5 stars doesn't even come close to describing how amazing my guitar is! If you like vintage looking guitars, go to MJT. There's no other place to go. Bottom line. This place is the absolute best place to have a vintage finish. When you factor in this place is less than half the price of a fender custom shop and especially when they make BETTER guitars than them. You'd have to be a idiot to get a guitar anywhere else. I have a lot of musician friends and literally every single one of them drools over how amazing my guitar looks, sounds and plays. In the month I've had this guitar I've gotten more compliments on this thing than I could even imagine. Even people who have no ideas about guitars, compliment my guitar. Then to top it off everyone is super awesome. Extremely helpful. I emailed Matt, I told him exactly what I wanted. It took them about 8 weeks to make. Considering how much detail goes into these guitars, I wouldn't be surprised if Michelangelo was back there making them lol. Then my package came and I opened it up and my dream guitar was in there. Oh and I live in Seattle so shipping was no problem. These guys even package their guitars better than anyone else. Anyways these guys are amazing. My only regret is not buying one sooner. Oh and maybe I should have bought a dozen guitars from them. Yeah a dozen. read more

See all

While the other reviewers complaining about long wait times aren't wrong, I think the quality more than makes up for it. I bought a MJT telecaster full kit a couple years ago and am currently waiting on a bound tele full kit. Both projects went over time, but in both cases it wasn't all MJT's fault. The first project was late because Musikraft was seriously backed up - so that was Musikraft's fault. This newer project was late due to them having issues sourcing the body from their supplier (so not completely their fault). It would have been nice for them to bump my project up in the queue, but I'm not faulting them for not doing that. They quoted me 10-14 weeks and it's been a little over 6 months - I'm told it should ship within the next week or so. 2 years ago Wendy was awesome to work with, and Emily has been great as well. Tldr: Go in expecting that it'll take longer than they quote. If they're on time - amazing! But if you end up waiting longer, it'll be worth it. I'll update my review when I receive the new guitar! read more

I ordered a P bass body that needed to be built. I was told 11-14 weeks. Communication was great, until I paid. Then all that stopped. I was promised updates and process pictures. Lies!!! A week after that order was placed, I placed an order for a 54 style P bass. THAT body was in house and ready for paint. Again, 11-14 weeks. I told my worthless PM Payton to process them separately. If one is done a week earlier, SEND IT. That never happened. Both shipped together.....24 weeks after ordered. 2 1/2 months later than promised. ZERO explanation, even when I asked why. Crickets. I was told both bodies were shipped together to save shipping money, even though I instructed them to ship separately. I will never place a custom order with MJT again. read more

I don't think I can elaborate more than the other 1 star reviews. These guys just suck. Time is double what they quote, and once they have your money they become ghosts. They take everything literally and don't believe in phones so good luck trying to communicate with these half brained fools. Wish I could get my $800 back and now on top of that my guitar is ruined because they used sticky construction lacquer on my neck which is already chipping and cracking away within a day of having it. Didn't age my hardware, painted the wrong shade of red, took twice as long and didn't communicate at all, messed up my neck to the point I will need a new one, man- please do NOT waste your money. And they could not care LESS. No effort to make it right, they wanted me to PAY THEM MORE TO FIX THEIR MISTAKES. Heed my warning or be disappointed! read more

Hilariously bad. Skip at all costs. Quoted 8-10 weeks, took 8 months. They sent an infographic with the steps and promised pictures, but as updates came they would *remove* those features from the infographic so they appeared to be on time and delivering. Payton will ignore any complaints and give you some kind of peppy non-update while presumably lying to your face. "Great news, your guitar is in the FINISHING STAGE!" Yeah, it was in that stage 2 months ago and I asked for an update. Great. Anyhow, do yourself a favor and take a fat PASS here. MJT -- may your business fail and be sold for parts as you spend the miserable remainder of your lives in financial ruin. read more

