tech based in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.
Whether you’re a lifetime player or just starting out, I’m here to ensure your guitar plays at its absolute best.
With a deep passion for the craft, I treat every guitar with the care and precision I would my own, using only the highest quality tools and materials (no cheap Amazon tools that could damage your pride and joy!).
I work on electric guitars, acoustic guitars and basses – all with the utmost of care – check out some of the services I offer.
Bottom line – if I wouldn’t let something touch my guitars, it wont be touching yours …
But don’t just take my word for it – check out reviews from my customers to see how I’ve helped them 🙂
Prefer pictures? No problem, take a look at my gallery of guitar setup work (there’s some lovely instruments there!)
Is Your Guitar Holding You Back?
Struggling with poor intonation, buzzing frets, or an uncomfortable action?
These common issues can make playing frustrating and affect your performance (and make you not want to play).
Ignoring them could lead to long-term damage to your guitar, costing you a lot more in repairs down the line.
Don’t let these problems stand in the way of your musical journey.
At Stu’s Guitar Setups, I specialise in solving these issues, giving your guitar the attention it deserves.
Elevate Your Guitar’s Sound and Playability
At Stu’s Guitar Setups, I offer a range of services to enhance your guitar’s performance:
Full Set Up
Starting at £50
Tailored to your playing style, I’ll optimise your guitar’s action, neck relief, intonation, clean & condition fretboard & polish your frets to a mirror shine for a smooth, effortless experience.
I’ll also make sure all your screws are nice and tight, sort out wobbly strap locks, crackling pots and give your guitar a thorough clean and polish.
This is my number one recommended service – your guitar WILL play SO much better after 🙂
New nut
Starting at £20
A new nut is one of the biggest upgrades you can give your guitar or bass. I can fit an off the shelf nut that you supply, or for a more bespoke touch, I can hand craft you a bone nut.
Hand crafted to perfection, my custom bone nuts improve sustain, tuning stability, and tone, giving your guitar a superior edge.
I make the nuts completely from scratch – so they are perfect for YOUR guitar.
Fret Levelling & Crowning
Starting at £40
Say goodbye to buzzing and uneven frets.
My meticulous fret work ensures a clean, precise, and comfortable playing experience. If your frets are buzzing or are filled with divots and dings I can make them good as new again
I’ll also polish your frets to a mirror shine 🙂
Sharp Fret Ends Removal
Starting at £30
Uncomfortable fret ends can make playing your guitar a painful experience, especially in changing climates like ours where wood contracts and expands.
At Stu’s Guitar Setups, I carefully file and smooth sharp fret ends, ensuring your guitar neck feels as comfortable as possible.
Say goodbye to those annoying sharp edges and enjoy a smooth, effortless playing experience that keeps you focused on your music.
String Changes
£15
Fresh strings, expertly installed, ensure you get the best possible sound and longevity from your instrument.
I can supply strings at an additional cost (D’Addario 9s or 10s) or you can bring your own.
Note if you are moving up a string gauge, I may need to re-cut the nut slots, which I am happy to do for a small fee.
Input Jack Fix
Starting at £20
If your input jack is crackling, loose and doesn’t produce a consistent connection, then your sound (and fun) takes a massive hit.
Jacks wear out over time, and when the come loose its easy for someone without the right tools to accidently pull off the internal wires when trying to tighten the socket from the outside.
I can fix broken connections, and if needed install a completely new jack in your guitar or bass.
Modifications
£ decided case by case
Do you want to swap out some hardware? Maybe you’d like to swap out your pickguard.
I’ve done modifications for customers covering a lot of different bases – if there’s something you’d like changed on your guitar or bass, get in touch and I’ll see if I can help.
Pickup swaps
Starting at £30
Fancy trying out a new sound?
No problem, I can put in new pickups for you and make sure they are working as they should.
Clean up for sale
Starting at £20
If you’re looking to sell your instrument and don’t want a full guitar setup, but want it to look it’s best for photos – I can help.
I’ll clean and polish the whole guitar, and the frets. A sparkling looking guitar or bass can usually sell for a lot more money.
