Daaaang! Fender never really made the exact Telecaster I've always dreamed of, so I decided to assemble one myself based on the '70s Tele Custom using top-tier parts: Warmoth body, Lollar pickups, Mastery bridge, Hipshot tuners, and a Fender replacement neck. Over the years, I've spent hundreds and hundreds trying to dial in my own setups, only to end up taking the guitar to a mix of different shops to fix what I couldn't. Even then, the results were usually just "good enough," with tweaks still needed. But not this time. After putting all the parts together and making the adjustments I thought I had down, I took it to Spencer and the team at Mike Lull for final nut work and setup. I asked them to swap out the factory plastic nut for an unbleached bone one, and WOW - this guitar came back playing like an absolute dream. The action is insanely low with zero fret buzz, no nut sizzle, no weird spring vibrations. Absolutely perfect. Their attention to detail is unreal: the new nut is flawless, intonation is spot on, pickup balance is dialed-in, and they even clocked the screws on my pickguard!!! Who does that? Craftsmen do that. They treated my guitar like it was one of their own builds. This is, without a doubt, the best setup I've ever had and the customer service is on a whole other level compared to any other shop I've used. I'm officially a lifelong fan. Massive thanks to Spencer and the entire team at Mike Lull Guitar Works! You are the best! read more

Mike Lull's Guitar Works - Clocked pickguard screws - Guitar Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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UPDATE OCTOBER 2, 2024: 5 STRING GUITAR SAVED FROM THE LANDFILL! I found an "ETERNA EC-12" guitar in the dumpster recently, that only had five strings. So I stopped in today and asked Preston Lull how much they would charge to add the missing string. He graciously did it for nothing! We also spoke for several minutes about the condition of the guitar, agreeing that it is not worth spending the money to righteously fix it up. But Preston said that it should play just fine despite the damage near the bottom of the guitar (see photo). He also told me to expect the new string to have to be tightened periodically for the first few days. This is easy to do even for me. After that, it never has to be tightened again. Such is the case whenever a guitar gets new strings. IS IT TIME TO GIVE MY GRAY MATTER A WORKOUT? He also gave me the business card for "Matt Benham Guitar" (see photo), saying that he is an excellent guitar teacher who charges about $70/hour for lessons. I told him that I just might try that after first trying to take lessons online if I'm so inclined. Benham gives guitar lessons in a rented booth at Mike Lull Guitar Works (not a MLGW employee). This is the second time in as many years that I have stepped inside MLGW and had a pleasant experience (see original review). Perhaps the guitar gods are trying to tell me to take up learning the guitar. It's good brain exercise! read more

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Mike had worked on my guitars for many many years before he passed but I'm happy to report that the business has remained in the family and it is every bit as good as it has always been. They just refretted and pleked a Japanese violin bass for me and it plays amazingly. I played it nearly continuously for 3 days after I got it back. Thanks so much for continuing the great work of your father. read more

Mike Lull's Guitar Works - Kevin Parkhurst on stage 1979 - Guitar Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

I just wanted to give a shout out to the Mike Lull team today after dropping by, with no appointment, but with two guitars that needed an assessment. Without hesitation Preston took them both back to his shop, got my answers, and gave my Martin a complementary polish on the back side, which had become hazy. I truly appreciate their great service, attention to detail and professionalism. Thanks team! -SS read more

Fantastic people who do amazing work! I took my acoustic that was horribly bowed, and they fixed it up and even recommended some additional work for the future. Additionally my electric had a few dead spots on the fretboard and they corrected it and it plays like new! Cannot express my appreciation enough for this business, very friendly and easy to talk to folks at this business! read more

Preston is amazing and the quality of setup work done on my '61 reissue Gibson SG was amazing. Preston was super friendly and even gave me an in depth history into the business that his father created. Please support this family establishment! read more

Received a guitar from Reverb purchase which arrived damaged in shipping. Took it to Mike Lull's where their MAGICIANS did some serious repair magic. The damage is 100% undetectable. I had known Mike since the late '70's and through the years to his recent passing. Have always taken my guitars there and will continue to do so as his son's and crew do their founder proud. A+! read more

