Mark Newstetter, who runs Balboa Guitars at Balboa and 41st Avenue in San Francisco, is a wonderful guitar teacher with an amazing grasp of theory and an eclectic effective approach to learning the entire fretboard, rather than focusing on first position. Also a really kind person. read more

I took lessons as a beginner from Mark for almost 2 years, and he also setup my guitar/bass during that time. A great teacher (especially for getting proficient with theory on the fretboard), a knowledgeable and skilled luthier, with very fair prices! read more

I brought in a 30 year old strat in that had a few issues from being in storage and he made it like new again. Very appreciative for his efforts! read more

Just adding that I've had a few more instruments set up by Mark and he continues to kill it. Such a pleasure to play my rejuvenated instruments after Mark's skilled attention. And always a great conversation! read more

Mark is an artisan luthier. My wife's mother who lived to the age of 105 gave us her mandolin. We have a photo of her at the age of 3 with this mandolin in her hands. My nephews were playing with it and I thought it was damaged beyond repair. I brought it to Mark and not only did he repair it but made it playable . This mandolin is as a family heirloom. I was so honored when my wife's mother gave it to us. Mark took his time and made this mandolin into a piece of art to be displayed as well as played. I'm impressed with Marks expertise. Mark is also a great business man and a pleasure to work with. read more

Balboa Guitars - Mandolin - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Mark is a super nice guy, very down-to-earth, and does excellent work. He's done tune-ups/minor repairs on all of my basses/guitars by now and I'm always more than satisfied with the results. His prices are super reasonable, he sets the right expectation before taking on the job, and turnaround time is usually about a week or so. I really appreciate having a spot like Balboa Guitars in the neighborhood and I would still take my gear here even if it wasn't just down the street. read more

I definitely recommend coming here to get your guitar repaired. I broke my guitar string and he repaired it extremely fast at an affordable price. He seems like a very kind person. I will come here again when my guitar needs to be repaired! read more

Balboa Guitars - my fixed guitar! - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great repairman, I had issues with the jacks on my American Pro II Tele and Rickenbacker 330. I thought that I'd need a bit of soldering done but it ended up just being a spray of contact cleaner only took about a minute to fix. After we talked about some guitar and bass stuff. I'll definitely be returning for more serious repairs in the future. read more

My go to guy for guitar setup for the last 5 years. Top notch repair work from a venerated master.

Mark is legit. He diagnosed my bass buzz over the phone and fixed it super fast. Highly recommend!

I can't speak highly enough of Mark at Balboa Guitars. I had him install a new bone nut and saddle in my Gibson J-15 acoustic and the work is beautiful. He's a really genuine guy and took the time to discuss the work and answer all my questions. I'll be back soon with more guitars for him to work on. Great shop! read more

Balboa Guitars - Gibson j-15 - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Mark did a fret leveling and setup on my Gibson SG Standard He did an astonishing work, my Gibson never played so well. Final price was on the accorded budget and he was on time. Mark is also very easy to talk to, and very knowledgable about guitar history which is alway fun to listen. Finally, he gave me a CD from his music when my guitar was delivered back. Thanks Mark! read more

Mark is a treasure! So lucky to have found a great tech out in the Richmond. Worked magic on my Martin and will be a returning customer. Take your guitars here! read more

Mark is awesome and a pleasure to work with. He does excellent work, is a straight shooter, and is fair about pricing. I've take all my guitars to Mark for all types of work from custom wiring jobs to a simple set-up he does it all and does it all well. read more

Mark did fantastic repair job on my guitar! My guitar had some issues with fretboard and block inlays, and he did excellent work to make the fretboard so smooth. Now my guitar is so much better and I am definitely one of the many happy customers of Balboa Guitars! In fact, Mark is the best guitar repair professional I've ever met. He listens to customers' guitar issues carefully and provide the best approach to fix the issues. He is the best, and I definitely bring more guitars for better set-up. Thank you Mark! read more

Mark worked on two of my guitars and did right by them. He is the real deal. He knows his craft and loves what he does. Super sweet person with old-soul wisdom, and easy to talk to. His rates are good and honest. Turnaround time was really good too. SF is lucky to have him. read more

Mark was amazing and did a fantastic job on the bridge of my guitar that was warping. Appreciate this so much!

