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The 12th Fret
4.9 ★★★★★ 209 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in Portland, Oregon
Established music shop specializing in repairs & custom-builds for acoustic & electric guitars.
Plan your visit
- Repairs & setups a repair bench comes up in reviews and the store's own info — call ahead for turnaround, since good techs run a queue
- Buys & trades used gear they buy, trade, or consign used instruments — bring the case and any original parts, and expect trade credit to beat the cash offer
- Today see hours ·
- Phone (503) 231-1912
- Website the12thfret.com
Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–6 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–6 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–6 PM |
| Saturday | 12–4 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
What's on the wall
“I brought my Guild acoustic in for a refret a year ago and was very happy with the work they did, so I came back recently with my Telecaster for a fret dress.”
“I brought my Guild acoustic in for a refret a year ago and was very happy with the work they did, so I came back recently with my Telecaster for a fret dress.”
Brands they deal
“I purchased a USA 1996 Fender Jazz Bass that Dan had restored & was up for sale.”
“They worked on a guitar that is very important to me- 1964 Gibson LG-0 purchased new by my Dad at the Dyess Air Force Base PX.”
What players say again and again
“I brought my Italian Luceno OM in for pickup repair. Tom did a great job and it’s working and sounding awesome.”
“Fantastic assortment of used and new guitars, great selection of parts, knowledgeable and charming staff.”
From the reviews
I brought my Italian Luceno OM in for pickup repair. Tom did a great job and it’s working and sounding awesome. Next trip will be for a 12th fret set up. Love their ideas and quest for perfection. I went back today to have the action on my Maton adjusted. These guys are the best luthiers in town.
I’ve been going here for quite a few years. Every guitar they worked on always played and sounded better. For awhile I stopped playing guitar; but later I came back to my original love bass guitar; I started coming back and Dan started working and customizing both my Squire 40th Anniversary basses, P-Bass & Jazz Bass…
Excellent combination of listening to customers and having technical expertise. Very highly recommended, they made me fall in love with my 7 string all over again!! Work on this particular guitar included new pickups and wiring configuration.
They worked on a guitar that is very important to me- 1964 Gibson LG-0 purchased new by my Dad at the Dyess Air Force Base PX. First guitar I ever played. They replaced the plastic bridge and saddle with a custom ebony and bone bridge and repaired the top. They also replaced the nut and the tuners.
Selling or trading gear at The 12th Fret
The 12th Fret comes up for buying and trading used gear — confirmed on their own site. Two things make the trip go better. First, bring the whole package: the case or gig bag, the original tremolo arm or bridge parts, the paperwork if you have it — a complete rig is worth real money more than a bare instrument, and it saves the back-and-forth of "can you bring the case in?" Second, know that trade credit almost always beats the cash offer, usually by a healthy margin — if you're upgrading anyway, price your old gear as a trade against the new one before you take cash. Either way, expect the offer to be below what the gear sells for on the wall; the gap is the store's margin for setup, warranty, and sitting on it until the right buyer walks in.
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