0447 955 237
guitars | repaired, restored & built
Federal Strings is a fretted instrument workshop located near the Village of Federal, in the Byron Bay hinterland.
Run by luthier Joshua Rippingale, Federal Strings is open Tuesday to Saturday for maintenance, repair and modification of guitars, basses and other fretted instruments. The workshop is climate controlled, fully insured and all work is guaranteed. You can book an appointment online.
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Joshua also builds fine acoustic guitars for his clients by commission.
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If you have an instrument requiring a setup or maintenance, that needs repair or restoration, or if you are interested in commissioning a handbuilt guitar, please get in touch.
services
I service all makes and models of acoustic and electric guitar and bass, and other fretted instruments too. Services range from maintenance, setup, customisation and repair work, through to the commission and construction of a bespoke acoustic guitar designed to fit both you and your musical intent.
maintenance, setup & servicing
The right setup makes your instrument easier and more comfortable to play and can resolve many common intonation and tuning issues. I offer comprehensive, precision setup work that can transform how your instrument feels and sounds, particularly if it has been some time since its last adjustment.
Musical instruments, by their nature, can change subtly with the seasons, the weather and with the continual force of string tension. A regular setup and service will help your treasured instruments sound and play their best. It is also an opportunity to lubricate moving parts and inspect common wear areas. Catching things like worn bridge-pin holes or loose tuner bushings early could avoid the need for a more costly repair down the track.
repair & modifications
Accidental damage? Wear-and-tear? From minor cracks to major surgery, I'm happy to provide a estimate on any job. Acoustic instruments are my specialty. Some of the common jobs I undertake include:
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Repairing loose and lifting bridges
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Repairing cracks and splits
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Carving and installation of custom bone nuts and saddles
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Cracked or broken headstocks
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Fret dressing
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Full or partial refrets
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Repairing loose or cracked bracing
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Repairs to binding
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Neck resets
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Electronics repairs and modifications, from troubleshooting of problem components to pickup installation or full custom rewiring.
repair and maintenance pricing
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Each instrument is unique and generally I must inspect it before I can give you an estimate.
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However, if your instrument is in generally good condition, this price list gives you an indication of the cost of some standard services. You can book an appointment for any of my services online.
Setup - $130
A detailed, precision setup. Adjustment of action at nut and bridge, adjustment of neck relief and intonation and pickups where fitted. Includes a clean and polish of the instrument, servicing of moving parts and electronics, a general inspection and detailed report on your instrument. A new set of strings is required for all setups. I offer D'Addario strings at a competetive price or you may supply your own. Guitars fitted with some vibrato systems and instruments like 12-string guitars may attract an additional fee.
Restring - from $70
Price is for a standard guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo etc. Includes a fret polish and a clean and oil of your fretboard. You may purchase the new strings from me - I stock D'Addario strings at competetive prices - or supply your own.
Electronics repairs, installation and modification
Electric or acoustic pickup installs or swaps from $90. New components (output jack, potentiometer etc) from $40 plus the cost of the component. All other work, including full rewiring and custom circuits, quoted on an individual basis.
Bone nuts and saddles
Custom-made bone nuts and saddles, carved precisely to fit your instrument from $100. An upgrade for any instrument. Other materials also available.
Fret level, crown and setup - from $360
Also known as a fret dress, this service will remove fret wear and tear, eliminate any inconsistenies in the height of your frets and restore a perfect, rounded crown.
Includes a full setup and service and guaranteed to leave your instrument playing as well as it possibly can. New strings are required. I stock D'addario strings at competitive prices or you may supply your own.
Refret
From $650 and will be quoted after a detailed inspection of your instrument and discussion of your needs. Price can vary based on number of frets, your desired fret material, the condition of the fretboard and so on.
