Best Shop In NE

DirtPoorRobins · #1 04-11-2007, 10:11 AM

Can anyone recommend a shop in New England that does really good setups, I've gone to a few already and haven't had the best of luck yet. Any input would be appreciated, thanks.

pjwalsh · #2 04-11-2007, 11:09 AM

Cheshire music in Keene is good shop - don't know what their setups are like, also Amherst music house in Amherst Ma. does good setups. For a really nice job and a look at some really good vintage guitars head down rt 91 to Easthapton mass and check out Lucchessi Vintage Instruments.

In general I have had better results setting up my own intsruments - not so hard with patience, a good selection of wrenches, screwdriver a steel rule and an electronic tuner.

Turnaround · #3 04-11-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjwalsh

In general I have had better results setting up my own intsruments - not so hard with patience, a good selection of wrenches, screwdriver a steel rule and an electronic tuner.

You might do even better with a good set of wrenches, a selection of screwdrivers, a precision straightedge, a set of feeler gauges and a stroboscopic tuner.

Which is not to say that you can't do the job yourself with lesser tools. It's just that the "magic" is in the care taken with very small details. Just check out what is being said about PLEK systems, where the trueness of the instrument is measured with laser precision.

Sorry PJ, not picking on you. It's just that there are times when it pays to have a pro with a lot of experience and the right tools do the job. Admittedly, there are times when paying all those bucks is just a waste of money and time. Wouldn't it be nice if there were one simple answer.

Nighttrain1127 · #4 04-12-2007, 06:26 AM

Daddys Junky Music In Nashua NH they do everything right.

LowWay · #5 03-21-2010, 05:37 PM

I am resurrecting this thread in the hopes there might be some good new info. I am in the seacoast area of NH, and looking for someone between Portland ME and Boston MA give or take a few miles.

I am trying to get into Mike Peduilla's shop, but his limited hours don't easily line up with my work schedule.

Thanks for any tips.

TheBasicBassist · #6 03-21-2010, 05:40 PM

Mandolin Brothers on Staten Island is one of
the best repair shops I've ever visited, in my search
for a reputable luthier. Gil (the bass guy), is a
fantastic, knowledgeable bassist, repairman and luthier.

adbass · #7 03-21-2010, 05:46 PM

http://mouradianguitar.com/home

don't let the spare web site fool you; these guys are as good as it gets.

basswave · #8 03-21-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adbass

http://mouradianguitar.com/home

don't let the spare web site fool you; these guys are as good as it gets.

+1000
These guys are the best.
They do all my work and I bet you anything you would like what they do.

Its worth the trip down from NH.

LowWay · #9 03-21-2010, 07:32 PM

I e-mailed them. We'll see what happens. I'll report a review back herte if they do the work.

LowWay · #10 03-21-2010, 07:34 PM

They e-mailed back already. Wow! 12 minute response time on a sunday night. This looks promising.

adbass · #11 03-21-2010, 07:46 PM

yes, Jim and his son Jon Mouradian are amazing and they are very very nice people.

Here's the deal:

They have a two month waiting list. They are in very high demand. You don't want to give your bass to them for that long, so just schedule a day in their calendar for about two months from now (or whatever they tell you their availability is). Give em a call a few days before your scheduled drop off day.

After you drop your bass off they'll have your bass back to you in about a week.

I just recently had Jim set up my Wal custom 5 and he did great work. It intonates like no other bass I've owned. I could tell he also cleaned up the body and some of the hardware, but he didn't really mention that.

I can't stress how good, competent and NICE these guys are.

**251** · #12 03-22-2010, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowWay

I am resurrecting this thread in the hopes there might be some good new info. I am in the seacoast area of NH, and looking for someone between Portland ME and Boston MA give or take a few miles.

I am trying to get into Mike Peduilla's shop, but his limited hours don't easily line up with my work schedule.

Thanks for any tips.

Talk to;
Mark Herbert Guitar Works
(617) 731-3995
9 Station St Ste A
Brookline, MA 02445

He is in Metro Boston about a mile from Fenway Park. His work is world class & his rates are reasonable.

MisterFabulous · #13 03-28-2010, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowWay

I am resurrecting this thread in the hopes there might be some good new info. I am in the seacoast area of NH, and looking for someone between Portland ME and Boston MA give or take a few miles.

I am trying to get into Mike Peduilla's shop, but his limited hours don't easily line up with my work schedule.

Thanks for any tips.

You might try Northstar Music in Plaistow. One of the owners is a pro bassist. I've had two 80's MIJ Fenders set up by their guy, Tom Salafia, and I like his work.

Getaway Driver · #14 03-28-2010, 06:12 PM

Russo's Guitar center has a pretty good shop, and there's a Luthier in Benson that I hear does some amazing work.

Oh? NEW ENGLAND? You people need to quit using that abbreviation. It irritates me.

LowWay · #15 03-28-2010, 09:09 PM

If it makes you feel better, it irritates me as well, and I live here.

davio · #16 03-29-2010, 12:52 AM

You could try changing your state's abbreviation. Over here, several states would have to change their ways and I can attest from living here for a few years that getting a New Englander to change their ways is worse than pulling teeth!

Oh, and +whatever people are plussing these days for Mouradian. Absolute top notch.

Getaway Driver · #17 03-29-2010, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davio

You could try changing your state's abbreviation. Over here, several states would have to change their ways and I can attest from living here for a few years that getting a New Englander to change their ways is worse than pulling teeth!.

...ugh... at the risk of taking this totally off topic... State abbreviations are determined by the United States Post Office, and the official abbreviation for Nebraska is NE. If I had the gumption to start advertising my address as Omaha, NB, I'd never get any mail.

**joinercape** · #18 03-29-2010, 07:58 PM

Well, Cape Cod is New England, Fran at Bay Fretted Instruments in Marstons Mills is the best there is.

NecroticImbecil · #19 06-19-2010, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davio

Oh, and +whatever people are plussing these days for Mouradian. Absolute top notch.

Well worth the 2 hour drive for me to get there, plus the 4 hour lunch break I had to take to get there during their hours. Just picked 2 basses up (during my "lunch break," so after that I had to work until 9:30 PM) but I couldn't be happier. I described how I liked my action, and they got it exactly, absolutely perfect.

I can handle run of the mill adjustments myself, but couldn't get these 2 to be as low as I like without some bad buzzing on a fret or two. I do believe it's best to be able to do as much as possible yourself, akin to basic auto maintenance - changing your own oil, etc.

Price was surprising - better than plenty of local places that I wouldn't trust a quality instrument to. That was also one consideration: I didn't want my "babies" being treated roughly by somebody used to dealing with Squiers, wanted to be sure they'd be handled carefully by someone used to working on premium instruments. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's gotten something back from a local shop only to find screws missing, and the problem not fixed. You wouldn't want to leave your Maserati parked on the street in front of Dirty Frank's Damnation Alley Yugo Repairs, would you?

Also must add nice guys, plus they have some interesting basses for sale at cheap-to-reasonable prices. I debated for a minute with myself over buying a $99 bass that I've seen elsewhere for over $400, and while I was somebody else bought it. Couple 4001's at the moment, one has more noticeable player wear but the prices seemed reasonable considering what Rics go for.

wetzelman1 · #20 06-19-2010, 07:49 AM

Will also give another +1 to Mouradian. Had some issues with my bass and brought it in, instead of charging me for minimal work, he just took me in the back with it, took a look at it, and told me how to fix the issues myself. Damn good people at that place. I work down the street from him, my boss and his son have been taking their guitars to him for years.

He does all of Aerosmith's work or so I'm told.