Mark is an absolute legend - fixed the action on my Ibanez artcore in record speed, kept me up to date, recommended some new strings, and all for a super reasonable price. Thanks so much for taking care of my guitar mark!!! read more

Balboa Guitars - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Francisco, California

I wouldn't hesitate to take my instruments back to Mark at Balboa Guitars! I brought in three ukuleles for him to work on: one he added a strap button to, another he improved the action and re-strung, and the third (an antique) he expertly repaired cracks and restored to very playable condition after years of neglect. He really knows his stuff, is a very nice guy, his prices are fair and he is good about communication with his customers. Highly recommend! read more

I was looking for a local shop for some set-up work on my Jazz bass. Mark's shop was highly recommended on Yelp, and I can absolutely confirm that the five-star reviews are totally legit. The action and playability on this bass have never been better. Mark turned it around well ahead of schedule, and his prices are incredibly reasonable, especially for this quality of work. I will be bringing all of the repairs here in the future. read more

I am not Yelper but I was moved to write this because of the fantastic repair job Mark did on my badly cracked acoustic. I had called around a bit before dialing Balboa Guitars and was surprised that Mark's quote was significantly lower than the others I had gotten. When I got to the shop Mark was friendly, knowledgeable and down to earth. He got the job done before his estimated time of repair and (best of all) he was able to not only seal the crack but refinish the area so that you would not even know that the guitar had ever been broken. Really, really fine work. Mark is a one-man shop and I happily recommend his work to anyone looking for expert, reasonably priced guitar repairs. Oh, Mark is also a musician who gifted me with a copy of his CD on my way out the door. He is quite possibly an even better guitarist than he is a guitar tech. You can check him out here: https://www.youtube.com/user/Newstetter/featured read more

Mark teaches guitar to my 13 year old son, and does an excellent job of it. Not always easy to switch guitar instruction for a teenager when they loved their first teacher, but our transition to Mark was very easy. His location and ease or parking are pluses. He is kind, flexible and a wonderful teacher. His patience and ability to skillfully teach guitar while working within the student's interest in music is spot on. The theory and the lessons are always fun and never drudgery, as I remember my piano teacher in the 70's! read more

Mark is the best! Brought my guitar on Friday and got it done the next business day! Promised in a week but was expedited. Great customer service and took care of my Martin adding a pickup to it. Sounded great and he knows what he's doing and knows what he is talking about. Will be going here again thanks again mark! read more

I LOVE my guitar teacher! Mark has a unique teaching style, you learn the songs you want to play. Mark is a great teacher, just try him for one lesson & you will be hooked! No joke! I have been learning how to play my guitar with Mark for a few years now and I always learn something new. read more

Mark is nothing but a pro! My guitar has never felt this solid and nice to play - even when I first got it! 5/5 stars without a doubt!

Mark did excellent work on my 60s Gibson acoustic. It needed some pretty serious work (new bridge and associated repairs) and I was quite nervous as it is a family guitar that was passed down to me. Mark was extremely thoughtful in his approach to the job, walked me through what to expect, and helped me make an informed decision (actually almost talked me out of doing any work at all!). In the end, he charged exactly what he estimated, did excellent work and was wonderful to work with. I cannot recommend him any higher - just a wonderful experience. read more

Mark is great! I took a 30 year old guitar in because the high string was vibrating against the frets. Mark showed me that the body of the guitar was bowing outward, and that he could attempt to fix it but that the cost would so high that I'd probably be better off putting that money towards a new guitar. (It was a pretty cheap guitar to begin with) I really appreciated his advice. He clearly told me what would be best for me, rather than what would give him business. He spent almost fifteen minutes talking to me about it. There was no charge for this but I gave him $20 anyway because his advice was so valuable. read more