Repairs
Crack repair, bracing repair, neck resets, headstock repairs, bridge repairs, binding and finish repairs - I offer an expert repair service for all fretted instruments. Due to the varied nature of the work, I must examine your instrument in-person in order to provide an estimate.
book now
Use the links below to make a booking. Restrings can be performed while you wait. For other services, you are booking a time to drop off your instrument and discuss the work that will be performed.
meet joshua
I have more than 15 years experience repairing, building and servicing guitars, including time studying with one of Australia's most prominent and respected luthiers.
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A guitarist for more than 30 years, I've seen every side of the music industry. I spent years as a performing, touring, and recording guitarist, playing everywhere from pubs to auditoriums and festival stages - so I understand what musicians need from the tools of their trade.
My lifetime obsession with fretted instruments means I understand the passion of the amateur musician too. Whether you are an enthusiastic home player, a student or a collector, I get what drives you.
handmade guitars
My instruments are made one at a time and designed in consultation with the customer. They emphasize dynamic range, comfortable ergonomics and an elegant, understated aesthetic.
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My aim is to make zero-compromise players' instruments, rather than collector items. I strive to build guitars that fit their owners' body and whose sound supports their musical intent. Guitars constructed to excel acoustically while remaining robust enough to serve as a tool for the musician.
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The goal is to produce a guitar that is better in every way than one you'll find hanging on the wall of your local music store.
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If you are interested in my guitars, please get in touch.
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Pictured: Camphor/Sitka 00 in 24.9 scale, satin nitrocellulose. Photography by Mia Forrest.
giftcards
Looking for a gift idea for your guitar-obsessed loved ones? Or perhaps they need a gift idea for their guitar-obsessed you?
eGiftcards can be purchased online and redeemed for any service I offer - from setup and servicing work, through to major repair and restoration.
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This is the perfect gift for the guitarist who has everything, or the keen student who could be learning faster and having more fun with their guitar adjusted for optimum comfort and ease of play.
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Give the gift of a guitar that plays great.
contact
11 Teak Road
Federal, New South Wales
The workshop is open Tuesday to Thursday 10:00am - 4:30pm, 1:00pm to 4:30pm on Fridays and 10:00am - 12:30pm on Saturdays. Bookings are required so that I can give you and your instrument 100% of my attention when you arrive. You can book online, via phone or email.
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joshua @ federalstrings.com
0447 955 237
workshop policies
Drop-off and collection of instruments is by appointment only, and only within the published opening hours of the business.
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Please bring your instrument's case with you when dropping it off at the workshop. Keeping your instrument safe during its time in the workshop is a responsibility I take very seriously. There is limited safe storage space for un-cased instruments and it fills up quickly, so instruments without a case may not be accepted for work.
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If strings must be removed from your instrument to perform the requested work, it will be restrung with fresh strings. The old strings can be returned to you for future use if you like - please let me know ahead of time if you'd like me to retain them.
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All work is guaranteed unless otherwise agreed. Setup work can be brought back for complimentary adjustments and tweaks within 30 days of completion. Structural repairs are guaranteed for six months from completion. The guarantee is void if the instrument has been exposed to extremes of temperature or humidity, or suffered some subsequent accident or injury after it has left the workshop. The guarantee covers my workmanship. Commercially-sourced parts (such as pickups, hardware and so on) may be covered by a manufacturer warranty.
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By its nature, instrument repair is delicate work which cannot be rushed. Any timeframe provided should be considered a guide only, especially where refinishing is involved and factors outside of our control (eg ambient humidity interfering with lacquer spraying) impact the work.
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When work is complete, you will be notified by email and text message. Payment is due and instruments must be collected within seven days of notification.
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Cleared payment must be received before an instrument is collected. I accept bank transfer, credit and debit card (online and in the workshop) and cash. If paying cash please bring correct change as I do not keep cash on the premises.
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Due to space being at a premium, instruments which have not been collected after seven days may attract a storage fee of $5 per day.
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Instruments left uncollected for 90 days after completion of work without prior arrangement may be considered abandoned and sold to cover the cost of the requested repair work.