Streit Stringed Instrument Repair

I took my music man sting ray in for some love. Steve did an amazing job, it’s playing better than ever before after some years of neglect. He was friendly and super knowledgable and I could tell he was passionate about his work.

This is a tale of two guitars and two interactions with Steve. If you are pressed for time, then let me say that if you take a guitar to Steve and he thinks that getting it fully functional would cost you more money than it is worth, you should trust his judgment. If you bring him a guitar that needs setup, then expect outstanding work at a very reasonable price. Steve is a true gem. I can’t recommend him highly enough. I have already given his name to multiple friends who have recently taken up or resumed playing guitar. If you want more detail, then please continue reading.
I bought my first «starter» acoustic six-​string guitar back in 1972, a Madeira (assembled in Japan from parts made by Guild in the US). It was and is a beautiful instrument, and being made of flamed maple, a sound cannon. However, the action on the guitar was always high; I was just blissfully ignorant of it. When I started playing this guitar again after a more than 35-​year hibernation, my fingers were killing me when I practiced, and this remained the case even after I developed callouses. I took the guitar to Steve about a year ago in the hope that he could lower the action (from about ³⁄₈ inch at the 12^th fret!). I went to his shop in downtown Berkeley only to find it closed; I had cleverly misread his hours. I phoned him, and he invited me to come to his home workshop, and he took a look at it. He pointed out several serious structural issues with the guitar, some internal, that could be fixed, but that would cost hundreds of dollars to address. He suggested that I would be better off taking that amount of money and investing it in a different instrument. It was not what I wanted to hear, but I appreciated his honesty, and I took his advice. He charged me nothing for the visit.
I bought a new Martin D35, and it provided a delightful change/​upgrade from the Madeira. It was much easier to play. However, after practicing for over a year, I was still having trouble playing for more than an hour at a time without having my fingertips ache. I had callouses. I was pressing as lightly as I could. I went so far as to look into practice gloves, light-​gauge strings, and silk and steel strings as ways to increase my practice time. I then found some guitar setup videos on YouTube, and based on watching these concluded that the action on this stock D35 was actually quite high. I called Steve, set up an appointment, and after assessing the guitar, he agreed and suggested I have a setup done. A few days later, I went to pick it up. The difference was quite obvious to the naked eye. When I started playing, the difference was also very obvious to my fingertips. The intonation problems had also been resolved. Moreover, there were things that I had been struggling with or flat out failing at, and suddenly it was a completely different playing experience. I was suddenly able to practice for two hours and my reasons for ending a practice session became that I had other things to do, not fingertip pain. Things that had been difficult before became much easier, barre chords and double stops being two examples. Things that had been impossible previously now seemed possible with more practice. Many new capabilities emerged. I still have a long long way to go to become even a halfway decent guitarist, but I can say quite honestly that the setup made a huge positive difference. It was the best $ 95 I could have spent on the guitar. I could have practiced daily for another year, and probably not gotten as much benefit. If I follow through on my plans to buy an electric guitar, I know where I will be taking it for a setup and work on the electronics should either or both be needed.

I brought my ‘dull’ ’71 ES335 to Steve to see what he could do with it. This particular guitar never really played well. I’d previously had someone fix the nut, evidently incorrectly built at the factory, likely during a labor strike. I explained this to Steve, with the caveat that there might be other lemony issues with its manufacture. I’d noticed dead spots in the neck and missing sustain pretty much across the neck.
Since I’ve gotten it back, it’s playing better than it’s ever played! Steve explained that my neck had a ‘high tongue’; That he’d corrected for that and made a few other esoteric (to me :) adjustments. It’s magic I say. Count me with the others who ask, ‘Why would you take your guitar anywhere else’?
Thanks Steve for making my guitar play like it’s supposed to for the first time in 44 years!

Really great service on my Gibson… fixed a nasty hum coming from the electronics and reset the action/​intonation much to my liking, for a very fair price and quick turnaround.
Not sure why anyone would go anywhere else.
Too bad my guitar only needs service so often

Steve is only guy in Berkeley I ever want working on my guitars. The best set ups I’ve ever had done. The other guitar player in my band and I joke that Steve is the unofficial guitar tech for our group… we’ve both sent several instruments to him and have never been disappointed with the way they’ve been handled. Anybody who wants confidence in their guitar repair and set ups should use Steve.

Meticulous job;
Excellent turnaround times;
Reasonable rates.
First rate guitar repair, setups, etc. Do yourself a favor and talk to Steve to get your gear playing right. Thanks Streit!

steve helped me with my finicky japanese hollow body jazzmaster. plays like a dream now.

Steve did great work on my Flying V! I would definitely recommend him to others. A great guy with great skill!

The Best Period! Always backs up his work and has done a great job on a bunch of my guitars. Best example though is my 76 Les Paul had always gone out of tune on the B and G strings. Gary Brawer in SF had tried to fix the problem by replacing the tuning pegs — which didn’t work.
I had brought it to Steve for a tune up and forgot to tell him about the going out of tune problem, when I mentioned it later he had me bring the guitar back in carefully widened the nut, put the original tuners back on, fixed the problem and didn’t charge me!
Can’t recommend Steve enough! Plus the location is super cool.

