Guitar Technician Training
How You Go From Beginner
to Paid Guitar Tech in 8 Weeks
Most people assume learning guitar repair means watching videos or building a kit guitar.
That’s why most people never get good enough to charge for their work.
At Guitar Tech Academy, training is built around one thing:
👉 Doing real repair work, on real instruments, taught by real guitar techs, inside a working shop.
You Don’t Learn This by Watching — You Learn by Doing
From day one, you’re at the bench.
Not observing. Not “following along.”
You’re actually performing the work.
- Adjusting truss rods
- Setting nut height
- Diagnosing buzzing issues
- Completing full setups
- Working on customer-owned instruments
You repeat these processes until they become second nature. Then you move on to electrical work, mods, and repairs.
What Your Training Actually Looks Like
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (In-Shop Training)
You’re inside a real repair shop working at the bench under the guidence of professional guitar techs:
- Performing setups and repairs
- Learning proper sequence and measurement
- Getting corrected in real time
- Building speed and consistency
Wednesday (Remote / Review Day)
With online training materials:
- Reinforce what you learned
- Review techniques
- Prepare for the next phase
- Enjoy our beautiful beaches!
You’re Not Just Learning Repairs — You’re Learning a System
Most techs focus on the problem they see:
Buzzing string → adjust the saddle
Tuning issue → blame the tuners
High fret → spot-fix the area
But the real cause is often somewhere else entirely.
At Guitar Tech Academy, you’ll learn a structured process that:
- Identifies root causes (not just symptoms)
- Follows a precise order of operations
- Uses measurable adjustments instead of guesswork
- Ensures nothing gets missed
The difference between an average tech and a professional is not skill—it’s process.
This is the foundation behind the MasterPro Guitar Setup™ system—built to uncover hidden issues and deliver consistent, repeatable results.
How This Turns Into Real Income
Once you can consistently perform quality work, you don’t need:
- A storefront
- Expensive inventory
- Years of experience
You need:
- Basic tools
- A workspace
- A few paying customers
That’s enough to start generating income.
At Guitar Tech Academy, you’ll learn more than the tech side of the business – you’ll learn marketing secrets, parts procurement, bookeeping and more.
Most players are actively looking for someone they can trust, who can make their guitar play better. It’s going to be you!
Is This Right for You?
This IS for:
- People who want a practical, hands-on skill
- Players tired of guessing and “YouTube fixes”
- Career changers looking for income flexibility
- Retirees who want something productive and profitable
Next Step: See If You’re a Fit
Seats are limited to 4 students per class. We want only serious students who want to be successful.
Small Classes. Real Shop Environment.
Each class is limited to four students.
This keeps training focused and practical.
Instead of sitting in a classroom listening to lectures, you’ll spend most of your time at a workbench performing real procedures on real instruments.
You’ll learn inside Hank’s Guitar Shop, a busy repair shop where professional setup and repair work is done every day.
This environment exposes students to the same types of instruments and problems encountered in real repair businesses.
8-Week Training Structure
The program runs for eight weeks of intensive hands-on training.
Each week builds on the skills learned in the previous one.
You will learn to professionally handle all the work you’re likely to encounter.
Week 1: Foundations
Students begin by learning the core tools and measurement methods used in professional guitar repair. Professional setups rely on accurate measurements and repeatable processes.
Weeks 2 - 3: Setup Basics
Students begin performing complete setups using the same structured process professional guitar repair techs use in our shop.
Weeks 4 - 6:
Since students work on actual guitar jobs, they often learn nutwork, fret work, mods and electrical work during the natural work flow, otherwise we intentionally introduce these jobs during this period.
Weeks 7 - 8:
While continuing to do setups and the extraneous side repairs they always incur, instructors introduce headstock repairs, and other difficult jobs that aren’t daily occurances but are almost guaranteed to arise a couple times per year or more.
Through our sister organization – Guitars Done Right, you can receive on-going support. Both technical and business questions will be promptly responded on our member support forum.
Tools and Bench Skills
Students train with the tools used by professional technicians.
This includes:
• precision rulers and gauges
• nut files and setup tools
• electronic tuners and measurement devices
• professional workbench equipment
You do not need to arrive with experience.
Students are taught how to use each tool properly and safely.
What a Typical Training Day Looks Like
Training days combine instruction with hands-on bench work.
A typical day might look like this:
10:00 – 10:30
Shop opens, review & questions from day before
10:30 – 12:30
Hands-on bench work and setup & repair training
12:30 – 13:00
Lunch break
13:00 – 15:00
Bench work – repair procedures and troubleshooting
15:00 – 15:15
Break
15:15 – 17:30
Bench work
17:30 – 18:00
Review & discussion
Students spend most of their time working directly on instruments at the bench, not sitting in lectures. There is always an instructor, right there, so you can ask questions or ask for more direction at any time.
Train In a Real Guitar Repair Shop
Students train inside Hank’s Guitar Shop, a professional repair shop that services guitars, basses, violins, cellos, ukuleles, mandolins, and other stringed instruments every week.
This exposure gives students experience with real-world instruments and real setup problems.
Learn the Business Side of Guitar Repair
Technical skills are only part of building a successful repair business.
Students also learn practical business topics such as:
• how repair shops price their services
• common repair workflow systems
• managing repair intake
• working from a home shop vs retail store
• realistic income opportunities
And most importantly, you’ll learn marketing, advertising and sales skills to ensure a constant stream of work on your bench!
These insights help students understand how guitar repair can become a practical source of income.
Who This Training Is Designed For
This program is designed for adults who want practical skills they can use professionally.
Many students fall into one of these groups:
• musicians who want to supplement their income
• guitar enthusiasts interested in profitable technical work
• people seeking a hands-on trade skill
• retirees looking for an enjoyable way to earn extra income
• entrepreneurs interested in starting a guitar repair business
No previous repair experience is required.
What Happens After Training
Graduates leave the program with the ability to perform professional guitar setups and diagnose common repair issues.
Many students go on to:
• start a guitar repair business from home
• work for guitar stores
• offer setup services as a sideline
• expand into retail guitar repair shop
Continuing support is available for graduates, through the Guitars Done Right support forum, where questions are answered by our instructors everyday.
Next Steps
If you’re truly interested in learning professional guitar repair skills, the next step is to apply.
Class size is limited to four students per session to ensure each student receives one-on-one, hands-on instruction.
Students at Guitar Tech Academy train inside Hank’s Guitar Shop, a working professional repair shop.
These reviews come from real repair customers.
