James has repaired several guitars for me over the past year or more. Hes a personable, conscientious person with a solid knowledge of his craft. I definitely recommend his services. Great customer service and always fair pricing. Great experience all round.

I came in for a pickup install on a custom made acoustic. James recommended the perfect device for my needs. I went away for a trip and when I returned, my guitar was ready for pickup. The install was expertly done, completely non-invasive to my beloved instrument. My guitar sounds great and the work was way more affordable than I expected. James was an excellent communicator throughout the process. I will be using James and Portland Guitar Repair for any of my future repair needs. Thanks James! So happy with the work.

James is my go-to guy for a whole basket of guitar questions and repairs. He is a great communicator, always prices fairly, and does fantastic work. He has done several custom jobs for me, and always with ingenuity and expert craftsmanship. His only shortcoming is that he’s too friendly to tell me that he needs to get back to work when we start talking guitars. Thank you James!

James is very knowledgeable! Great service!

If you need great work from a very talented, customer service oriented and friendly stringed instrument luthier/technician, get it done here!Ive had work done at all of the top guitar repair shops in Portland. All were good; however, I usually had to get things refined or done again. Plus, some were just not that attentive or friendly. That may be subjective...I know. The 95% wor is why I went from one shop to another.I still wrote good reviews as deserved; however, I know there are people in this world that gives 100% and then some.I looked again.I have vintage and high-end guitars. They mean a lot to me as I am sure yours do to you. When I go to a repair shop, I hope they treat the instrument as their own and do meticulous work as I would if I had the expertise.I have rarely experienced this kind of service.The best service I have ever received was from a luthier in California, the very well known Frank Ford of Gryphon Stringed Instruments.He is a genius; meticulous, a nice guy and known by the best in America; maybe the world.James Hingston, owner of Portland Guitar Repair worked with Frank Ford for several years! When I read this about James, I took two of my most valuable guitars to him for set-up, fret work and some other cosmetic repairs.After meeting James, I knew my guitars were in great hands.My Martin 1943 000-18 never played better. Beautiful work!My Custom Fender American Strat...the same. Perfect!I have a couple more guitars I will take to James in the near future for set-up and for one, some fret work. I no longer need to try another shop. Wonderful work from a great guy!I absolutely trust James. He is indeed the best guitar tech and luthier in Portland based on my experience.So glad he relocated back home from Gryphon in California. If you get mentorship from Frank Ford, that puts you in a special class. James is special even without the plus of having worked with Frank.Again, want great work from a very nice guy? Go to Portland Guitar Repair and let James take care of your beloved instrument.BTW: The photos are the 1943 Martin 000-18. It has been worked on by a few luthiers and James has done the best hands down. I am now playing it more than I ever have in the past. Its perfect!The other photo is my 1992 American Strat with a new custom Warmoth Neck that James worked on for me (smoothing, polish frets and a set-up). The guitar is now playing like I always dreamed for all these years! James did a wonderful job...again.

I dont even know where to begin. First of all, 5 stars is really selling James short. This dude took in my two Gibsons that were in serious need of love and care on a last minutes notice. They felt really off when I played them and they didnt keep in tune at all. I called him at 11 AM on a Thursday and he actually had me bring them in because one of his other appointments had cancelled, last minute. I thought Great! Im on my way! We met at his shop, we talked for a bit, and he was very inviting and had a very professional and comforting approach to the work I presented him with. I am very, very protective over my babies and I felt, immediately, that they were in the best of care as soon as I showed up. He was very honest in his time estimate, in fact he was early in his delivery. Also, he estimated me, roughly, about $180-$190 for the work done on both of my guitars, together. All said and done, it ended up being in the neighborhood of $160. Hes super honest and, I know Im not the only one here who feels this way, but as soon as you meet him, it feels like youre hanging out with an old friend. He takes great pride in his work, yet he is extremely humble and he is really fun to just sit down and B.S. with. Honestly, hes probably the most knowledgeable, detail oriented, and careful guy in the Pacific Northwest. He also polished my frets up and adjusted the neck/action and they have never, EVER felt any better than this. I seriously feel like this guy is a wizard. He performed some seriously wicked magic on my guitars and I am forever grateful for Mr. James. You have earned yourself a regular client, my friend. Thank you for all of your hard work!Cheers

Absolutely awesome shop! James does exceptional work and I havent ever been disappointed. I wont ever take my guitars anywhere else. Thank you!´◔‿ゝ◔`)━☞ You rock! 🎸

Portland Guitar Repair checks all the boxes for what I am looking for in a shop: friendly attitude, great customer service, high quality of work. I worked with James, and it is apparent that he loves what he does. Cant recommend this place enough, if you are looking for a repair/setup/whatever, give this shop a call!

James did a great job on a vintage banjo-mandolin. He delivered exactly what I wanted. Now I have a great instrument for years. I could not be more happy.

I entrusted my baby, a 20 year old hand built acoustic guitar, to James to be re-fretted. I am so pleased with the work he did. The guitar plays great and sounds fantastic. In addition to being a top notch professional, he is a great guy. I highly recommend James.

