Guitar pedal repair: what breaks, what it costs, and who fixes it

ByString & Amp Team

Most pedal problems are mechanical: a crackly input jack, a footswitch that stops clicking on, a power jack that’s worn loose. Those are usually quick fixes. Six shops in our directory post pedal repair prices, and they range from a $25 bench fee to $250 and up for complex circuit work. Below you’ll find 42 shops at 43 locations in 19 states that fix or mod effects pedals, plus two mail-in options.

What usually goes wrong with a pedal

Pedals get stepped on for a living. So the parts that fail are mostly the ones you touch or plug things into.

  • Input and output jacks. Cables get yanked and kicked. The jack loosens, or a solder joint behind it cracks, and you get crackling or a signal that cuts in and out.
  • Footswitches. The switch takes every stomp. When it wears out, the pedal won’t turn on, won’t turn off, or pops loudly when you hit it.
  • Power jacks. Plugging and unplugging the adapter wears the DC jack. Using the wrong power supply can damage it too.
  • Pots (the knobs). Dirty or worn pots crackle or jump in volume when you turn them.
  • Broken solder joints. Years of stomping and moving gear can crack a joint on the circuit board. These cause the hard-to-pin-down faults that come and go.
  • Battery corrosion. A battery left in a pedal can leak and eat at the battery clip and nearby parts.

Shutup & Play Studios lists scratchy pots, loose jacks and broken footswitches as examples of simple repairs on its price page.

Fix it or replace it?

Fix it if the pedal is vintage, boutique, modded or simply one you love. Those are hard or impossible to replace. Fix it too if the problem is a jack, switch or pot, since those are standard parts.

A mass-produced pedal is a different call. Compare the shop’s bench fee and quote with the price of the same pedal new or used. If the fee alone gets close, replacing it is often the better deal. And if a shop finds serious circuit damage, ask for the quote before you approve the work.

What pedal repair costs

Six shops in our directory post pedal prices on their own websites. They don’t all price the same way. Some charge a bench fee just to open the pedal and find the problem. Others post a flat price or a range for the repair itself. So treat these as examples, not one going rate.

ShopLocationPosted price
Shutup & Play StudiosEugene, OR$25 evaluation and repair bench fee. Simple repairs $50 to $75+, standard repairs $75 to $125+, complex repairs $125 to $250+
Wizard ElectronicsAtlanta, GA$65 fixed-price repair on pedals (call to qualify)
CW Guitar AudioDelaware, OH$65 bench fee for pedal work, covering the first 30 minutes, then $130 an hour
Bryce Pettyjohn RepairsRogue River, OR$25 diagnostic fee for pedals, shop rate $120 an hour
Hochstrasser ElectronicsRockland, MA$75 pedal repair bench fee
Vintage Guitar WorkshopCarlsbad, CA$80 pedal bench fee, which includes inspection, diagnosis, cleaning and tightening of pots, jacks and switches

Prices come from each shop’s own website as of October 2026. Parts are usually extra, and prices change, so confirm with the shop before you drop off a pedal.

Pedal work often comes up alongside other repairs. For guitar setups, electronics work and refrets, see what guitar setups and repairs cost.

Local shop or mail-in?

A local shop is the easier choice when you can get there. You can describe the problem in person, there’s no shipping cost, and nothing gets lost in the mail. That matters more for an expensive or vintage pedal.

Mail-in makes sense when no shop in your area works on pedals, or when you want the maker to fix its own pedal. Two options:

  • Stompbox Electronics repairs and mods pedals by mail. You contact them first, and they email you the address to send the pedal to.
  • Keeley Electronics repairs Keeley pedals, including modded ones, by mail. Its repairs page lists US out-of-warranty repairs at $35.95.

Analog Man, listed below under Connecticut, also takes pedals by mail at its Bethel shop.

Pack the pedal well, leave the battery out, and include a note describing the fault.

Shops that fix guitar pedals, by state

These 42 shops (43 locations) say on their own websites that they repair or modify effects pedals. Most are guitar or amp repair shops that also take pedals, so call ahead and describe the problem. Some only do limited pedal work.

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Kansas

Massachusetts

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

Washington

Don’t see your area? Browse all guitar repair shops or amp repair shops. Many amp techs work on pedals even if their website doesn’t say so.

String & Amp is a one-man show. If this guide helped, there’s a tip jar.

Questions about pedal repair

How much does guitar pedal repair cost?

It depends on the shop and the fault. Six shops in our directory post pedal prices. Shutup & Play Studios in Eugene, Oregon lists simple repairs at $50 to $75 and up. Wizard Electronics in Atlanta advertises a $65 fixed-price pedal repair (call to qualify). Bench fees to look at a pedal run from $25 to $80 at the shops that post one.

Is it worth repairing a low-priced pedal?

Usually only when the fix is simple. A loose jack or a worn footswitch is a small job. If the posted bench fee alone is close to what the pedal costs new, replacing it often makes more sense. Vintage, boutique and modded pedals are almost always worth a repair quote.

Can I mail a pedal in for repair?

Yes. Stompbox Electronics runs a mail-in pedal repair and mod service, and Keeley Electronics repairs its own pedals by mail, with US out-of-warranty repairs listed at $35.95. Analog Man in Bethel, Connecticut also takes pedals by mail.

Do guitar shops fix pedals?

Some do. Most of the shops below are guitar or amp repair shops that also take pedals, rather than pedal-only shops. Call first and describe the problem, since some only do limited pedal work.

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