Your Guitar Deserves to Play Its Best

From quick setups to full restorations, our local repair experts treat every instrument with care and precision.

Factory-authorized for Martin, Fender, Yamaha, and more!

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We Know What It Means When Your Guitar Doesn’t Feel Right

When your instrument doesn’t sound the way it should, it’s personal. Maybe the strings buzz, the neck feels off, or the tone has lost its spark. Whatever it is, we’ll make it right, so you can get back to playing the music you love.

Trusted Expertise. Local Care.

Our fretted repair team combines deep technical skill with a down-to-earth approach. You’ll talk to real people who know instruments inside and out, not a call center or warehouse.

Factory Authorized Service Center for Martin, Fender, Yamaha, and more

Over 40 Years of Repair Experience

In-House Luthiers across Eastern Iowa

“Our goal is to return your instrument to factory specifications and playability, yet look as if it had not needed the work and had not been worked on. So that it now functions as it should and yet looks great.”

— Bruce Vander Schel, West Music Luthier

How It Works

Start Your Repair Request – Tell us about your instrument and the issue (upload photos if you can).

Drop Off or Ship to Your Local Store – We’ll direct you to the right location.

Get a Clear Estimate – No work begins until you approve it.

Repair, Test, and Return – Most jobs are completed in 5–10 business days.

We’ll keep you updated every step of the way, no surprises, no jargon

Start Your Repair Request

Because Music Matters — and So Does Your Instrument

Your guitar isn’t just wood and strings, it’s memory, rhythm, and connection. We don’t just fix what’s broken. We restore what matters most: the joy of playing.

“It came back playing better than ever. You can tell they love what they do.”

— Local Customer, Coralville IA

Your Local West Music Repair Team

Bruce Vander Schel

Bruce has professionally repaired string instruments for West Music Co. since 1976. In 1978 he became C. F. Martin factory authorized to perform warranty work on their fine line of acoustic guitars. In fact, if you call Martin Guitars for service they frequently recommend Bruce. A very well-known figure in the eastern Iowa music scene and 2013 Iowa Rock and Roll Music Association Hall of Fame inductee, Bruce has over 40 years of experience assisting musicians with a wide variety of musical instrument repairs. His specialty is fretted instrument repair, ranging from acoustic and electric guitars and basses, banjos and mandolins, but he also has extensive experience in violin and cello repair. In addition to his C. F. Martin certification he holds a variety of official repair certifications, including Fender, Gretsch, Gibson/Epiphone, Takamine, Ibanez, Yamaha and many more. His training and attention to detail coupled with his years of experience make him one of the leaders in the field.

His specialties encompass everything from basic setups to neck resets, bridge reglues, refretting, restoration work, brace repair and replacement, and crack repairs – in addition to his fractured headstock repairs, which are exemplary. Bruce’s instrument repair experience is matched only by his electronics know-how, with decades worth of wiring, pickup and acoustic preamp system replacements and installations that can be directly attributed to him. No matter how unique your repair needs are, chances are that Bruce has seen and dealt with it – with stunning results. Check out our YouTube videos featuring some of Bruce’s interesting repairs, including a neck reset / top crack / finish restoration performed on a delicate 1950’s Martin guitar.

Ready to Fall in Love with Your Guitar Again?

We’ll handle the details so you can focus on what matters — playing.

Start Your Repair Request

Proudly serving Iowa musicians since 1941