James does great work. Highly recommend for any stringed instrument. Everyone of mine that hes touched sounds better and plays easier.

I dont do Google reviews typically, but just got my bass back from James who did stellar work on it re: setting up and addressing some electrical issues I had going on. Not a lot of luthiers in my experience nail the sweet spot between playability and tone re: bass action and this thing feels incredible to me now. Great communication, friendly/professional demeanor, killer work. Highly recommend!

James is a really nice guy who does good work and communicates well. Huge props to him for not scoffing at me bringing in my $400 Epiphone, instead being only interested in making my guitar better than it was before. Portland isnt short on guitar repair shops, but I havent found one more personable.

James does great work. He took time to do the job right. I brought him my DIY telemaster that needed some finishing touches, neck/fret work and a proper setup. Great personal service and quick turnaround time - now she sings! Gonna play her out this weekend!

Yall go visit James, hes a freaking wizard. Hes worked on two of my instruments and both have come back better than ever. Seriously, this shop has quickly become my favorite place to get instrument work done. 10 our of 10.

By far the best repair shop in Portland. James setup my Japanese 12 sting electric, and now it plays better than it probably ever has! Definitely going back.

James is really a great guy and excellent guitar tech. He made my 77 Takamine jumbo sound and play awesome! Extremely fair pricing, timeliness and communication; definitely will be a repeat customer.

James did an excellent job re-fretting my beloved Heritage hollow body. The fret ends look like works of art! Now my guitar plays wonderfully and the fretboard looks fantastic! James is an artist at his craft and a great guy, as well! I highly recommend Portland Guitar Repair.I am a guitar teacher and have been playing guitar for over 30 years.

Had this fella do lots of luthier work on several types of instruments. Always more than satisfied with the work and customer service.

Hi everyone,James installed a Seymour Duncan pup & eq/pre-amp, pots, re-wiring, minor fret work, restring and a full set up on my Sterling StringRay 4 string bass.The price he quoted was more than reasonable and was the amount paid. The work he preformed was nothing short of magical. He worked with me getting the setup the way I play so I didn’t have to get home and start tweaking around. James listens to your needs and every nuance of your instrument, making you you leave the shop ready to get out and play!!My bass was returned to me feeling, playing and sounding outstanding. James is GOLDEN.If you have a stringed instrument that needs a luthier’s luthier I without any hesitation highly recommend James @ Portland Guitar Repair.

James was recommended to me by a local, high end guitar store as someone who could help me get my guitars set up exactly how I wanted. They werent wrong. Hes since worked on my Santa Cruz and Gibson Hummingbird and the results are excellent. Portland Guitar Repair is now my go to shop.

James is awesome and very reasonable. I come a long way to see him.

Got my guitar back and all the little details were taken care of it. Exceeded my expectations.

Great work, my guitar sounds and feels better than when it was new! Fair prices and quick service

Best shop in Portland for expert repairs!

Needed some repair work done on one of my basses, brought it into James as I live in the neighborhood and dont have a local go-to Luthier. Process was easy, came in under quote. Would recommend!

I live nearby James shop hence my early discovery. Like most guitarists, I have a collection of waifs and strays many of whom are in need of a lot of T.L.C. From simple setups​ to major surgery James has had an imaginative and skilled approach to renovating instruments I thought beyond help - my herd is looking healthier by the day! Hes also a good,versatile musician who understands the guitarists viewpoint​ and needs - and he even does ukes! Fast turnaround, ​too.Highly recommended and easily accessible​ on Stark St just before it climbs to Tabor, next to the Sunday market. P.S. parking out front is great.

Working with James at Portland Guitar Repair was a fantastic experience all around. He is very friendly, communicative, and thorough. I brought in a guitar project from Warmoth that needed to have the pickup wiring done as well as a full setup, and I was extremely pleased with the results. The setup was absolute perfection, and my newest guitar (a Jazzmaster with Joe Barden P90s) sings with clarity and punch. Its probably the best playing and sounding guitar in my collection, and I cant say enough good things about the quality of work that James does.James gave me a timeline for the work to be done, which he met without delay even though I brought it in over the busy winter holiday season. The price I was quoted is what I ended up paying, despite the fact that it was a little more work than he initially expected. The rates were more than fair, and Ive been so impressed with my experience that Ive already dropped off another guitar at Portland Guitar Repair for some tweaking.I cant recommend this repair shop or James highly enough.

James made time to work on my guitar at short notice, and did all I hoped. He loves what he does and the instruments he works on. Taking my travel guitar that needs some TLC over soon!

Amidst Portlands wide array of guitar stores, custom shops & luthiers, I was previously unaware this shop existed. I live in the Montavilla neighbourhood and randomly dropped in to inquire about a setup for my Fender Strat.Not only was the owner extremely friendly & knowledgable, but both his quote & turnaround time were more than fair. Portland needs to support more Mom & Pop businesses like these, especially amidst the ever encroaching gentrification spreading throughout our neighbourhoods.Wether youre a veteran musician or just starting out, the owner of this shop, James, seems to genuinely care & provides quality service.