Askem Guitar Works – Guitar setup, repair and restoration.
Over 30 years experience working on guitars and basses,
carrying out guitar set-up, repair and restoration work.
Based in St. Albans, Hertfordshire. UK.
Whether your instrument is new or old, affordable or vintage, get in touch here to see
what I can do to ensure it plays and sounds it’s very best, allowing you do the same.
Be sure to take a look at the Instagram and Facebook pages too.
I couldn’t be happier after taking my guitars to Ben for full set ups.
He first worked on my Epiphone Sheraton II. The playability is now beautiful and the sound he’s got from applying his knowledge and fine adjustments across every detail of the guitar is absolutely perfect!
The quality of that first job gave me the confidence to bring back my old neglected Fender acoustic. That acoustic was a disaster; it had been severely neglected for years, left in a loft, and had bad prior work (incorrect truss rod adjustments) that made it almost unplayable. I honestly didn’t know if it could be resurrected. Ben completely rescued it! Is playable again and sounds lovely. What truly sets him apart is he puts the exact same effort and high quality workmanship into rescuing that cheap acoustic as he did on my much better electric.
When Ben talks though his work you appreciate he is a knowledgeable, dedicated and highly skilled craftsman. He’s also a really nice guy and down to earth musician making him totally approachable and nice to work with even if you’re a shy or highly rusty guitarist (like me).
I can fully recommend him.
He first worked on my Epiphone Sheraton II. The playability is now beautiful and the sound he’s got from applying his knowledge and fine adjustments across every detail of the guitar is absolutely perfect!
The quality of that first job gave me the confidence to bring back my old neglected Fender acoustic. That acoustic was a disaster; it had been severely neglected for years, left in a loft, and had bad prior work (incorrect truss rod adjustments) that made it almost unplayable. I honestly didn’t know if it could be resurrected. Ben completely rescued it! Is playable again and sounds lovely. What truly sets him apart is he puts the exact same effort and high quality workmanship into rescuing that cheap acoustic as he did on my much better electric.
When Ben talks though his work you appreciate he is a knowledgeable, dedicated and highly skilled craftsman. He’s also a really nice guy and down to earth musician making him totally approachable and nice to work with even if you’re a shy or highly rusty guitarist (like me).
I can fully recommend him.
Response from the owner 10:10 21 Oct 25
Thanks very much indeed Thomas.
Ben did an outstanding job building my custom Fender-style Telecaster. The build quality, finish, and setup are all exceptional. He also gave my bass guitar a perfect setup. Highly recommend Ben for anyone looking for expert craftsmanship and precision setups!
Response from the owner 16:56 11 Oct 25
Thanks very much JoeJoe!
Excellent service and communication about what work would be done with lots of updates throughout. If you want something done right, this is your best bet. Highly recommend
Response from the owner 10:11 21 Oct 25
Thank you Dom.
Fantastic first impressions! My Yamaha acoustic needed some TLC after having not been serviced since I bought it. It plays and sounds better now than I remember it playing or sounding when I bought it. Nice to finally know what a properly set-up acoustic actually plays like. Cheers Ben
P.S. also thanks for sorting out the install for the strap button behind the neck. It’s nice to be able to actually have some leverage on the neck and not feel like I’m going to dislocate my wrist playing barre chords because of the guitar being vertical mid-song
P.S. also thanks for sorting out the install for the strap button behind the neck. It’s nice to be able to actually have some leverage on the neck and not feel like I’m going to dislocate my wrist playing barre chords because of the guitar being vertical mid-song
Response from the owner 13:19 06 Sep 25
Thanks very much Levi, great to meet you.
Delighted with the work Ben did on my Gibson Les Paul and Encore classical guitars! Very Clear communication throughout the process and really dilligent execution of the work. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him, and I will definitely use his services again.
Sean Parker
Sean Parker
Response from the owner 13:20 06 Sep 25
Thanks so much Sean, really appreciate it.
Fantastic service. I can’t speak highly enough of Ben and his work. Highly knowledgeable, honest, very reasonable and most importantly the guitar plays beautifully
Response from the owner 13:20 06 Sep 25
Thanks Matthew!
Just had my 30 year old Taylor acoustic serviced and the pickup mended. Ben did an amazing job and managed to save the 30 year pickup. I’m so grateful. The set up is probably the best I’ve ever had on this guitar. It’s never played or sounded better. Highly recommend, and such a lovely guy!
Response from the owner 13:21 06 Sep 25
Cheers Wesley!
Ben serviced my Epiphone to deal with a problem of breaking strings too frequently, as well as a couple of other niggle, and he’d attended to everything within 24 hours. Lovely guy too!
Response from the owner 13:21 06 Sep 25
Thanks Adam
Ben is super friendly and very professional and being a guitarist himself really understands how to set a guitar up and get it right credit where credit is due I would highly recommend Ben 100% will be using Ben again thank you
Response from the owner 10:11 21 Oct 25
Thanks Marc!
For my 21st b’day, my mam and dad bought me a gorgeous custom made guitar that previously belonged to my guitar teacher, lead guitarist with a mega popular Yorkshire band, New Jersey Turnpike. A million years later, Ben worked his magic restoring it. It’s never sounded better and he did an AMAZING job. I am in awe. Xx
Response from the owner 10:11 21 Oct 25
Cheers Bob, really appreciate it.
Ben did a superb job in setting up my Taylor 712ce. I can thoroughly recommend him
Ben was quick in identifying and fixing the issues with my guitar and was very knowledgeable. He took the time to explain things in specific detail- which was greatly appreciated as I now know more about how the guitar is put together and how to maintain it. My instrument now plays far better! Would highly recommend his services and will be using them in the future.
Response from the owner 13:34 04 Jun 25
Thank you!
Took my acoustic guitar to Ben just needing some adjustment to pickup. Did all this with new strings and clean up of fret board within 24 hours which is superb. Really nice guy as well, so will definitely use again if I ever need work to my guitar again 👍
Response from the owner 10:03 19 May 25
Thanks Stephen, great to meet you.
I’d struggled for a year or so with various setups of my Ibanez JSM100 before taking the guitar to Ben. Ben investigated and discovered several problematic frets, sending me a video demonstrating what he’d found. Ben completed a full setup and sent a series of photographs of the work in progress. Guitar is now plays and sounds great. Very pleased with the work carried out by Ben and can highly recommend.
Response from the owner 16:19 01 May 25
Thanks very much, great to meet you.
Ben was great, refretted my strat + (can be seen on the Instagram page) and set up my partscaster. They play great. Great communication. Nice guy to do business with. Would do business again. David Ford.
Response from the owner 23:19 10 Mar 25
Thanks very much David. 
Ben was brilliant! Knowledgable, helpful and friendly. Went above and beyond, discussed all areas of the process with care & attention and my acoustic guitar has come back very happy indeed!
Will be heading back, without doubt, when I need his skills again.
Will be heading back, without doubt, when I need his skills again.
Response from the owner 10:20 04 Dec 24
Thanks so much Jake, it was a real pleasure to meet you.
I was referred to Ben to sort out a small issue with a used Gretsch I’d purchased. As I was travelling the same day he dealt with the issue quickly & efficiently.
First class service.
First class service.
Response from the owner 13:57 03 Dec 24
Thanks very much Kevin, nice to meet you.