If you want to learn your basic chords or songs, buy a book. If you want to learn guitar theory, guitar history, or just flat-out guitar mastery, Mark is your man. His knowledge of all things guitar is stunning. He is incredibly easy going and makes the daunting task of learning guitar easier. I would love to say easy, but guitar is one of those things where the more you know, the more you realize you don't know. I give him a fifth and final star for not scolding or laughing at me for not practicing like I should. read more

I'm a beginner and have been taking lessons with Mark for about 12-13 weeks now. And I love it. I look forward to it every week. Mark has a ton of knowledge and talent and shares it in very easy way. I came to him after trying some things on my own and he quickly helped me correct mistakes I headed for. I really feel the foundation that Mark is teaching me will help me achieve my goals and beyond in playing the guitar. read more

I second Bucky K.'s review above. Mark is fantastic. He's extremely flexible and makes getting through the hardest, most frustrating part of learning guitar easy. I've tried to learn twice before but got discouraged. Mark helped me push through the initial heavy frustration that has forced to me to give up in the past. He's great for all levels too by the way. The guy is a master. He's a great, easy going teacher who makes learning fun and who customizes lessons to what you want to learn, instead of the other way around. I've turned others on to him for guitar lessons and they've had great experiences as well. Keep up the good work, Mark. You rock....literally and figuratively! read more

Mark is outstanding. I've only been taking lessons from him for a month and a half, but I can say he's a wonderful teacher. Very patient and customizes lessons for the individual. My brother has been playing guitar for 15 years and is amazed at how well I've been doing in my short time learning with Mark. Also as Bucky K says, if you want to mess around with an instrument, buy a DVD. If you want to know the guitar inside and out, Mark is the answer. read more

Mark is a great guitar teacher. When it comes to the guitar he has been there and done that. He is one of those rare teachers that can work with both beginners and experts and anyone in between. If you need someone to demystify the guitar and music theory in a fun and stress free environment, he's your man. If you're looking for someone to help polish up your already awesome guitar playing technique, he's your man. I've had a few guitar instructors before and he is by far the best. read more

Mark is SO wonderful!!! I'm a K-5th grade music teacher and went to Mark to fix my guitar and to check out his books. They are BRILLIANT!!! And he fixed my guitar right there and did it with care, and played me a gorgeous tune on my repaired guitar! I'm thrilled to have such a great resource in our Richmond District community. Can't wait to go back..... read more

Mark is an outstanding teacher and a highly skilled luthier. I had the honor of being a student of his for about 8 months this past year. I started playing guitar 2 years ago at the age of 28. Under Mark's guidance my guitar playing improved from total novice to intermediate very quickly and continues to improve everyday based on the valuable knowledge he shared with me. Not only is Mark patient he also has an amazing way of explaining complicated pieces of guitar and music theory in a way that just about anyone can understand and relate to. He's also extremely knowledgeable in unrelated fields and is a great conversationalist. Mark is also extremely knowledgeable and skilled as a luthier. Although I have not had any work done by him personally he regularly shared his projects with me each week that I visited his shop for my lessons. He would often show me the guitars before and after his work as well as the methods he employed to accomplish challenging repairs. I would not hesitate to bring a prized guitar to Mark for modifications or repairs. His rates are also quite reasonable. Whether for lessons, repairs or mods on your guitar or bass. I highly recommend Mark Newstetter's Balboa Guitars for anyone in San Francisco, the Peninsula or Marin County. It's worth the trip! read more

I took a guitar in for a basic setup at the recommendation of a friend. I couldn't be happier! Mark was exceptionally friendly and patient even though I showed up a little early near the end of a lesson. He then setup my guitar as I watched since he had the time. he even took the time to explain what he was doing and why in detail. Excellent service!!! inspired my first yelp review! Thanks Mark! read more

