About Us
Riff Reviver is a guitar and amplifier servicing shop located in the states fastest growing city Ridgefield, WA. While we're new as a business we've been serving musicians in the local music scene for over a decade and have decided to open our doors to the general public. We think music makes the world a better place, and people who love their instruments play more. We're here to help you get the most of the gear you already have and help you play more.
Our Services
Electronic Repair and Modification
Does the wrong cap leave you in need of some sympathy for your treble? Nervous about sticking a hot soldering iron in the guts of your own gear? We can fix just about anything in the signal chain "between your pick and the power cord"
Amp Service and Repair
We offer limited amp services and will happily diagnose and repair many of the most common tube amp issues with great love and care for the history of your gear. if we can't provide you a diagnosis we'll gladly waive our bench fees. (Please note: volume knobs that go to 11 are available by special request only)
Acoustic Intruments
Our shops sees and services acoustic and eletric guitars alike, and we bring the same calculated approach to service for the self-sustaining instruments as their amplified counterparts. We also keep mandolin and banjo strings on hand for the folk and bluegress folks out there!
Money, it's a hit.
We keep our prices straight foward and free of... you know
Estimates are free so come on in
Rates, Estimates, and Warranties
Our shop rate is $85/hr for all work
Minimum charge is one hour of work
All work is warranted for 90 days after completion of service
In an effort to make our pricing predictable we offer our most common service at flat rates.
Guitar Setup and Restring : $85
Comprehensive inspection
Remove old strings, clean fretboard and nut slots
Clean and polish guitar body and neck as appropriate (e.g. no polish on satin or matte finishes)
Clean knobs, and switches, and input jack
Lubricate trem and tuner pegs
New battery in active systems
Quick ftet polish (if you've never played a guitar with polished frets you're absolutely missing out)
Set neck relief, action and intonation
2 "touch ups" included for the next year for seasonal changes.
Includes a set of regular Stringjoy Signature strings in 9, 10 or 11
Extra sets of strings available at discounted rate at time of service
Addtl. charge for specialty string sets (custom gauges, 7+ strings etc)
Fret Level and Dress: $200
Everything we do in the setup plus...
Level frets and re-radius frets
Crown, dress and bevel
Full fret polish
Re-cut nut slot to match new fret height
Regular Amplifier Service: $105
Check major components
Clean jacks and pots
Tighten tube sockets
Resolder connections as needed
Install new tubes as needed (not including cost of tubes)
Check and set bias as needed
Most Recaps add 1-2 hour labor + parts (ranges from $40-80 depending on amp)
Most other amplifier services take 2-3 hours.
Most Excellent Service? Our Customers think so!
Available by Appointment Only
Send us a message (not in a bottle)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your turn around time?
Turn around time varies depending on the kind of work.
Guitar setups are usually ready for pickup within a week, we like to get the new strings on the guitar and give it a day or two for the memory in the neck wood to adjust before doing final setup and there's really no rushing that.
Most other work's turn around time is limited by part availability. Sourcing quality parts at good rates often means forgoing the convenience of certain "prime" delivery options. This is especially true with amplifier parts which can vary greatly.
We'll always ask when you need your equipment by and will do our best to accommodate upcoming shows or sessions as best we can.
That being said most amplifiers don't need extensive work, just regular service and some small components so 1-2 weeks turn around is typical.
What are your payment options?
At this time we accept cash and social payment options only via CashApp and Venmo.
We do not accept personal checks, sorry for the inconvenience.
Can you show me how to do my own setups?
Absolutely! Our goal is to get more people playing music more often, Although this takes a considerable amount more time than doing it ourselves so the instruction does come at a premium. Contact our shop and let us know you're interested!
What types of instruments do you service?
Our services cover most electric and acoustic guitars and bass guitars.
We also extend to most kinds of fretted acoustic instruments including banjo and mandolin on occasion.
My guitar is buzzing but stops when I touch the strings, help?
This is a very common issue and 10 out of 11 times it's a simple grounding problem. Sometimes a re-string is necessary depending on the kind of bridge being used and where the ground point is (or ought to be). If you're comfortable doing so check that your components are well grounded within your electronics and pickup cavities. Otherwise bring it in and we'll get it sorted out.
My guitar makes intermittent static or clicking noises, what should I do?
Poor shielding or grounding can allow unwanted electric and magnetic interference to enter your signal chain. If the problem worsens in particular rooms or in front of stage lights for example that's usually a sign of inadequate shielding. If you can get a recording on your phone that will help with our diagnosis. If the sound is persistent this may be a sign of a bad component.
I'm having issues with my amp where should I start?
Start by giving us or another amp tech a call! Amp repair is not for the faint of heart, it takes special tools, equipment, and safety measures to do. We'd rather not see local musicians electrocuted so we do not recommend opening up even small amplifiers without the proper tools and knowledge. Solid state and tube amps alike can hold onto serious amount of current at lethal voltages long after they're turned off. We're truly here to help more people play more music, and you can't do that so well if you get fried by your amp. We provide low-cost diagnostic services so that you're not risking life or limb, if we can't fix it we'll help you find someone who can.