This place was very professional and punctual and with reasonable prices. Quite a variety of accoustic instruments available. Highly recommend. read more

Visually this is a beautiful shop to visit. The old building is awesome, there are some great instruments and accessories to purview. The staff who I chatted with most of the time were very nice and helpful. The shop has been there a very long time, I remember it from my college days in the early 80's. Edit: Okay, rather than an update I think I'll heavily modify this review. Which was more of a rant about Tony than a fair review of the store. I stripped out the vitriol, which didn't leave much behind. So, starting again... I guess one of my main problems here is that I want to spend 10 or 15 minutes at least, playing an instrument. And the instrument in question was a resonator. They are loud. And it's definitely annoying to sit in a shop listening to someone else torturing an instrument. So maybe you could use a closet or something where one can do that. Because I was ready to buy, and I did buy, a few weeks later. From the Emporium. My original review was only a couple of years old, the actual visit that set me off goes back a good 7 or 8 years now. So you obviously left a very bad taste in my mouth. Thanks for acknowledging my review. I'll have to think about whether I can step foot in your shop again though. In part because I could've handled this a little better myself. Edit2: I see someone else was bothered by Tony's wiping down of the instruments. I can see exactly why he does that. I wasn't bothering with my shiny National Style 1, and now it has all sorts of tarnish on it. Flitz - Nat Reso recommends this product - doesn't help if you let it go too long. read more

Thank you, Tony Creamer, for sharing your 50+ years of experience as a luthier. Your community is very lucky to have you- your level of mastery and excellence in your art of instrument creation is rarely found. Thank you for your respect of Music, and for the instruments you care for. Thank you for allowing any random person to walk in off the street and try an instrument, and for wiping those beauties down afterwards, when others don't have the dignity to do so themselves. I highly recommend The Fretted Instrument Workshop to any and all! The Best! read more

The low rating for this store is a joke. I have been to FIW many times over the last 20 plus years, bought several instruments from Tony. This is not Guitar Center, folks. If you want scratched and dinged instruments, then enjoy the free-for-all at chain stores. You want to try a new guitar that is a top level instrument, in a pleasant environment? Then go to FIW. Stairs or no stairs, it is the quality of the instruments that matter. I don't want to buy a $6K Martin only to find a huge scratch on the side from some careless "pro" who loves playing but never buys guitars. Of course he wipes the guitars, that is how you keep them looking new. Is that even something to complain about?! Tony has to watch over these instruments to make sure well-intended browsers do not make them "used" before their time. He is always helpful, and has put up with me playing for decent amounts of time on each guitar. He is also extremely knowledgeable about guitars. Here is a tip: do not wear a shirt with buttons when trying out guitars. Nor a jacket with zippers. Common sense, right? read more

I am not sure why people are complaining about the owner wiping guitars down after being played. I have bought a few guitars here (both new and vintage) and I am glad they care enough about the guitars to wipe them down. That's the most bizarre damn criticism I have ever heard about a music store. In any event, it's a cool location and they usually have an impressive collection of new and vintage acoustic guitars. I have been there several times and been allowed to play anything I wanted with no hassle and nobody looking over my shoulder the whole time. Staff is friendly and knowledgable. One of the best acoustic guitar rooms in the Valley. read more

What a resource for repairs, quality instruments to consider on my upgrade, low pressure, and advice. This guy can level with you and make you laugh at the same time. Glad I came in. Thanks a bunch! read more

Although I've met him or ever set foot in his shop, and was dealing with him by phone from 3,000 miles away, I was completely confident in dealing with Tony. I was looking for a used National Model D squareneck, and he had something even better ... a "new old stock" guitar. (National stopped building them in 2010.) He put some new strings on it, polished up the cover plate, put in its case, and boxed it up securely. He notified me as soon as it shipped. Everything went well; it arrived unscathed and almost perfectly in tune. And although my guitar was in the store for more than ten years, it does not have a single ding, nick or scratch. Although I wish I could have worked with a local small business, I highly recommend Fretted Instrument Workshop! read more

No parking. Have to walk up a huge flight of stairs. No elevator. Owner has an attitude the size of his store which should be a museum that he charges admission to. Also only bring cash because he charges $6.00 to use a debit card. Charges $60.00 for a $20.00 at most job. That and the condescending attitude towards musicians gives him a very poor rating in my book. He lost a long time customer after insulting me, my guitar and then griped about fixing a guitar that was not bought there and over charged me. This guy needs to retire. read more

Fretted Instrument Workshop is one of only a few shops in Massachusetts that carries high end classical guitars. Stop in here if you are from the area or plan a trip out if you live in the boston and CT areas. Their staff varies in knowledgeability but with so few places to get a chance to play classical guitars in the $2-7,000 range it is worth it. Pass read more

Fretted has the best selection of mandolins and banjos in western Mass. Sure, Tony is snooty, but that's just his crusty Yankee ways. You can't find fault in him because underneath that crackly exterior is a man with a heart of gold. Tony gave me my first teaching opportunity in the 1980s. He's got a good selection of folk music books and accessories for the instruments he sells. I'd say his pricing is fair. I know he's been accused of gouging, but I never experienced it, and I've bought several instruments there over the years. I wish the repair people there were a little bit better and more affordable, otherwise I'd send my students there for work, because it's more convenient than going to Northampton or Vermont. But I've seen some repairs that were done, on a tenor banjo of one of my students, and on a mandolin of another. I think they could be better. read more

