Frequently Asked Questions
Do you ship internationally? We welcome orders for parts and we ship them all over the world. Musical instruments are a different story. Because of CITES and The Lacey Act, certain natural materials have international commercial trade restrictions and require exhaustive paper work and fees to export. Because of this, we are currently not able to ship instruments internationally incorporating any species of rosewood, elephant ivory, or shell products in their construction. Though being restricted commercially, you can come here, purchase an instrument, and bring it home with you as a personal instrument.
Do you have a store we can visit? Smakula Fretted Instruments is a small shop near Elkins, West Virginia. We do welcome your visit, but because of our space limitations, we ask you make an appointment. We’ll be happy to share our location and give you directions then.
How do I access the shopping cart via a mobile device? Our new website is a little different than most other websites. If you are using a mobile device to shop on our website, scroll down to the bottom and you should see a button to "check out." This will take you to the cart.
Do you accept instruments for consignment sale? No. We no longer accept instruments for consignment sale.
Do you offer repair services for musical instruments? We are no longer accepting major restorations, but are willing to accommodate local customers with minor repairs.
I have an antique banjo with friction tuners. Are there any geared tuners that can be installed without modifying the instrument? The short answer is no. There are geared tuners that can be used that require only small modifications. We highly recommend ABM planet tuners as a geared tuner upgrade. Most original friction tuners have a ¼” (.250”) hole. ABM tuners use a 7.5mm (.295”) hole and require enlarging the friction tuner hole slightly. Most mechanical friction tuners can be reinstalled if you choose to remove an ABM. All geared 5th tuners require enlarging the hole and the neck would need a bushing for the original tuners be reinstalled.
Other questions? Send us an email, or call 304-636-6710 between 9:00am and 6:00pm EST Monday through Friday.
Return Policies
Parts Return Policy: Parts can be returned up to 30 days from their arrival for exchange or return if in new, unused condition. If you are returning for exchange, please call so we can send an advance shipment for your replacement part. Customers are responsible for all shipping costs. If we make a mistake on your order, we will cover the shipping costs to make the correction.
Instrument Return Policy: We realize that purchasing a musical instrument that needs to be shipped to you is somewhat risky. Because of that, we offer a 48 hour approval period for you to try your new instrument. We can be a little flexible with the approval period. If you need a day or two more, please call within that 48 hour period and let us know. All shipping charges are the responsibility of the customer.
Do you have a store we can visit? Smakula Fretted Instruments is a small shop near Elkins, West Virginia. We do welcome your visit, but because of our space limitations, we ask you make an appointment. We’ll be happy to share our location and give you directions then.
How do I access the shopping cart via a mobile device? Our new website is a little different than most other websites. If you are using a mobile device to shop on our website, scroll down to the bottom and you should see a button to "check out." This will take you to the cart.
Do you accept instruments for consignment sale? No. We no longer accept instruments for consignment sale.
Do you offer repair services for musical instruments? We are no longer accepting major restorations, but are willing to accommodate local customers with minor repairs.
I have an antique banjo with friction tuners. Are there any geared tuners that can be installed without modifying the instrument? The short answer is no. There are geared tuners that can be used that require only small modifications. We highly recommend ABM planet tuners as a geared tuner upgrade. Most original friction tuners have a ¼” (.250”) hole. ABM tuners use a 7.5mm (.295”) hole and require enlarging the friction tuner hole slightly. Most mechanical friction tuners can be reinstalled if you choose to remove an ABM. All geared 5th tuners require enlarging the hole and the neck would need a bushing for the original tuners be reinstalled.
Other questions? Send us an email, or call 304-636-6710 between 9:00am and 6:00pm EST Monday through Friday.
Return Policies
Parts Return Policy: Parts can be returned up to 30 days from their arrival for exchange or return if in new, unused condition. If you are returning for exchange, please call so we can send an advance shipment for your replacement part. Customers are responsible for all shipping costs. If we make a mistake on your order, we will cover the shipping costs to make the correction.
Instrument Return Policy: We realize that purchasing a musical instrument that needs to be shipped to you is somewhat risky. Because of that, we offer a 48 hour approval period for you to try your new instrument. We can be a little flexible with the approval period. If you need a day or two more, please call within that 48 hour period and let us know. All shipping charges are the responsibility of the customer.