Guitar Center does restring guitars, and most locations offer the service in-store

Yes, Guitar Center will restring your guitar. Most of their stores have a repair department that handles restringing as a standalone service — you do not have to buy strings there or have other work done. You can walk in with your guitar, ask for a restring, and pick it up the same day or within a few days depending on how busy the location is.

The service is straightforward: they remove your old strings, clean the fretboard while it is exposed, and install new strings. You can bring your own strings or buy them from Guitar Center. If you bring your own, the labor cost is the same. The total price varies by location and string type, but typically ranges from $20 to $50 for labor alone.

Not every Guitar Center location has a repair shop on-site. Smaller or newer stores sometimes send instruments to a regional repair center instead, which adds a week or more to the turnaround. Call your local store before you go to confirm they do restringing in-house.

Key Takeaways

  • Guitar Center restrings guitars at most locations with an in-store repair department, and you can often pick up the same day or within a few days.
  • Restringing labor typically costs $20 to $50 depending on the store and the type of strings, and you can bring your own strings or purchase them there.
  • Some Guitar Center locations do not have a repair shop and will send your guitar to a regional center, which takes longer.
  • Call ahead to confirm your local store offers in-store restringing before you visit.

How much Guitar Center charges for restringing

Guitar Center's restringing labor cost is not posted on their website and varies by location. Most stores charge between $20 and $50 for labor, with the exact price depending on the store's overhead and local market rates. Some locations charge a flat rate; others charge by string count (acoustic versus electric, for example).

If you buy strings from Guitar Center, you pay for the strings plus labor. A basic set of electric strings costs $5 to $15; acoustic strings run $8 to $20. Premium or specialty strings cost more. If you bring your own strings, you pay only the labor fee.

The best way to find out what your local store charges is to call the repair department directly. Ask for the labor cost and whether they charge extra for specialty strings like nylon or flatwound.

What happens during a restring at Guitar Center

When you drop off your guitar, the technician will remove the old strings, inspect the fretboard and neck for damage, and clean the fretboard. This is one of the main reasons to use a service instead of restringing at home — you get access to the fretboard without strings in the way.

They will then install new strings, tune the guitar, and stretch the strings so they hold pitch longer. The whole process takes 30 minutes to an hour for a single guitar, but if the repair queue is long, you may wait several days for pickup.

If the technician finds a problem — a crack, a bent fret, a loose tuning peg — they will tell you before they proceed. Restringing alone will not fix these issues, and you would need to pay for additional repair work.

Turnaround time and when to expect your guitar back

If you drop off your guitar at a Guitar Center with an in-store repair shop, you can often pick it up the same day if you arrive early in the morning and the queue is short. Most stores aim for same-day or next-day turnaround for restringing alone.

During busy seasons — back-to-school in August and the winter holidays — the wait can stretch to three to five business days. If your store sends guitars to a regional repair center, expect one to two weeks.

Ask the repair department for an estimate when you drop off your guitar. They will give you a specific day or a range. If you need it faster, ask whether they can prioritize it; some stores will charge a rush fee.

Bringing your own strings versus buying them at Guitar Center

You can bring your own strings to Guitar Center and pay only the labor cost. This makes sense if you already have strings at home or if you prefer a brand or gauge that Guitar Center does not stock. The labor charge is the same either way.

If you buy strings from Guitar Center, you get the convenience of one-stop shopping and the assurance that the technician is familiar with the strings they are installing. Guitar Center stocks most common brands and gauges, so you will likely find what you need.

If you are unsure what strings to buy, the repair technician can recommend a set based on your guitar type and playing style. This is a real advantage of using the service — you get a brief consultation included.

When to restring at home instead of using Guitar Center

If you restring regularly and are comfortable doing it yourself, the labor cost adds up. A restring at home takes 15 to 30 minutes once you have the skill, and you save $20 to $50 each time. Many players restring at home and use Guitar Center only when they want a professional cleaning or when they are short on time.

Restringing at home also means you control the exact strings, gauge, and brand. Some players have strong preferences and prefer not to rely on what a technician recommends.

The downside is that you need the right tools — wire cutters, a string winder, and a tuner — and you need to learn the technique. If you have never done it, your first attempt may take an hour or more, and the strings may not stay in tune as well. For a first restring, using Guitar Center is worth the cost.

What to do if your local Guitar Center does not offer restringing

If your store does not have an in-store repair shop, ask whether they can send your guitar to a regional center and what the turnaround time will be. Some stores offer this as a mail-in service; you drop off your guitar and they ship it to the repair center and back to you.

If the wait is too long, look for an independent guitar repair shop in your area. Many local shops offer restringing for similar prices and often have faster turnaround because they are smaller and less busy than Guitar Center. Search online for "guitar repair near me" or ask at a local music school for recommendations.

You can also order strings online and restring at home. If you are a beginner, YouTube has hundreds of step-by-step videos for your guitar type. The learning curve is short, and you will save money on future restrings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drop off my guitar and come back the same day?

Most Guitar Center locations with in-store repair can restring your guitar the same day if you arrive early and the queue is short. Call ahead to ask about wait times, or ask the technician for an estimate when you drop it off. During busy seasons, same-day service is less likely.

Do I need to buy strings from Guitar Center to use their restringing service?

No. You can bring your own strings and pay only the labor cost. The restringing fee is the same whether you buy strings there or bring your own.

What if I do not know what strings to buy?

Ask the repair technician when you drop off your guitar. They can recommend a set based on your guitar type and playing style. If you buy strings from Guitar Center, they will install the ones you choose. If you bring your own, they will install those instead.

How long does restringing actually take?

The technician needs 30 minutes to an hour to restring your guitar, including cleaning the fretboard and tuning. The total time you wait depends on how many guitars are ahead of yours in the repair queue.

What if the technician finds a problem with my guitar during restringing?

They will tell you about it before they proceed. Restringing alone will not fix cracks, bent frets, or loose hardware. You can choose to pay for additional repairs or just pick up your guitar with new strings and have the other work done elsewhere.