I'm writing this review because quite frankly, I'm nearly appalled at the way this company handled my guitar and customer service. I sent my Stratocaster to be relic'd, and was told that the turnaround time would be 8-10 weeks. I wasn't in a rush to get it back so that was totally fine... Until 8-10 weeks turned into 8-10 months, without any communication about the status or information on why there might be a delay. I paid for the services upfront. I had to move in the time between sending my guitar and getting it back, despite giving it over six months of time. I asked about the status of my guitar on multiple occasions but I was given little information, save for a single time in which I received a couple of pictures of the body, which doesn't look like a company that cares about their customers' time and money. Had I been told at any point that the timeline would be longer than expected, I wouldn't have been worried about it, but the fact that there was never a clear answer given made it all the more frustrating. And after all that, I didn't even receive the job that I wanted out of it. The body was fine, and that's all I would say about it - fine. It was aged, had some checking. It doesn't look like a very professional or expensive job, but it's similar enough to what I asked for. The neck, however, was the issue for me. The pictures I sent as references were clear in my opinion, but if they weren't clear enough I should have received communication about that. The wood didn't have a lot of aging, and the frets looked dirty instead of worn. The ware on the back of the neck was uneven, and nothing was really done to the headstock aside from the decal being removed and not replaced. The hardware was essentially untouched, except for the fact that the string tree was missing and never came back with the guitar. I also got some random volume knobs for a Telecaster that weren't even mine. I hope whoever they belong to isn't missing them. After contacting the company, I was simply told that there was nothing that they could do, and that they believed the job they had done was fine. They would not issue a refund at all. I was told that I could send the neck back for more work to be done, but why would I send it back when I had already waited 8+ months to receive the first go-around? I felt that the response I got was justifying the job that had been done. I think that this was a bigger issue than just a couple of miscommunications - what I received is not worth the money I spent nor the time that it took to get anything from the company. There are things that I don't mind about the job that was done, but too many things were just not what I was expecting and quite frankly, not what I wanted. This is just a poorly done attempt at relic-ing, and I would advise anyone curious to steer clear. read more

My order took 11 months, they still didn't get it right, and then I didn't receive any of the hardware or the installation of tuners like the combo package claimed. They take 1 day to respond to each email. All I got was sorry. Never again. read more

I've been in the music retail business for almost 30 years and MJT are the best ! Quick turnaround on builds and refinishing and their communication is top notch . Love these guys !!!!!! read more

Had MJT refinish my 1982 the STRAT body in aztec gold with a light relic finish a couple years ago in 2021 and it turned out great. As time has gone by it keeps getting better. Finish checking and grain sink on the body has become more prominent and awesome looking, something you will only get with a thin nitro laquer finish. Since I was happy with my first experience with MJT, I bid and won a two tone hard tail Stratocaster body in September 2023 on a MJT ebay auction. I just got my new build together and and it is easily the best sounding Stratocaster I have ever had. If your interested in a relic Stratocaster, I highly recommend a MJT body. I love the color and finish and there is something special about the sound of a hard tail Strat. read more

I wanted a gloss finish on a Musikraft neck, and they sent a satin finish. I guess I should be happy after reading the other reviews on here. I've given them a lot of business over the last 3-4 years, but apparently their quality has really fallen off. I guess when you're the only company that does this kind of work customer service isn't important. Sad. read more

I'd like to give it five stars if the communication were better. I'm not able to get a hold of anyone and social media presence is nada. Help me make it a 5 star by replying back!! read more

Not the same company it was 3-4 years ago. There is something wrong over there. Poor communication, poor craftsmanship, and will refuse to take any responsibility for it. The project manager they assign does such a good job ignoring questions and concerns I wouldn't be surprised if it was an automated reply robot. If they did an exceptional job with the actual work the project manager wouldn't be a concern as they'll finish it eventually. ( you can expect 3-5 months longer than the timeline they provide) Unfortunately, they do such a poor job and blatantly get it wrong you're forced into talking to the project manager again. I wish this was only my experience but I had 2 friends who had projects going on at the same time as I did and they actually got it worse. This review would be the best experience of the 3. I've been using mjt for restoration projects for about 5 years now and it's time to move onto another outfit. Really sad to experience a quality company fall off. read more

Long story short. I sent a strat off to MJT to be relic'd. I was originally told 8 weeks. Then after they received the guitar I was told 16 weeks. They got paid right away, but there was no hurry to do this work. It actually took 7 and 1/2 months to get my guitar back!!! The work was what I wanted. I won't complain about that. It was expensive. Very expensive. They finally returned the guitar. I was charged another $125 for shipping which was never mentioned in the original quote. They also lost my tremolo arm. It was supposed to get aged too. I asked for them to send a replacement. They did, but it was the wrong size and wasn't aged. I let them know. They said they'd send another. That was a month ago. Still no tremolo and now they are just ignoring my emails. So would I recommend them? HELL NO!!! Customer service sucks and they kept giving me one excuse after another about the massive time delay. read more

I have been lucky enough to build a great relationship with MJT. They have done 2 vintage guitars for me a 1968 Telecaster and a 1964 Stratocaster and they are works of art. I also have had a BLAST building some tele's and Strat and they are 100 times better than anything on the market. Matt and Mark work hands on with you making you feel that you are there only customer they are true gentleman and artists. And don't think there one trick pony's with just Fender stuff we lately have done a Clapton cut Explorer and a PRS hollowbody they do it all !!!!! And awesome. I highly recommend MJT if your gonna do anything with any guitar they are amazing and true pro's read more

See all

MJT -Mark, and Matt the Jenny brothers and thier, elite team, are the best in refinishing we have ever used in restoring they have many vintage museum quaility treasures and have helped preserve the essence, vision, and craftsmanship of Gibson and Fender guitars that are the Icons in 1950s too early 1970's music. The America classic's I grew up with. Big time Thanks Al from Mofo Studios crew. read more