Playability set up
£35
If you don’t want a full set service – think of this as a quick MOT
I’ll focus on the playability side of things:
1. Adjust truss rod
2. Ensure nut slots are cut low enough
3. Make sure saddle radius matches fretboard (electric only)
4. Set action to the lowest (non buzzing) height your neck can handle 🙂
Happy Customers
Don’t take my word for it – check out some comments from my customers 🙂
I asked Stu to have a look at the pick up in my trusty old Martin D16GT which for some reason was not picking up much volume on the middle... read more
Paul WaltonStu is a genius! He really knows his stuff when it comes to guitar set up, and is willing to share his knowledge. I am very pleased with my guitar... read more
Craig BrownExcellent customer service and care on the setup of my son’s bass guitar from Stu, looks amazing now and plays beautifully. Will be back for our next service!
Maria TetherVery friendly and knowledgeable with the upmost respect for the guitars and customers, highly recommend 👌 and very fair prices 👍
Mark DunnMy guitar had an annoying crackle that I thought might be from the input jack. Stu checked it out for me overnight and discovered that the jack was ok... read more
Keith BeavenStu's service was absolutely fantastic. Having failed to get a niche part on a Peavey GridBass fixed by my usual guitar shop techs, Stu not only fully researched the guitar... read more
Adam ThompsonBloody hell! It’s amazing mate, thanks. So playable and feels like new [my son] is sitting up there playing it now. Really, hugely grateful.
(Job: Fret levelling + Full set up)
Scott
Great attention to detail and no “cutting corners“ – looks and feels great
(Job: Full set up)
Gavin
Wow it feels and sounds amazing – I can’t believe the sustain, even not plugged in it sounds great now!
(Job: Bone nut, Re-fret + Full set up)
Varun
It’s so easy to play now – thank you!
(Job: Full set up)
Jess
Why Choose Stu’s Guitar Setups as your guitar tech?
I understand how much your guitar means to you. After all – I know how much my guitars mean to me!
That’s why I’m committed to providing a personal, hands-on service that puts your needs first:
- Personalised Care: I treat every guitar as if it were my own, ensuring meticulous attention to detail.
- Highest Quality Tools: I only use top-of-the-line tools and materials to deliver the best possible results.
- Convenient Local Service: Based in Haywards Heath, I’m ideally located to serve the surrounding areas, including Burgess Hill, Cuckfield, Lindfield, Hassocks, Balcombe, Crawley, Horsham and Brighton.
Hassle-Free Process: Simply drop off your guitar, and I’ll contact you when it’s ready for collection. Payment is made on collection, ensuring a straightforward and stress-free experience. I am also fully insured to carry out this work.
Guitar and bass set up gallery
Here’s a look at some of the instruments that I’ve setup for happy customers 🙂
Guitar Tech vs Luthier – What’s the Difference?
If you’ve been searching for a “luthier near me” or looking for a luthier in Sussex you might be wondering whether a luthier or a guitar tech is the right fit for your needs. While both professions work with guitars, the type of work they do is different.
Many people think a only luthier can set up a guitar or perform things like fretwork – however this is not the case. In fact most of the time what people actually need is a guitar tech:
- A Luthier is a craftsman who builds and repairs stringed instruments, often working on complex structural repairs, wood restoration, or custom guitar builds. Of course they can perform setup and maintenance work – but this is not the main focus of their work.
- A Guitar Tech (like me!) focuses on setups, maintenance, and adjustments that keep your guitar playing its best. Whether it’s adjusting the action, fixing intonation, curing fret buzz or giving your guitar a complete setup, a guitar tech ensures your instrument is ready to perform its best.
FAQ – Luthier or guitar tech in Sussex?
Q: Do I need a luthier or a guitar tech for my setup?
A: If your guitar needs a professional setup, adjustment, or minor repairs like fretwork or intonation correction, a guitar tech like me can handle everything for you. Luthiers are typically required for more complex repairs or custom builds (literally making a guitar from scratch), but for most guitar players needing routine maintenance, a tech is the perfect choice.
Q: Can a guitar tech improve the playability of my guitar?
A: Absolutely! A professional guitar tech will optimise your instrument for comfort, sound, and performance. From action and intonation to hardware adjustments, I ensure your guitar plays like a dream.
So if your guitar needs a professional setup, adjustments, or minor repairs, Stu’s Guitar Setups can help! Get in touch today to book your guitar setup.