Mike Lull's Guitar Works - Guitar Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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When my son passed away last year, I inherited his PRS SE Bernie Marsden. As a way to help me honor his memory, I decided to learn to play. I took the guitar into Mike Lull to have them check it over and set up the action to make it friendly for a beginner. I dropped the guitar off with Spencer. The way he handled the situation, and the compassion he showed really helped me in a difficult time. I left feeling confident that these folks would take good care of my son's guitar. And that's exactly what they did. The guitar is set up perfectly and plays great. I've since returned with another guitar (once you are hooked on the hobby, you can never have just one), and they did a great job there too. While at the shop, I got a tour from Mike's other son. They were one of, perhaps the, first shops in the country to have a Plek machine. They also have a CNC and do, from what I hear, good custom work. They cost a little bit more than some luthiers, but if you want to be sure the work will be done well and as-promised, it's money well spent. read more

I had guitar work done at Mike Lull's and their customer service is the best I have encountered in a very long time from any company. They identified an issue with a guitar I had purchased on Reverb (which I was able to return) and it saved me a lot of $$ & time and I was able to get another which turned out great thanks to them. The high quality of work is matched by the high quality of service. I rarely write reviews, but in this case, it is warranted as I cannot remember the last time I went to company that did the best quality of work and matched it with their service. They took the time to explain everything to me and also gave me a tour of the shop. You can tell they really care about their customers & it was a great experience for me as I am a novice guitar player but was treated like a VIP. They are the best and I see why!! read more

Here's the real bass lowdown, in June 2021 I bought a 1978 Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar that was in mint condition on the outside, when I took her to my Olympia guitar luthier he said "you've got real problems with some wiring and the dual truss rods ain't working and the neck is bowed", Little did I know that it was a journey that would take almost a year to fix and almost $500, 'cuz she was hurting on the inside. I found a company in England that produced new Rickenbacker truss rods and had them shipped to me. I called several Luthier's locally but they wouldn't touch a 44-year-old Rickenbacker, I finally called the Mike Lull shop in Bellevue, WA. and they said "yeah bring her in we'll take a look at her" now mind you that guitar shop is almost 100 miles away from me, boy was that drive worth it. You're immediately greeted by Mike's sons Spencer and Preston who are just two of the nicest guys you could ever meet, Preston took my guitar back to the luthier just to see if it was fixable and I heard some low down bass sounds and Preston came back and said "Yep, we can do it, we'll call you in a month when it's done". I Picked her up today, she has been reborn, and I owe it all to the great people at Mike Lull's guitar shop. Thank you Spencer, Preston, and the unknown master luthier, I will think of you every time I'm bringing the low end to the jam. read more

Mike Lull's Guitar Works - 1978 Rickenbacker 4001 Bass Guitar - Guitar Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

A day after picking my guitar up, I noticed the body had several scratches/dings as well as a chip on one of the volume nobs. Take your instrument elsewhere. These guys are clearly clumsy/uncaring when handling customer's gear... read more

Mike Lull's Guitar Works - Guitar Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

I'm giving a rating of 2 stars to 'average-out' Mike's past excellence in workmanship and customer service, compared to today's weak excuse for customer service (after Mike's unfortunate passing).   I was an original customer of Mike's (and his crew) at the original Guitar Works location back in the 1970's.  Mike (and his original fellow workers) were not only skilled craftsmen, but they were also very friendly and helpful, they became friends.   I was in high school at the time and I could have been blown-off as some young punk kid, but instead, they treated me with respect and listened to my thoughts on music, guitars, guitar modifications, amplifiers, and much more.  They worked on a number of my guitars over the years (in the 70's & 80's) but as I started doing some of my own luthier work, I drifted away from needing their services as much....but I'll never forget the day that one of the fellows there (can't remember his name, but he always reminded me of the actor Peter Lorre!) suggested that I try out GHS Boomer strings....I ended up eventually getting a product endorsement with GHS, and I still use them to this day!! Fast forward to present day;  I recently needed a guitar modified to accommodate a new/replacement locking tremolo bridge which had a different profile than the original bridge, I emailed Guitar Works with pictures and a detailed description of what I needed, asking for a cost estimate....I've never heard back, my email was never responded to.   Being ignored like this would have NEVER happened with Mike, even though email did not exist back then.  Mike was the type of person that would always follow-up & follow through and never leave you hanging.  Unfortunately with this new version of Guitar Works, it is just not the same.... R.I.P.  Mike Lull....you are very much missed in many different ways..... read more

