Jeff Trimble – Guitar Luthier

Thanks for visiting my site. Music, and guitars in particular, has been a huge part of my life since I was a young boy. I remember being 5 years old and wanting a guitar so badly! I told my mom and dad I was going to be a guitar player. I’m sure they thought it was just the imagination of a 5 year old, but it was a dream I was born to fulfill.

A little history

When I was 13 I worked all summer in the tobacco fields of eastern North Carolina, saving up my pay to get my first guitar; a Yamaha acoustic guitar I had on layaway at the town’s local music store. I remember the Friday that I had my final payment in hand! My older brother took me down to pick it up and I was beside myself in anticipation. We went into the store and as we waited for my guitar to be brought out from the layaway area in the back, my brother was eyeing the electric guitars. I looked (drooled may be more descriptive) at the array of beautiful Stratocasters, Telecasters, Les Pauls and assorted other beauties. My brother asked me which one I liked and I immediately pointed to a gorgeous, wine red Les Paul Custom! The salesman gladly pulled it down off the hanger and handed it to me. I couldn’t play yet as I had just taken my first few lessons so I just kind of stood there holding it, mesmerized at the beauty. Then I thought I heard my brother say something through my day dreaming of being the next Eddie Van Halen…..”huh? What’s that you just said?? You’re going to what???!!” I walked out of that store that Friday with that Les Paul thanks to my older brother, Tom. Thanks, Tom, you are to blame for me spending every extra penny I ever had on music gear from the age of 13 on!!

Fast forward about 3 or 4 years. I am in a rock-n-roll garage band in high school and working part time at the same music store where I got the Les Paul. That store was a mom and pop store and the one of the owners sons took to showing me how to repair guitars. One thing led to another and I found myself pretty much the only guitar tech in my small town of 40,000 or so people. I read a lot, talked to a lot of older players, made a lot of phone calls (this was way before the days of the internet!) and my fair share of mistakes in learning the trade, but repairing guitars became a passion.

It is that same passion, almost 40 years later now, that pushes me to learn new techniques of guitar repair and do the best job possible. I have a fully equipped shop and am constantly adding new tools and fixtures. There is a satisfaction I get in taking a customer’s guitar in varying states of disrepair and handing it back to them looking and playing better than it ever has.

List of Services and Pricing

We specialize in providing quality musical instrument and electronic repair to individuals, bands, churches and the musician community. We offer comprehensive services for any stringed instrument.

ACOUSTIC GUITARS AND INSTRUMENTS

Setups – $60

• Add $20 for 12 strings

Includes changing the strings and adjusting the following as needed: truss rod, nut slot height, bridge saddle height, Includes a complete body polish, fretboard cleaning and fret polishing.

New Nut – $120

• Add $20 for 12 strings

Includes a setup. All nuts are made from bone blanks unless otherwise requested. Nuts are handmade and custom fitted to each instrument.

Fret Level, Crown & Polish – $140

• Add $20 for 12 strings

Includes a setup. The frets will be measured, leveled, recrowned and polished (see shop pictures for an example of the work done).

Refret – $240

• Add $60 for bound fingerboards
• Add $40 for fretboard level
• Add $60 for Stainless Steel Frets

Includes removing all existing frets, replacing with new frets, leveling, crowning and polishing new frets and a setup.

Partial Refret – $160 + $10 per fret

• Add $10 per fret up to 7 frets
• Add $5 per fret for bound fingerboards

Includes a setup and complete fret level, crown and polish.

Refresh – $240

• Add $40 for bound fingerboards

Includes a setup, new nut, replace up to 5 frets, fret level, crown and polish.

Renew – $300

• Add $60 for bound fingerboards and $40 for fretboard level)

Includes a complete refret, new nut and setup.

Bridge Removal & Reglue – $120

Structural and Finish

Charleston Guitar Clinic, LLC can repair most cracks, broken headstocks and structural problems on acoustic and electric instruments. Problems such as cracks and broken headstocks can be accomplished with or without a finish touchup. We also offer complete refinishing services. Every job is different and must be seen to give a quote. All labor will be calculated at $60 an hour.

Ricky Taylor

“Jeff has worked on almost all my guitars and has always done an amazing job with them. Whether it’s been a simple set up or installing pickups, he’s consistently given my guitars back better then they’ve ever played or sounded. If you need guitar work done, Jeff’s your man!”

Dennis Mitchell

“Threw Jeff a curve-ball with an exotic guitar… he knocked the shielding and re-wire out of the park. Thanks Jeff!”

Keith Morrison

“Quality Workmanship, Quick Turn-Around, Low Prices, and Attention To Detail. I won’t take my guitars or basses anywhere else. Jeff gets my guitars playing like they were fresh from the showroom. Charleston Guitar Clinic, LLC is THE place!”

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Looking for a custom made guitar?

CGC offers complete custom builds of bolt-on neck guitars, such as a Stratocaster or Telecaster.

Services range from a complete, custom, hand finished, nitrocellulose finish on both the body and neck or final assembly and setup of your project.

Contact us for a quote.