I was on the hunt for a new open back banjo, and there aren't a lot of places in New England that have more than one or two in stock. The existing reviews of Fretted Instrument Workshop did a great job of helping set my expectations when visiting this shop. I think that without reading the reviews, my visit would have been different. So with that, I thank everyone who took the time to share their take on the store. A very nice shop with a great selection, and a staff completely in the know. Yes, it's a small space, and yes, Tony wiped down every instrument after I played, but I was welcomed to try everything I wanted, and I was provided with suggestions to try outside my initial target and when I left with my purchase, it looked like it had just come out of the package from the factory. And that is much appreciated. Great quality, great in-stock selection, high customer service, and competitive prices...all made for a happy customer. It made the 2 1/2 hour drive worth it. read more

I can't believe people are complaining about the simple act of wiping down a freakin guitar! If it were my shop I'd do the same thing. It's called pride in your store you donks! And the girl saying there's no parking. Are you kidding me! There's a parking lot right across the street! And oh my god! You poor thing! You had to walk up one flight of stairs! God forbid you get a little work out which obviously you need. Anyway, Tony, your shop is the bomb, and I'm sure if someone was disgruntled by your demeanor they probably didn't deserve to be there in the first place. Peace ...Jason read more

Condescending attitude of the shop owner and overpriced used guitars. Would love to support local shops but if he can't come down on his prices, I can get the same guitar brand new (not scratched) for cheaper then that's what I will do. Not very pleased. read more

The owner is a prick. Each time I picked up a guitar and played it he ran over and wiped it down. All the negative reviews I agree with 100% Are you looking for a better experience in buying a guitar: Spindrift Guitars in New London, Ct The Music Emporium in Lexington, Ma read more

This place is amazing! Every time I come here, all of my questions and concerns are answered knowledgeably and kindly. I had my electric guitar repaired here (the bridge had popped up). The guys not only fixed the problem and tuned up the guitar to play flawlessly, but filled me in on exactly why I was having that problem. It was the same case when I brought in my acoustic guitar for repair. I'll be coming here for all of my guitar needs from now on! read more

Great selection of new and used guitars... the owner is friendly and great at pinpointing the right guitar or gear for your specific needs and desired sound. As a touring musician based out of the Valley, I'm so grateful to have such a great source of instruments and information right down the road! read more

Love the selection and have always found Tony to be friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. Don't know what the others are talking about.

My violin teacher sent me to rent an instrument at Fretted Instruments in Amherst. The owner was very nice and professional. He showed me several instruments and I picked out one which is a beautiful dark brown color. He put rosin on the bow for me and a new E string. I'm very happy to have his service and will tell friends to shop here. read more

Usually when I read user reviews, I throw away the really good ones and the really bad ones. But I feel I need to add to the bad reviews so you won't think there is just one malcontent out there. Just to reiterate what's been said, the owner has insured I will never buy anything here ever again. He's got some nice axes, but his attitude BLOWS. I'm a 50-something professional, and he treated me like I was a child. You are not doing ME a favor by letting me browse your shop. I really, REALLY try to support the local guy, I try to avoid places like Guitar Center, but I don't know how this guy stays in business. Given a choice, I'd buy from Guitar Center. read more

Quite aside from the personality shortcomings of the owner mentioned in past reviewed, I submit he is also either a scam artist or is ignorant of the value of instruments. I suspect the former: I found an old violin in my late mother's attic and brought it in for Tony to look at. I had done some research on the maker, but valuations were all over the map, from $300-$2300. He surmised it was from the 1920s and a shop made (as opposed to individually hand made) instrument. That was disappointing for me, and he said it needed some work/restoration (about $250 worth). He offered me $250 for it as it was. Oh well, I'd hold onto it for a bit longer and decide what to do. Then, I went to Stamell Stringed Instruments to rent a violin for my son and brought my violin in with me for a second opinion. Completely different story: He said it needs about $325 worth of work/restoration and that the violin is worth between $2000-$5000!! I was shocked. He said he would buy from me it as is for $2000. I said to him the other guy offered me $250. He said that's ridiculous. So unfortunate - as an Amherst native, downtown Amherst is still a small town and everybody still knows each other. It's a shame that a long-time business like Fretted Instrument pulls this kind of crap. Shame on Tony! read more

I have been buying many of my instruments from Tony for decades. He is a very kind, helpful, and knowledgeable person. We are all very lucky to have him and his collection of amazing stringed instruments in our lives . It is a very hard thing to keep an enterprise of this type alive in the world we have at the moment and I for one am very thankful . The man dose need to pay his rent and re-string everything as they are tried out.It is not a very hard thing to try out $60,000.00 worth of instruments in an hour there and yes that makes for intense moments but I have always found Tony a supportive friendly person who knows just what he is handing over to you to try and extremely generous with his time .. read more

Worth visiting just to ogle the beautiful inlaid antique banjos hanging on the walls. But you know what? Just ONCE I'd like to discover a competent, independent music shop utterly without attitude. Now, I'm not a professional musician or a music student; I'm just a student with limited resources who plays a few instruments for my own enjoyment. Most of my instruments have been gifts or bargains and every time I bring one into a shop, someone who works there has to make some snide comments about it. This place was far from the worst, and it was only the luthier... the French-Canadian guy who works there is really nice. Anyway, I understand the argument that a better-built instrument will hold up a lot longer. But damn it, if I'm paying a guy $50 an hour, I don't need him to tell me 10 times what cheap, shitty instruments they are, especially when I pointed out more than once that they sound good enough for me and only need minor work, that I definitely don't have $3000 for one of their nice instruments, and that the repair is worth it to me even if they only last a few years. read more