When it comes to guitar repair or custom guitars, Mike Lull was a master craftsman. The legend continues with his family and long time employees. You will find knowledgeable and helpful employees read more

I am with the service you provided on my Fender Acoustasonic - my guitar plays so much better than it did prior to the work!! The action is fantastic and the intonation is also great. read more

I took a couple of my guitars in for repair. One (LP Special) I assumed had a bad pickup, and another (76 Tele Custom) that needed a refret. I couldn't be happier with the results. At their recommendation, they did a complete refret, fingerboard leveling, Plek and fingerboard refinishing on the Tele and frankly I am thrilled with the results. I brought another of my Teles in as a reference the frets I wanted, which they matched perfectly and now the guitar plays amazing, clearly and the frets are smooth as Tennessee Whiskey. It's like a whole new guitar, and will now be my primary gig machine. Turned out the LP just needed a new pickup selector switch and it's all good. Thanks Preston, Spencer and the whole bunch there! I would never hesitate to bring my stuff to these guys. read more

My expensive acoustic guitar needed new frets and I googled all the repair options in the Seattle area. Finally settled on Mike Lull's in Bellevue and I'm very glad I did. This place is the real deal - they actually make great guitars, and have some Luthers who've been working there for decades. Experts, period. And, to top it off, they have a PLEK machine. Good folks, and my guitar is perfectly set up the way I like it with a new saddle/nut, and the intonation is spot on perfect. I scoped it. Perfect. read more

Best luthier in the world. Taken my guitars there for decades. Simple repairs, set ups, new frets, PLEK machine, etc. Easy to understand why every famous guitar player in Seattle, or that has come through the city to play in Seattle takes their guitars here. Nice guys and genuine experts in guitar repair and manufacturing too. No better place. read more

I found out unexpectedly while bringing my new Fender Telecaster over to be plek'd, (so yes, I am now totally sold on the plek thing and Mike was the first luthier in the Pacific NW was to get the plek machine), that Mike had passed away suddenly. I had no idea and was really saddened to find out right there in his shop. However, it had been some time since his passing and his sons had taken over the running of the shop, with one of them handling the business end and the other learning the art of lutherism, if there's even such a word, and that made me quite happy. Mike and I did a lot of fun and interesting and unique work on my guitars and he will be sorely missed. read more

I wanted to get my Gibson SJ-200 set up but they were three weeks out for an appointment. It could have been worth the wait but fortunately there are other places to select from. read more

Mike recently passed away but he left his luthier skills with his sons. My husband has some high end acoustic guitars and was referred by a Pearl Jango member to Mikes store for repairs. This place does quality work which keeps him coming back to this local institution. read more

I've knew MIke since the mid-70s. what a wonderful guy and a massively talented luthier. Phenomenal shop, and phenomenal work all the guys do at guitar works. Simply the best. Lucky to have these guys right here in the Pacific Northwest. read more

I had a setup, pickup swap, and a bone nut install done on my Strat. The time taken was less than quoted and the guitar was finished before the week and a half they said, so bonus!! I'm really liking the improved sustain from the bone nut and the instrument feels and plays great now. It was pretty good before but it's magic now. I'm really impressed by the work the luthiers here do, its not cheap but dropping off a nice mexi strat and having it come back a week later playing like a million bucks is worth it. This is the third guitar I've had them work on in the last year or so, the work is awesome every instrument has come back way better than it went there. Great work, fast turnaround. Also they take their social distancing stuff seriously. One person in the check in/out counter area at a time! So happy with my guitar, awesome work, plays great, quick turnaround. Thanks!! read more