I have taken 2 electric guitars here for repair and both times things came out great. I had a great experience and appreciated the excellent customer service and attention to detail. I brought another guitar in, thinking it needed tuners, but after Mark did a quick inspection, he said everything was fine, and didn't need anything. Honesty goes a long way! Mark has a down-to-earth personality and does awesome work. I would recommend his services to anyone who's in need of guitar repairs. I haven't taken lessons here, but I plan to within the next couple months. All I can say is: Thanks! read more

Mark is an amazing guitar teacher. He is totally flexible in terms of focusing on what I need help with most -- which tends to change on a weekly basis (music theory, songwriting and chord structure, playing scales, learning to fingerpick) and his patience and gentle guidance make each lesson a joy. He has a great sense of humor and a warehouse of musical knowledge. He's just the best! read more

Mark Newstetter is an excellent teacher and a top-notch musician. His intelligent, articulate, consciencious approach to guitar instruction continually reveal new dimensions of the instrument to me. Also, his "Fretography" books provide very succinct and clear guidance on what Mark aptly calls "fretboard navigation," as well as invaluable details on music theory. And he does good repair work too! read more

Mark is a master guitar teacher. I began lessons with him as an adult who had been soured on music lessons as a kid. I was a poor three chord guitar player who actually wanted to learn to play. Mark has, painlessly, taught me the fretboard, chord construction, more theory than I'd ever imagined I'd know, how to arrange a song, how to HEAR a song, how to approach difficulties, how to practice, and how to appreciate what I'm doing. Picking up my guitar is now one of the most fun and rewarding things I do. I can't recommend him highly enough. read more

I own 8 pro-quality guitars and they are my babies. I am not a pro musician, but I play them all regularly. I wipe them down when finished, and fret (no pun intended) over humidity, house dust, and anything else that could harm them. I consider each guitar to be a work of art that deserves loving care. I recently bought a used 10-year-old Guild F-512 12-string acoustic guitar sight unseen from a music store on the east coast. The Guild F-512 is considered to be the "gold standard" of 12-strings, and is revered by professional musicians the world over. This one was in near-pristine condition with one exception. What the music store did not tell me was that the string spacing and string height were terribly inconsistent at the nut, which made the guitar a bit of a "big cumbersome truck" to play, especially finger-style. Switching from one of my newer Taylor 12-strings to this Guild was an exercise in frustration, disappointment, and sometimes even pain in the fingers. The more I looked at the problem the more determined I became to get it resolved. The F-512 is one of the best and most beautiful 12-strings on the market, and this one needed some serious TLC. But who to trust with a guitar that is not easily replaced if something goes wrong? I did a search on the web for luthiers and found Mark at Balboa Guitars. He had good ratings and so I took the Guild in to him for a consultation. Mark could see the problem, we talked about it, and I glanced around his workshop for indications that he knew what he was doing. His shop exuded the aura of a quality craftsman's shop with various projects in various stages, and all of the work looked professional. Mark assured me that my desire to replace the nut and start over with string spacing and height on my guitar was the right idea, and that he could do the job. He quoted me what I thought was a fair and reasonable price. Being a bit fussy about my guitars, I was a bit nervous about leaving the guitar with someone I did not know and had no background information on other than Yelp. However, I decided to take the chance based upon gut instinct after meeting Mark. Mark did an outstanding job. As soon as I began to play the finished guitar in Mark's shop I could tell a world of difference. 4 or 5 chords in I knew he had done it. In addition, Mark took excellent care of the guitar while it was in his possession - not even the tiniest scratch or ding. I took the guitar home, threw a new set of strings on it, and played it for a couple of hours. What an amazing transformation. Mark is a genuine professional who can be trusted, and he just became my "go to guy" for guitar work. read more