I took in a 71′ SG which was in pretty bad shape. Steve is indeed fantastic and made this guitar a real player. Action and Intonation were set perfectly. He had also gone through the electronics and cleaned things up. No more crackling and loose knobs.
I had this work done about a year ago. I didn’t play it much and it sat in it’s case for a long time. I recently pulled it out to play it and I kid you not, it played like butter. I will be bringing in another SG (Tweedy model) to get some pickups swapped out and will report back on how that goes. Highly recommended!

Yup, Steve is awesome, he’s available after hours for drop off and pickup and does great work.
Steve has worked on two of my elec basses and an electric guitar, all work was excellent and on time and was competitively priced.
He’s also super cheery and fun to chat with.
Thumbs up!

FIRST AND FOREMOST:
Steve is the guitar whisperer. The Obi-​Wan Kenobi of stringed instruments.
THAT SAID:
You don’t have to be a Jedi master to get his attention. He’s setup and maintained my cheap Xaviere Les Paul knockoff with the same careful attention he’s paid to my (real) Gibson ES339, Strat, Taylor acoustic and ukuleles.
Many local musicians — including the hotshot teachers and performers at the Berkeley Jazz School — work with him.
PLUS:
He’s professional, works quickly, stands by his work and he’s a nice guy.
SO:
I’m happy to toss this recco into the mix. I’m happy to see him busy … as long as he’s got time for me ;^)

I had a GREAT experience with Steve. I am a total beginner on guitar and was a little intimidated to be walking around carrying one to be fixed without really knowing my stuff. Steve was so incredibly friendly and helpful and made me feel completely at ease and really encouraged me in my quest for learning to play. My guitar needed some major maintenance as it belonged to a friend of mine and had been sitting around for quite some time. My guitar teacher wasn’t even sure it could be fixed.
Steve took a look and saw immediately what needed to be done. He had it fixed it no time. This guy not only knows what he is doing and enjoys it, he’s friendly and easy going with his customers. If he could fix my beat up guitar, he’s definitely worth talking to about anything you need done.
Best part– he warranty’s his work. Just head down to the basement of the Jazz school and ask for Steve. They’ll point you in the right direction!
Thanks Steve!!!

Apparently, you *can* polish a turd! (Well, Steve can.)
I took my little second-​hand acoustic Ibanez (ok, cheap-​ish, but not actually that turd-​y) to Steve for a setup on the recommendation of my guitar teacher Damon of Axes of E’ville (also awesome, and a bit of a teaching wizard).
I had previously taken it to another place to have just the truss rod adjusted with mediocre results, so off Gene went for the full set up treatment from Steve. I was a little gobsmacked at how much of a difference the adjustments made. He sounds like a different guitar, even to my beginner ears.
Steve is also super friendly, returns emails and phone calls quickly, had my guitar ready for me when he said he would, and actually encouraged me (multiple times) to come back for free adjustments within the year for whatever reason (change of seasons, strings, mind…).
The shop is a stone’s throw from the downtown Berkeley BART, located downstairs, past the Jazz School Café, past all the practice rooms, through a mini sub-​saharan desert, and then on the left at the end of the hall. Not too hard to find if you know what you’re looking for.
Taking your guitar to Steve will make you sound like a better player, which will make you more attractive. Not bad for $ 85.

I found Steve here on Unilocal after running a search on guitar-​related business in the East Bay. I wasn’t looking for a new guitar tech but 35 5-​star reviews does have a way of grabbing one’s attention, so I clicked through to his website. It’s excellent. Well-​built, smooth, clean, and informative. Having just labored for months on my own business site (I’m the guy behind Axes of E’ville), I know that you’ve got to be really on top of your game to pull together one as nice as his.
So I shot him an email. I was considering having some rather specific work done on two of my guitars: An Epiphone AJ-​220s (the student loaner) and my ’72 Telecaster Custom. Steve wrote back in less than three hours, responded to my every item of concern, quoted me clear and simple pricing, and suggested some possible scheduling times. Further contact went just as smoothly.
Booking with him is easy. He has a shop at home in addition to the space he keeps in downtown Berkeley. I dropped my guitars off at one and picked them up a few days later at the other. He listened to my concerns re: all three of the guitars I’d brought to him, answered my questions well and thoroughly, and never once made me feel pressured or rushed. He also confirmed my suspicion regarding a problem I’d been having with my Martin — an issue that two other local techs have told me «wasn’t a big deal at all». And his work? My Epiphone came back exactly as I’d asked him to set it up, and my Tele came back better. It’s never played so well, sounded so nice, nor felt so good in my hands. I’ve referred at least five students to Steve since then and every one of them has come back beaming.
It’s a tricky thing, recommending a guitar tech to my students. The experience they have there is in many ways a direct reflection of my own expertise, and I’ve had some spotty luck with recommending techs in the past. Not anymore, though. Steve’s been great with every student I’ve sent to him. Check out Frankie C. and Kristi M’s reviews below. I was astonished by the results of his work on Kristi’s guitar.
His setups are guaranteed for a year, too. That’s about twice as long as anyone else I’ve run into. What’s more, he’s so easy to contact and pleasant to deal with that I know I won’t hesitate bringing any of my guitars back in to him, should I ever need to do so.
Check this guy out. He’s worth it.

