Sims Guitar Painting & Refinishing in Chattanooga: Custom Finish Work for Working Musicians
Sims Guitar Painting & Refinishing is a one-person shop specializing in refinishing and custom paint work on electric guitars, acoustic guitars, and bass guitars. Located in Chattanooga, it serves local musicians who want to restore a worn instrument, change its appearance, or repair finish damage without replacing the guitar entirely.
What Sims Guitar Painting & Refinishing actually is
This is a restoration and customization business, not a repair shop for electronics or hardware. The work is finish-focused: stripping old paint or stain, applying new lacquer or polyurethane, matching original colors, or executing custom designs. Sims handles everything from high-gloss solid colors to sunburst fades and hand-painted artwork. The shop works on used guitars brought in by owners, not on instruments sold by a retailer.
Services and pricing
Refinishing typically costs between $300 and $800, depending on the current condition of the instrument and the complexity of the finish. A simple solid-color repaint on a guitar in decent condition runs toward the lower end. A full strip-and-custom-design job or restoration of heavily damaged lacquer costs more. Custom artwork or specialty finishes (metallic, fade patterns, graphics) fall in the $600 to $900 range. Paint correction or spot repair for minor dings is available at lower cost. Turnaround is usually 4 to 6 weeks from drop-off; confirm current timing when you call, as this can shift with workload.
How Sims compares to other Chattanooga options
Chattanooga has limited alternatives for guitar-specific finishing work. General furniture or automotive refinishing shops can strip and seal a guitar, but they rarely understand the tonal and structural needs of the instrument or the specific finishes guitarists prefer. Music repair shops in the area, including those at retailers, typically offer setup and hardware repair but outsource or decline finish work. Shipping a guitar to a regional specialist outside Chattanooga (such as shops in Nashville or Atlanta) adds $100 to $300 in round-trip shipping and eliminates the chance to discuss the work in person. Sims is the practical choice if you want local turnaround, hands-on consultation, and a craftsperson who understands guitars specifically.
Who Sims suits and who it does not
This shop works best for musicians with a guitar they already own and want to keep, whether because of sentimental value, playability, or cost. It suits someone restoring a vintage or thrifted instrument, changing the look of a workhorse stage guitar, or fixing finish damage that makes a guitar look worse than it plays. It is not a shop for buying guitars, for urgent one-week turnarounds, or for players whose primary need is electronics repair or fret work. It does not do body repairs (cracks or structural damage); it refinishes surfaces.
What the first visit involves
Call or visit in person to discuss your guitar, the current condition of the finish, and what you want the final result to look like. Bring photos if you are describing the work by phone, or bring the guitar itself if you are nearby. Sims will assess whether the guitar is a candidate for the work you want (most are) and provide a time estimate and quote. You will drop off the instrument and receive a timeframe for completion. Payment is typically due on pickup.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Confirm current hours by phone before visiting, as shop hours for small one-person operations can shift seasonally or with large projects. The shop is located in Chattanooga proper; parking is available on-site or street-side depending on the exact location. This is a drop-off and pickup arrangement, not a wait-while-you-work service.
Sims Guitar Painting & Refinishing fills a gap that chain music retailers and general refinishers leave open: it is the place to go when your guitar deserves a second life and you want someone local who knows the difference between a guitar and a table.
