Your main options for getting a guitar restrung
You have three practical routes: a music store, a luthier (a guitar specialist), or doing it yourself at home. A music store is fastest and most convenient—you drop off your guitar and pick it up in a few days, usually for $20 to $50 depending on the string type. A luthier costs more ($40 to $100) but inspects your instrument for damage while restringing and can spot problems a general music store might miss. Doing it yourself takes about 30 minutes once you own wire cutters and a string winder, costs $8 to $15 per set of strings, and teaches you a skill you'll use for years.
The choice depends on how much time you have, whether you want to learn the process, and how much you trust your own hands. If your guitar hasn't been played in months or feels off in other ways, a luthier's inspection is worth the extra cost. If you play regularly and want to save money long-term, learning to restring at home pays for itself after three or four sets of strings.
Key Takeaways
- Music stores restring guitars in two to five days for $20 to $50 and are the fastest option if you don't want to do it yourself.
- Luthiers charge $40 to $100 but inspect your guitar for cracks, fret wear, and other damage while they work.
- Restringing at home costs $8 to $15 per set and takes about 30 minutes once you have wire cutters and a string winder.
- Acoustic and electric guitars restring the same way, but classical guitars use a different knot that takes longer to learn.
Finding a music store near you
Search "guitar repair near me" or "music store near me" in Google Maps to see what's within driving distance. Call ahead before you go—ask how long the restring takes (usually two to five days), what it costs, and whether they stock the string gauge you want. Some stores charge extra for premium strings like Elixir or D'Addario, so confirm the price before you leave your guitar.
Chain stores like Guitar Center and Sam Ash have locations in most cities and restring guitars as a standard service. Independent music stores often have more experienced staff and may catch problems a chain store misses, but availability varies by region. Ask whether the store replaces old strings with new ones or reuses your existing strings—most replace them, which is what you want.
When to visit a luthier instead
A luthier is a guitar specialist who builds and repairs instruments. They restring guitars but also check the neck for warping, inspect the frets for wear, and look for cracks in the body or headstock. If your guitar hasn't been played in years, sounds dull, or feels uncomfortable to play, a luthier's inspection during restringing can reveal whether the problem is just old strings or something more serious.
Find a luthier by searching "guitar luthier near me" or asking at a local music store for a referral. Luthiers typically charge $40 to $100 for restringing depending on the guitar type and their location. The higher cost reflects their informed—they can often fix small problems (a loose tuning peg, a bridge that's lifting) while they have your guitar, saving you a second trip.
How to restring your guitar at home
You need six new strings (or twelve for a 12-string guitar), wire cutters, a string winder, and a tuner. Strings cost $8 to $15 per set at any music store or online. A string winder costs $5 to $15 and makes the job much faster—without one, you'll turn the tuning pegs by hand, which takes twice as long.
The basic process: loosen the tuning pegs until the strings go slack, remove the old strings (some people cut them to make removal easier), thread the new strings through the bridge or bridge pins, pull them tight, and wind them around the tuning pegs. Tune the guitar up to pitch, then tune it again 10 minutes later because new strings stretch and go flat quickly. The whole job takes 30 to 45 minutes the first time you do it, then 15 to 20 minutes once you're practiced.
Watch a video tutorial for your specific guitar type before you start—acoustic, electric, and classical guitars have slightly different bridge systems. Classical guitars use a knot to tie strings to the bridge instead of bridge pins, which adds 10 minutes to the job and requires practice to get right. If you're nervous, restring once at a music store and watch the employee do it, then try at home with that memory fresh.
What to expect at each stage
When you drop off your guitar at a music store, ask for a receipt with the date and what you're having done. Most stores call or text when the guitar is ready. Pick it up within a week—leaving a guitar unplayed for months can cause the neck to shift slightly.
New strings need a few hours to settle. They'll go flat as you play them, so tune your guitar every 10 minutes for the first hour, then every 30 minutes for the next few hours. After a day of playing, they'll hold pitch much better. This is normal and happens with every new set of strings, whether you restring at home or at a store.
If you restring at home and the strings sound dull or muted, you may have wound them too loosely around the tuning pegs—loosen them, unwind, and try again with more tension. If one string breaks during restringing, you've wound it too tight; loosen it and start over with less force.
Cost comparison: store vs. luthier vs. home
| Option | Cost per restring | Time to completion | Inspection included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music store | $20–$50 | 2–5 days | No |
| Luthier | $40–$100 | 3–7 days | Yes |
| Home restringing | $8–$15 | 30–45 minutes | No |
If you play regularly, home restringing becomes the cheapest option after your first few sets. A music store is best if you want the job done fast and don't mind paying for convenience. A luthier is the right choice if you're unsure whether your guitar has other problems or if you want a professional inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I restring my guitar?
If you play daily, restring every three to six months. If you play a few times a week, every six to nine months. If you play rarely, once a year or whenever the strings sound dull and lifeless. Strings wear out faster if you play hard or use heavy-gauge strings. Broken strings are a sign to restring the whole set, not just replace the broken one.
Can I restring just one string instead of all six?
You can, and music stores will do it for $3 to $8. But if one string broke, the others are probably old too and will sound uneven next to the new string. Replacing all six at once costs only a little more and sounds much better.
What's the difference between acoustic and electric guitar strings?
Acoustic strings are thicker and have a wound core, which produces a louder, brighter sound. Electric strings are thinner and lighter, which makes them easier on your fingers. The restringing process is identical for both. Classical guitars use nylon strings tied with a knot instead of wound strings, which is a different technique.
Do I need to bring anything to the music store besides my guitar?
Bring your guitar and nothing else. The store has strings in stock and will ask what gauge and type you want. If you have a preference (Elixir, D'Addario, Ernie Ball), mention it so they know whether to charge extra. If you don't have a preference, they'll use a standard set.
How long do new strings stay in tune?
New strings go flat within the first few hours of playing as they stretch. Tune your guitar every 10 minutes for the first hour, then every 30 minutes for the next few hours. After a full day of playing, they'll hold pitch much more steadily. This happens whether you restring at home or at a store.