Can’t recommend Steve enough. Had him set up my acoustic Taylor and Fender Jazz bass, rapid turnaround for an important studio date. I was pressed for time so he even made arrangements to pick up the instruments from his house. He guarantees his work for 1yr, as well.

I may amend my review — still waiting for my guitar to come back. that said, I had an AWFUL experience down at 5^th String and ended up coming to Steve. the place is a bit hard to find — downstairs in a small room. it’s kind of crazy, really. but Steve was really nice, genuine, and interested in helping _​me_​with _​my guitar_​rather than trying to bring his own baggage into the equation. (see my review of 5^th string for further explanation).
I encourage anyone who needs some guitar work done to visit Steve first and go from there.
EDIT: got my guitar back as expected, when expected, cost as expected. no complaints. (it took me forever to return to edit this review. sorry about that!)

OK. Straight up — Steve is THE MAN. I went to him because of all the rave reviews, and I just had to take the time to confirm that it’s not hype at all. In fact, even with all the 5-​star reviews, I came out of my Streit Stringed experience more than impressed, with Steve having exceeded my expectations.
Steve definitely knows his stuff, and even just from stepping into his workspace, you know that he loves what he does. I took my Ovation in because it kept crapping out on me when plugged in, and initially thought it to be a faulty jack plug. Turned out to be a faulty battery casing + connectors, so he had to improvise and do some mod work and still kept it within my budget. When taking my guitar in, he was very clear about the cost of the parts and the labor which was nice because I didn’t feel like he was trying to nickle and dime me. He’s very straightforward and honest, which I really appreciate.
When I picked up my instrument (which was done in a timely manner I might add), he took the time to walk me through all he had done, and plugged in the instrument just to make doubly sure that it was in good working order. I glanced over to ask him about the guitar he was working on so delicately, and ended up having a good chat about all the different pieces that had been brought in to him. Steve waved his hand toward a particular guitar that was brought to him in horrible shape — said it was turning out to be quite a project. But even that he said in a kind of endearing way, rather than one of frustration and exasperation as I might have expected. The way he carried on about the inner workings of the guitar itself made it abundantly clear that he would have no trouble getting the guitar in beautiful working condition, even it meant a little extra work for him.
I might also add that never once in my interactions with him did I feel rushed, or disrespected as I have at other establishments that shall remain nameless (i.e. Blue Note Music on Telegraph). I paid up the modest sum for what I thought would cost at least 3 times the amount, and felt I received superb service and attention. I really hope he stays in business, more for selfish reasons since I will be taking my guitar and referring other friends to him for anything guitar-​related.
That is all!

Steve is the man!
I gig regularly & have been bringing guitars to him for 2 or 3 years now.
Even if I think the guitar plays well, I bring it to Steve & it plays that much better.
And you can’t beat a year guarantee on setups!
If he says it will be ready tomorrow, or Friday, or whenever, that’s when it will be done — no B. S!

I just started learning to play the guitar about a month ago and not very long after my first «lesson» I bought a used guitar (a Daisy Rock Wildwood artist deluxe) and started teaching myself after my «teacher» decided to change his mind. So when I broke my first string I didn’t know what to do. I called a few places and the one closest to my work actually said it might take up to an entire week! I don’t know how to change a guitar string but I’m pretty sure it shouldn’t take that long! So this is where Unilocal came in extremely useful. I saw the positive reviews for this place and I really liked the fact that it’s super close to Bart! So I called and Steve said he had time to do it as long as I brought it in before 1:30pm or after 3:30pm (this was a Friday). I told him I could come in within a half an hour, before 1:30 and he said ok!
The shop is a tiny room inside of the jazz school (down the stairs, through the café, past the music rooms, at the very end of the hall) and you might miss it if you don’t read the signs carefully. I wasn’t sure if Steve would have time to fix my string since it was closer to 1:30 when I arrived but he was really nice and explained that he always over-​estimated his time so that he would have less of a chance to be late! I handed over my guitar, briefly explained that, yes, I was new to the guitar world, and after that I didn’t even have to explain how it happened — he already knew! lol
This is a guy who knows what he’s doing and I would trust him with my guitar any day. He even offered to teach me how to re-​string all the strings on my guitar when that time came so that I wouldn’t have to rely on anyone else to do it for me! How many repair shops do that? When I got home, I couldn’t wait to play with it again and I swear it sounded wayyy better than when I first got it and tuned it myself!
Price-​wise, I don’t think any other place could be better. Other places were quoting me anywhere from $ 10 – 15 just to change 1 string and $ 20 – 30 to change all 6! I won’t advertise just how much Steve charged me but let’s just say it would be perfect for a college student’s wallet.
In short: service (top-​notch, fast and friendly), knowledge (abundant) and price (awesome). I may never take my guitar anywhere else to get fixed but here!