Frequently Asked Questions

The staff at Calico Guitarworks has a combined 25+ years of professional guitar repair experience. Sharing the knowledge that we accumulate in this focused pursuit is at the core of what we do; It’s why we invest valuable time preparing detailed tech talk articles that are available free of charge.

You may notice that we do things a bit differently than other shops. Our advice and recommendations may occasionally challenge preconceived notions. We ask that clients remain receptive to new methods and trust that our ultimate goal is to help them make music.

We aim to conduct our business in a professional manner and expect to be treated in kind. 

We prefer to communicate via Email for all service inquiries. If you have any questions, please use our contact form or email: Erik@calicoguitarworks.com

We find that email has several advantages vs. the phone.

Rather than interrupting an appointment with a client or risking distraction while working on an instrument, you can reach out at your convenience and we will answer when able to give your question our full attention. 

Email is checked frequently during business hours, so you won’t be waiting long for a response.

You can send us pictures if necessary and we may include links to relevant information in our response. This process also allows for the easy recall of prior conversations should the need arise. 

There are certainly times when it is beneficial to talk on the phone, but we strongly prefer Email whenever practical.

We operate by appointment only because it helps us to manage our workload and produce consistently high quality results. 

During your drop off appointment, we perform an initial evaluation and provide an estimate based off of our price list. During a pickup appointment, you have the opportunity to play the instrument and ask follow up questions.

In an effort to return work in a timely manner, we accept a select number of appointments per day; They typically book up in advance. If a shorter lead time is required, for an additional fee, most basic jobs are eligible for a rush service appointment.

Book Online Now or, if you need assistance, please see our online booking tutorial.

In an effort to manage our workload, we accept a select number of appointments per day.  Should you need to cancel or reschedule, we kindly request at least 48hrs notice.

Should the need arise, appointments can be updated via the link included in the confirmation email received at the time of booking.

We understand that occasionally things come up last minute that are beyond your control. However, in the event of repeated late cancellations, we reserve the right to decline future bookings.

A guitar is a personal item; We believe that the particulars of its servicing should be tailored to the individual player. In order to minimize miscommunications, time consuming back and forth correspondence, and maximize our odds for a successful outcome, we request that the owner be present for instrument drop off and pickup. 

We do our best to complete instruments in a timely manner and request that pickup be made within (7) days of notice of completion whenever possible.

Instruments that have not been picked up within 30 days of the first emailed notice of completion will be considered to have been abandoned. 

Payment is due at the time of pickup.

Cash is preferred. For your convenience, we also accept credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express). No checks please.

We are required to collect New York State sales tax for all sales and services performed.

Calico Guitarworks is proud to stand behind our work with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee.

This warranty does not extend to any instrument that has been subjected to poor humidity care, adjusted or otherwise modified after leaving the shop, or to matters that can reasonably be attributed to limitations of the product serviced. Our warranty also does not apply to strings, or any customer supplied components.

If you encounter any issues during the warranty period, simply contact us to arrange a follow up appointment to evaluate any concerns. In the unlikely event that the need for a refund for products or services arises, all reimbursements will be issued via check.