Mike Lull's Guitar Works - New bone nut on my strat - Guitar Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

The best luthier shop in the Seattle area from what I can tell given my personal experience. Very friendly staff that's always personable, very welcoming, super helpful, and accommodating. I really appreciate that they do it with humility and integrity - there's zero of that 'too cool' guitar shop vibe that I've experienced all too many times at shops/stores. This is especially worth mentioning given that they work with some of the best artists in the business. They have a super high quality bar and have done fantastic work on a dozen or so of my acoustics and electrics - from simple setups to full restorations on some Gibson LGs I've owned. Even if you think your guitar is in good shape, drop it by for a setup and you'll be quite surprised at the difference when you get it back. They are also very cool about checking a guitar out before purchasing. Anytime I'm considering purchasing a nice guitar, they gIve it a once over assessment and help inform the purchase and advice of any future work to be considered. I've had setups, restorations, refrets, PLEKs. All have been stellar experiences. Stoked to have been turned on to this shop, and you will be too! read more

Ever since my Dad bought me my first Les Paul in 1976, Mike Lull has been my 'go-to' guy for guitar work (he was at Bandstand East back then - ya'll remember that?). I remember he put Schaller tuning pegs on to replace the pieces of crap Gibson used, they're still there today. I have been into his dedicated shop several times since he opened it. Everytime the job is estimated and I'm told upfront what to expect for cost - yes prices seem high, but when I consider what it costs to run a healthy, reliable business in Bellevue with employees, etc. I think its about right. Other luthiers I know struggle to keep the doors open. Recently my precious Les Paul suffered the worst disaster - falling flat on its face and breaking the headstock. Some fellow musicians told me I should bury it. I took it to Mike's team, and they did a fantastic job repairing it, the fracture is barely visible if at all, and while he was at it I had him finally do a long overdue fret job (which I was terrified of doing). It plays like a dream. I took my Ovation 12 string acoustic/electric in for help - it was barely playable. Now, its a blast to play, easy action, sounds great. All my guitars have been in his shop at some point, either for easy setups or complex repair - I've been pleased every time. I'll continue to bring all my fiddles to Mike Lull. read more

I consider myself an advanced beginner, especially with respect to electric guitar. I purchased my first electric and brought it to Mike's for a setup. They encouraged me to come back if there were any issues. I had some fret buzz and brought it back. They made adjustments and we're very friendly. I recommend asking questions. They gave me advice specific to my history and style, but mostly after I started asking questions. Very friendly and worth every penny. read more

Although the Master Bassist himself is gone , his love for bass guitars and his fellow musicians stays alive at MLGW . Highly trained staff continues his dedication to provide the finest playing instruments a musician can hold in their hands and broadcast to listeners as well as the musician playing it . The PLEK machine insures his promise to take your instrument and make it play like it was intended to, and have it setup as asked to by it's patrons . Take your bass or guitar there and you'll fall in love with your baby all over again . While there may be a longer wait time , it's worth it . To bad it's not open 24/7 but technicians aren't robots , they need rest too . read more

You get what you pay for. I had an old guitar painted and replaced the neck on it with a new factory Fender neck. I brought it to 2 other guitar shops to get the neck set up properly. Each time I was out $80 to $120 and still had massive issues with fret buzz and playability... Even got it returned to me with a dead spot. Exasperated and desperate, I rolled into Mikes shop and instantly felt like I had finally found the right place. The person that greeted me took one look at the nut and told me it was a mile high and part of the problem. I decided to get the full set up and plek treatment and while a little bit higher priced than other shops the guitar that returned to me was the best playing Telecaster I had ever laid hands on. There is a difference between an ' old guy that knows how to set up guitars' and a 'Luthier' You definitely get what you pay for and with this hard lesson, I have resolved I will only take my guitars to this shop in the future. read more

