About Us
Riff Reviver is a guitar and amplifier repair and service shop located in the states fastest growing city Ridgefield, WA.
Our shop is a true mom-and-pop small business run out of a dedicated workspace in our home. You'll find us just up the hill from old down town Ridgefield.
We think music makes the world a better place, and people who love their instruments make more music. We're here to get you playing more by helping you get the most of the gear you already have.
Most Excellent Service? Our Customers think so!
Our Services
Electronic Repair and Modification
Starting at $50
Most electronic issues are fixed by cleaning or minor component replacement and covered by our basic bench fee of $50. For more complicated work we'll happily get you an estimate in shop.
We proudly recommend Gun Street pickups and wiring harnesses made "down on the corner" in Portland Oregon.
Pickup swaps and wiring harness installs are free with purchase when you buy through our store.
Amp Service and Repair
Basic Amp Service $125
Most amps just need a basic service to get rid of pops and crackles and we're happy to offer this as a flat rate of $125 (parts not included). We'll go through the basics, check the health of major components, and service the pots and jacks and sockets through out.
If you need more extensive work we'll discuss options and pricing together to find the approach that serves your gear and your wallet in equal measure.
(Please note: volume knobs that go to 11 are available by special request only)
Setup and Fretwork
Starting at $85
Polished frets, dialed in nut slots, and the perfect amount of relief can take any guitar from good to great.
Getting these right is tricky and sometimes irreversible, this is one of the areas where a dedicated tech has a huge advantage over DIY.
This is by far the most common service in our shop and the one that keeps showing up in our 5 star reviews again and again. Let us help you get the most of our your guitar.
Money, it's a hit.
We keep our prices straight forward and free of... you know
Rates, Estimates, and Warranties
Rates my change as the cost of goods fluctuates.
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.
No Charge: $0
Drop in to ask questions
Get an estimate
Neck Relief Adjustments
Install new tubes (parts obviously not included)
Quick Fix: $50
We'll cover a lot of small incidental labor-centric fix ups under this, call and ask for more info. Parts not included, some examples of frequent fixes
A buzzing nut slot
Basic grounding issues
Clear fill small chips/scratches in the finish
Guitar Setup and Restring : $85
Get your guitar setup top to bottom, fixes most issues with tuning stability and playing in-pitch.
Comprehensive inspection
Remove old strings, clean fret board and nut slots
Clean and polish guitar body and neck as appropriate
Clean and remove oxidation on electronics: knobs, and switches, and input jack
Lubricate tremolo system and tuner pegs
New battery in active systems
Fret polish (if you've never played a guitar with polished frets you're absolutely missing out)
Set neck relief, action intonation, make basic adjustments to nut slots.
2 "touch ups" included for the next year for seasonal changes.
Includes a set of premium strings from Stringjoy. Extra sets of strings available at discounted rate at time of service
Small surcharge for specialty string sets (custom gauges, 7+ strings, baritone etc)
Fret Level and Dress: $185
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: $100-150
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.
Send us a message (not in a bottle)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your turn around time?
TL;DR Often less than a week for guitars, typically 2-3 for amps.
Turn around time varies depending on the kind of work.
Guitar setups are usually ready for pickup within a week since have everything we need on hand 90% of the time.
Most other work's turn around time is limited by part availability. Sourcing quality parts at reasonable rates often means forgoing the convenience of certain "prime" delivery options. We bulk buy what we know we can use ahead of time to minimize this as best we can.
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.
What are your payment options?
We accept cash, tap-to-pay, CashApp, Venmo and invoices from established businesses (Net 30 terms generally apply)
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?
Call us! We'll happily walk though a little Q&A and can help hone in on the problem area and do a little trouble shooting over the phone. Sometimes it's as simple as a bad tube and most players can find and replace those with just a little guidance.
More complicated failures often need a look at the internals of the amp and this requires special tools and safety measures that we can't generally recommend for safety reasons but it's part and parcel of the service we provide.