About Chicago Fret Works

• Thousands of satisfied customers
• Thousands of set-ups and electronic repairs
• Hundreds of neck resets, refins, and refrets
• Eight skilled hands
• Four experienced technicians
• One Shop

Steve Baker
steve@chicagofretworks.com

Before opening Chicago Fret Works in the summer of 2008, Steve was known to thousands of Chicago area and touring guitarists as the head guitar and bass technician at Chicago’s Guitar Center. There, he established a reputation as a knowledgeable, honest, and skilled repairman. No job has ever been too big or too small for a complete explanation, accurate price estimate, and ultimate customer satisfaction. He particularly enjoys working on guitar electronic repairs and reviving old guitars that have been in hiding for a while.

Steve began working on guitars in 2000 at Bryan Galloup’s School of Luthiery. Prior to that, he spent 5 years teaching high school English in Chicago and the southwest suburbs. He lives in the Lincoln Square neighborhood with his family and dogs.

Dan Wolf
dan@chicagofretworks.com

Since 1997, thousands of players and enthusiasts from around the country have turned to Dan for their most challenging and difficult repairs. Top crack on your Taylor? Fractured headstock on your vintage Les Paul? A neck reset on your prewar Martin? When Dan’s finished you’ll forget it ever happened as you return to making music with your favorite partner.

Dan began learning his craft in 1996 at Red Wing Technical College (Now Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical) in Red Wing, MN. He has trained directly with Buzz Feiten and Greg Back in the retrofitting of the Buzz Feiten Tuning System on all styles of guitars. He has also trained with the repair staff at the Taylor Guitars factory and is an expert in all manner of repairs on their instruments.

Dan lives in the Logan Square neighborhood with his dog, CFW greeter Reese (a Chicago Canine Rescue alum). He loves taking in live music and  root, root, rooting for the Cubbies.

Joe Swierupski
info@chicagofretworks.com

Prior to joining Chicago Fret Works in the summer of 2011, Joe was part of the customer support team at Fender Guitars in Scottsdale, AZ and performed guitar and bass repairs at The Bass Place in Peoria, AZ. Before that, Joe taught guitar building at the Roberto Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix. He brings a strong understanding of guitar construction and repair along with a dedication to customer service. His strong resume arrived just as Dan and Steve were running out of things to talk about and just as the stack of guitar cases was becoming unmanageable for two. We’re happy to have him on board.

Joe now lives in the Wicker Park area of Chicago with his wife and two dogs. When he’s not repairing guitars, he plays Australian Rules Football (an actual sport!) He is hoping that Chicago winters aren’t as bad as everyone says.

Patrick McKeever – Amp Repair and Service
info@chicagoampworks.com

Since 2000, Chicago guitarists and bassists have turned to Pat for complete servicing of their amplifiers. He prides himself on helping musicians “find their tone – the sound that you hear in your head – the way your gear ought to sound.” He trained at the Electronic Institutes of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1985, and has spent the years since focusing on how to get great sounds out of guitar and bass amps. Pat has been a profesional bass player and a regular in the Chicago Blues scene for some 25 years, performing and touring with Eddie Clearwater, Willie Kent, and Guy King among others. He also hand-builds the beautiful Fender-inspired Sweet Amplifiers .

Reese – Security/Greeter

The first employee to join CFW, Reese is always happy to see you. He enjoys greeting customers, especially young ones, with a tail wag and the occasional kiss. When he’s not on duty, he likes playing frisbee on the lakefront, camping, and sitting on sofas.