Concept draft  A redesign idea for Core Tone Singapore, not the live site
The Tone Room, Session 01  Sat 28 Nov, 7pm at Nineteen Eighty Studios. $35 with a free gift pack →

Luthier, repairs & showroom in Tampines

Good guitars.
Good company.

Setups, repairs and custom builds by Darren in Tampines, plus a showroom where you can plug in and try pickups and pedals before you buy.

See the work Services
1000+ guitars worked onTaylor & Martin trainedGibson QC authorised
Darren smiling at his workbench, tools on the pegboard behind him
Hey, I'm Darren!

Fresh off the bench

Lately on the bench

A few of the 1000+ instruments Darren has worked on, straight from his Instagram.

See all workFollow on Instagram

What we do

How can we help?

Repairs & setups

Setups, fretwork, electronics, structural repair, pedals and amps.

Pickups, pedals & cables

Tonerider, JNS Inventions and Mogami. Try them in the showroom.

Custom builds

Spec your own Tele or Strat, built by Darren.

The showroom

Real amps, no rush, and coffee's on us.
Brands we carry
Tonerider JNS Inventions Mogami

Tampines Industrial Park A, #03-98

Come say hi

Weekdays 12pm to 6:30pm, Saturdays by appointment. WhatsApp first so Darren's free when you arrive.

Contact & directionsBook a session

Our work

On the bench

From vintage Gibsons and signature Suhrs to school guitars and boxes of broken pedals. Darren has worked on well over a thousand instruments, and he films a lot of them.

1000+guitars worked on
30+brands on the bench
All kindselectric, acoustic, bass, pedals & amps
@coretonesgGuitar & bass tech, pedal & amp repair, showroom & store
Follow on Instagram TikTok YouTube

Latest from Instagram

The most recent jobs Darren has posted. Most work never makes it online, so think of this as a peek at the bench, not the whole story.

A few brands from the latest posts

Electric, acoustic & bass

Repairs & setups

Every instrument is different, so Darren quotes after a proper look. You approve the price before any work starts. Parts are priced separately.

Quick check

What's your guitar doing?

Tap the symptom. You'll see what Darren usually looks for, and a WhatsApp message you can send him with one tap.

It's a…
And it's…

How a repair works

No surprises

  1. Arrange a drop-off

    WhatsApp Darren or book online. Weekdays 12pm to 6:30pm, Saturdays by appointment.

  2. Talk it through

    Darren looks it over with you, plays it, and explains what's going on in plain words.

  3. Approve the quote

    You agree the price before anything is touched, with updates on WhatsApp along the way.

  4. Pick it up and play

    Every job is play-tested before it goes home.

Schools & CCAs

Bring the band's guitars and basses in for setups before SYF.

Shows & productions

Darren has teched guitars for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical.

On-site setups

Studio or stage full of guitars that can't travel? Ask about on-site work.

The shop

Gear we use and trust

Pickups, pedals and cables Darren installs and recommends, all ready to try in the showroom. Add what you like to your list and send it to Darren, and he'll confirm stock and price.

Custom Teles, Strats & Jazzmasters

Spec your own build

Pick the body, finish, neck and electronics. When it looks right, send Darren the build sheet and he'll quote after a consultation.

Darren's '60s Strat-style custom build in Olympic White

A real one from the bench. Darren's '60s-style build: alder, Olympic White with a light relic, aged mint guard, Kluson tuners and CTS pots with Jupiter and K40Y-9 caps. See it on Instagram ↗

About

Player first. Luthier second.

Darren playing a black Gretsch at his workbench

"By 16 I was messing around with my own guitar just for fun. Turns out I really enjoyed fixing stuff (and thankfully, I didn't break too many things along the way)."

After NS, Darren was offered an apprenticeship with one of Singapore's top luthiers, who patiently answered his endless questions about guitars, basses, finishes, frets, setups and tone. He then joined a local guitar company that builds and ships guitars worldwide, trained formally with Taylor and Martin, and was authorised by Gibson to QC their guitars. With lots of encouragement from friends and family, he took the leap and started Core Tone Singapore.

Taylor trainedMartin trained Gibson QC authorisedApprenticed with a top SG luthier
  1. Age 14Picks up the guitar
  2. Age 16Starts fixing his own
  3. After NSLuthier apprenticeship
  4. NextBuilds & QCs guitars shipped worldwide
  5. TodayCore Tone Singapore

One shop, two rooms

The bench & the showroom

Darren fitting a bridge on a Telecaster at the bench

The bench

Where the setups, fretwork, rewiring and repairs happen, with a quote before any work.

The Core Tone showroom with Marshall, Fender and Budda amps, pedalboards and a couch

The showroom

A cozy, safe spot to plug in, play loud and take your time. Real amps, real feel. Coffee's on us.

A Fender Telecaster neck in a cradle next to a Core Tone business card Vintage Fender amp heads stacked in the showroom Olympic White Strat with two humbuckers and a black pearl pickguard

With the community, for the community.

FAQ

Good questions

Contact

Let's connect

WhatsApp is the fastest way to reach Darren. For a drop-off or showroom visit, book a slot online or just message him.

WhatsApp Darren+65 8999 1390, usually the quickest reply Book a sessionDrop-offs and showroom try-outs Instagram DM@coretonesg YouTubeGear demos and reviews TikTok@coretonesg Google MapsDirections to the shop

Address

9004 Tampines Street 93, #03-98
Tampines Industrial Park A, Singapore 528838

Opening hours

Mon – Fri12:00pm – 6:30pm
SaturdayBy appointment only
Sun & public holidaysClosed
Checking…

Phone & email

+65 8999 1390
coretonesg@gmail.com

From Tampines West MRT (Exit B)

  1. Walk straight until you see the SAFRA building.
  2. Cross the road and keep straight to the JTC sign.
  3. Cross the zebra crossings until you see Blk 9004.
  4. Cross to Blk 9004 and continue to the lift lobby.
  5. Level 3, turn left. You're at #03-98.
Core Tone Singapore
9004 Tampines Street 93, #03-98, Singapore 528838
Get directionsOpen in Google Maps