Cals Guitars

About the business

Cal's Guitars provides professional servicing, setup, repair, and restoration services for electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, and a wide range of other stringed instruments. Whether your instrument requires a routine setup, fretwork, electronics repair, restoration, or general maintenance, every job is carried out with attention to detail to ensure optimal playability, reliability, and performance. Cal's Guitars also stocks a selection of essential accessories and emergency replacement items, including strings, cables, straps, picks, and other guitar-related equipment to keep you playing.

Customer reviews

5.0 / 5.0 · Based on 162 Google reviews

Frequently asked questions

Almost always yes. Guitars have often sat around for a while and the wood has moved or the guitar has been knocked in transit. Also, guitars will come with a generic setup from factory and will require dialled in to the individual musician. Acoustics in particular will have high action saddles when new.

For electric gauge 10 for normal playing, gauge 9 for fast with lots of bends, gauge 11 for heavier music or down tuning the guitar. For acoustic gauge 12 for normal or gauge 11 for kids or if you have issues with your hands. Of course there are many other scenarios and gauges to consider but this should get you started.

My service and setup includes, machine heads service, nut slots lowered and lubricated, fretboard cleaned and oiled, frets dressed and polished, bridge serviced, saddles serviced, new strings installed, action lowered, intonation adjusted and an over all clean and polish. This is the minimum you will receive.

Not always. Bass strings have a longer life than regular 6 stringed guitars. I always change 6 string instruments as a matter of course because they are more difficult to redo with the same stability as a bass.

This is almost always due to high action at the nut and more specifically uneven nut heights. I address this issue as part of my full service and setup.

This is usually because your nut slot is too tight, often because you are using heavier gauge strings than the guitar is setup for. This is dealt with during my service and setup using diamond cutting nut files.

Yes, older guitars suffer from “fret creep” where the wood has shrunk in the fretboard and the metal frets stick out more. This also shows up on less expensive instruments, which have not had time spent finishing the frets. This is delt with at Cal’s Guitars.

This is a common complaint. There is a technique to balancing a FR system and I can help with this. In future try changing one string at a time if you are not sure.

Yes, one inexpensive upgrade I recommend on a Tele is just this. Brass intonated saddles help with tone, tuning stability, intonation and, in my opinion, look great too.

Yes, I work with an electrical partner who is outstanding with all electronic type problems.

Yes, I can source and supply or you can bring me your new pickups and I can rewire them for you.

Yes, I have setup a few of these. They are complicated at first to get the bridge into the correct zones but once you know what to do, it’s no problem.

Yes, I do a lot of these. It’s easy to get in trouble when trying to get a build done to a high spec. Tell me your vision and I will realise it for you?

Yes, a very low action setup will react like that. As long as your strings don’t choke out when bending and don’t buzz when amplified.

That depends on how often you play. Gigging musicians might put a new set on for every gig. Maybe once every couple of months if you are playing most days at home. Check if your strings feel dead and use a product like Fast Fret to wipe off finger oils in between practice sessions.

Yes, there is no difference for me, the numbers are the same. Only thing is, I can’t play them as well.

a month ag

Google review · Reiss

Brought my bass into Cal's shop for a restringing and setup, as I was looking to downtune it to hell with some thick strings. Naturally it required some adjustments due to the much heavier gauge and he walked me through every step of the process with full transparency. The instrument came back to me in the best condition it's ever been, both looking and playing beautifully. Couldn't recommend Cal more and certainly won't be taking my instruments anywhere else.

6 months a

Google review · sammy flinn

Bought a new guitar and the string action was too high and even though it was a new guitar it definitely needed a proper setup. My partner found Cals guitars on Facebook with tremendous reviews and photos of his work .I contacted cal and he fitted me in with his work schedule. Cal went over the guitar and told me what he would do to make the guitar more playable. Cal kept in touched throughout the whole process and sending photos of step by step of his work .Cal did a phenomenal job and the guitar is really a dream to play now .I would highly recommend cal his work is really second to none and he is a real gentleman and first class professional at what he does. I intend to take some more guitars to him in the near future.thanks again cal .Sammy

3 months a

Google review · Aidan Patrick Hood

Took my Charvel to Cal for a full setup and honestly couldn't be happier. The guitar plays better than it ever has, the action feels perfect and everything is dialled in. Cal was a great guy to deal with, went above and beyond what I expected from a standard setup, and shared some useful guitar knowledge while I was there. Clearly cares about getting the most out of your instrument! Highly recommend if you're looking for a setup or any guitar work done.

Google review · connan

Extremely happy! Turned an off the shelf acoustic into a masterpiece. Set up exactly to how I play, 100% trust in Calum to take care of my guitar. Highly recommend!

7 months a

Google review · Susan Lafferty

Cal was excellent with our guitar - which had a previous bodged job done on it, but Cal’s expertise, attention to detail and over and above service was second to none! Thank you! 🙏🏼 🤘

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Cals Guitars

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Frequently asked questions

Does a new guitar require serviced and set up?

What gauge of strings would you recommend for beginner electric or acoustic guitar?

What should I expect to have done to my guitar when booking a service and setup?

Should I change my bass strings during a service?

Why is my guitar intonation out when playing open chords?

Why does my string click and jump when I try to tune it?

I have an older guitar and the fret ends feel sharp as I play along the fretboard, can this be fixed?

I have taken all the strings off my guitar which has a Floyd Rose style bridge and cannot get the guitar back in tune.

Do brass saddles make a difference on a Telecaster?

My guitar amp is buzzing and the pots are crackly, can you fix this?

I would like to upgrade my humbuckers on my Les Paul, can you do this?

I have an Evertune bridge that I can’t get my head around. Do you have experience with these systems?

I started building my own “Partscaster” and am having problems getting everything lined up. Can you finish and setup for me?

Is it normal for my electric guitar to buzz acoustically but not when amplified?

How long should I wait between string changes?

Do you service and setup left handed guitars?