Why it took me so long to stumble into Guitar Works, I have no idea. I was just looking for a bridge replacement for a Les Paul and all the other stores in the area either don't stock them or the parts they do carry are *ahem* low quality. Luckily another store owner referred me down the road to Guitar Works. Paul was really helpful and, in a nice way, advised that trying to file my own bridge saddle for the first time with no training might not be the best idea. Normally when someone tries to up-sell me my guard goes up, and the wallet goes back in my pocket. Not here. You can feel the energy and love these guys have for their work. All of a sudden I realized that my guitars deserve to be treated well...like this isn't an up-sell but just the right thing to do for them. Brought back two of my babies the next day, was quoted an exceptionally fair price for the bridge work and a couple of set up jobs. I can't wait to feel the difference. I also played around with a couple of Mike's guitars. After that I was all like: "She will be mine, oh yes, she will be mine." read more

I took my guitar for repair and it came back perfect. Great service, glad to have these guys in Seattle!

I've admired Mike Lull's work for years while living in Southern California. When I moved to Redmond a couple of years ago, one of the first things that crossed my mind - Mike Lull! I've taken nearly all of my guitars to his shop - from simple setups to significant rework. ALWAYS fantastic results! I can't recommend his shop highly enough! One of these days I'll order a custom bass. read more

I bring all my guitars here for service and general setup and wouldn't think of bringing them anywhere else. These guys know their stuff and they are always happy to help with whatever I bring, even it's just advice I need. I always leave a happy customer! read more

I have posted here before , and i will do it again! I have been taking my guitars to this shop for years (o3 Thanks Tony and Glen from Windowpane) and I think my guitars are never quite right until these fine chaps do the magic. I have done everything from a setup too a few fret jobs and had them do the heavy lifting on some frankensteins. they have a PLEK machine that is tops! If I was asked to find a fault with this shop...I could not. With a picky customer such as myself that has oddball requests they are accommodating and respectful.Do your self a favor drop it of and get a better instrument back! read more

My boyfriend's little brother has been wanting to get his guitar setup and he stumbled upon Mike Lull's Guitar Works on the web and decided to give it a try since he's really picky about guitar places. Since it was so close to my work and I was familiar with the area, we decided to check it out today instead of waiting for next weekend and we are so glad we did! We arrived after lunch and Mike was helping a customer out so we waited for a couple minutes before he could help us. As we were waiting we were looking around at the place and noticed a personalized autograph photo of Randy Jackson! So cool! When was taking a phone call, we overheard that he helped other artists such as Soundgarden and Pearl Jam! So cool and so glad we came to the right place! When it was our turn he asked for a setup, but instead Mike knew what the problem was and he has able to fix it in less than 10 minutes! He didn't want us to pay him for a minor thing, but since he also wanted new guitar strings, he got it from him and it didn't cost more than $10! We were out of there in 15 minutes! My boyfriend's little brother is one happy camper! He is now playing with his guitar with new strings right now as I am typing this :) Thank you so much, Mike for all the help! You made an 18 year old one happy camper and we will definitely be coming back if we encounter any problems! :) read more

I brought in my Squier strat to have a new nut installed and a broken trem claw screw extracted. This guitar is a side project to see how close I can get a $200 guitar to sound/play like my $1800 Fender. They finished the job slightly early and for exactly the price they quoted and the guitar is now 10x better to play with improved sustain. Preston, who answered the phones and took the order, was friendly and personable and made the whole process easy. They're not the cheapest, but their workmanship is top tier and if you need work done, this is the spot. read more

Took my Les Paul Standard to Mike Lull. Paul, the GM, did an assessment and recommended upgrading to a bone nut and set up. He arranged a quick turnaround, too. The guitar plays great. There is a little free buzz, but that may be my beginner skills. However, Paul said that after playing it, if I want any adjustments to bring it and they will happily take care of it. In my mind, Mike Lull is the best, treats customers right and sincerely wants satisfied customers. read more

I've been taking my guitars to Mike's shop for years. It's amazing what these guys can do to improve tone, action and general playability. Staff are top notch, experts all. Highly recommended for repair work or a new guitar. read more

HIGHLY overrated. I brought in a c. 1980 Fender Strat with a neck by Phil Kubicki. If you're not familiar with Kubicki, he built George Harrison's famous all-rosewood Telecaster - look him up, great necks. Anyway, I got a deal on the guitar and thought I'd throw some money into getting the guitar perfectly set up. I'd heard so much about the PLEK fret treatment and Mike Lull's shop has the machine. His reputation definitely precedes him, so I thought I'd be in safe hands. Well, the guitar came with a late 1970s Fender hardshell case. When I brought the guitar into his shop, the case was missing about 1/3 of the Fender logo but it was securely in place. When I picked it up the logo was completely missing, obviously having been banged into something. I pointed it out to Lull and he was completely unconcerned, as others have suggested in previous reviews. I pushed him on it and we walked around his shop, giving a cursory look at the floor. It was obvious he wasn't going to do anything about it, so I left. I got the guitar home and, yes, the frets were in better shape but there were several minor buzzes at various places on the neck. I'm guessing he had the machine do the work but never tested the guitar in his hands. I came to find out MIKE LULL IS NOTORIOUS FOR EXCESSIVE FEES. The quote he gave me over the phone was around $350, as I recall; this was at least three years ago, so I don't remember the exact figure. The actual bill was around $125 more than what he'd quoted. *** I WILL NEVER SET FOOT IN THAT PLACE AGAIN ***. Some of the other reviewers cite their disappointment with how Mike Lull mishandled their Epiphones and such. That's bad enough but it's especially bad when the guy treats a vintage guitar this way. There are too many decent shops around town who do good work at FAR less money. read more

Absolutely do _not_ consider Mike Lull for any work on an acoustic guitar. Before he works on your guitar: Oh yeah, we can make that so much better!!! After he works on your guitar: Oh don't worry about that, it doesn't matter (intonation, fret-buzz, etc...). Overcharging notwithstanding, after I took my guitar to one of Seattle's most reputable (and affordable and honorable) luthiers, they said after inspecting the guitar (without knowing who had done the work) that he obviously doesn't know what he is doing (it was really embarrassing what they were able to point out). This was after bringing the guitar back to Mike and he steadfastly refusing to admit that the work was anything other then the absolute best he could do (without sawing off part of the neck...supposedly...yikes, no thank you.) Whoever Mike Lull used to be; However many endorsements he lines up for his custom bass guitars; However many people blindly echo Mike Lull's name as a recommendation; his days about giving a crap about quality work on acoustic instruments for regular folks have long passed. I've had Mike work on several guitars, both electric and acoustic. Other than a nice truss rod adjustment on a used bass...each job has always been a little wonky. I thought it was just me at first. Then...the _huge_ mistake I made was bringing him my Taylor. I will say to his credit, he will get your guitar back to you in under a week. read more

I brought a damaged 1190 Martin 00-16 in for repair. When it was delivered, it had several large cracks in the shell, after a client dropped it onto a corner of a table. The guitar was returned so much better. You cannot see the repairs or feel them. It plays and sounds way better than it ever has and it has a more solid feel and sound than before. I have been going to Mike Lull for more than 27 years. There is no more talented group of people working on guitars and basses anywhere. I can't thank them enough for their attention to detail, good nature and technical know-how. They made made my guitar better than new. And that makes it inspiring to play all over again!! read more

I have had several experiences with Mike's basses (owned a couple, played more) and several experiences with his shop and There is not much to complain about other than the hourly rate. But you get what you pay for. Will your instrument get fixed? Yep. Will your guitar play better? Yep. Will you pay more than you would with a comparable luthier? Potentially. But Mikes reputation as a builder is well established and I've seen his work progress over the years and the stuff coming out of his shop is the best it's ever been. Definitely not just a parts builder. Plus his Tbird pickups are the best pickups Out there. read more