Very few vintage guitar shops in the world are of the same caliber as Retrofret in terms of…read moreknowledge, reputation and passion for the instruments. Yes, they have a carefully curated collection of world-class vintage guitars, basses and more, but it doesn't take long talking with the team at Retrofret to understand how much they care about the history, players and instruments. Living on the other side of the country, most of the business I've done with Retrofret is online but the few times I've visited their store was a joy and an education, talking to staff about all things vintage guitar. Plus, they do excellent repair work (Retrofret started way back as a repair shop, and still do highly skilled and even specialized repairs today). If you're in NYC, this place is a real destination.

Retrofret has an incredible selection of vintage guitars as well as highly knowledgeable staff…read more We've purchased and had repairs done here. It's always a pleasant experience. Highly recommend them if you're in the market.

Slope Music, run by Vita and Charles Sibirsky is housed in a beautiful landmark status building…read moreoriginally built to be the Higgins Ink headquarters. Charles can often be found pounding the ivories in various local Park Slope venues such as Puppets Jazz Bar and the Old Stone House playing in the masterful Lenny Tristano School style often accompanied by other outstanding local talent. While I haven't taken lessons there, those I know only have had good things to say about the Slope Music experience.

I took piano lessons as a kid many years ago, needless to say against my will. So, I stopped…read moreplaying for many years. As an adult, loving music, I decided to try it again. I lived near Slope Music, went in for an audition (was pegged as a beginner) and started taking lessons with Vita Sibirsky. What a revelation!! She taught me that my love for music could be translated into my fingers on a piano and that it could be fun not torture to play music. Her love for music and her desire for me to feel confident about my ability made it an absolute pleasure to learn the piano again. Plus, she taught me music theory all the while in a way that made it really clear. Thank you Vita for showing me that having fun playing an instrument is real.

Guitar Center was once a real destination for musicians. Unfortunately, now they no longer have a…read morefunctioning sales staff. Today after flagging down three people to simply get a pedal out of a case I gave up after half an hour. On two previous occasions things they listed as having in stock they couldn't find. This is why companies like Sweetwater will continue to take over more of the market... All my orders have arrived within 36 hours from Sweetwater. They've been great with returns and you can get a sales person to notice you exist on the phone. It's too bad what's happened to Guitar Center?

I would have spared Guitar Center this Yelp review but since I can not get a manager on the phone,…read moreI'm doing it here. After considering buying a new guitar at a modest price point, I talked to a very friendly young guy at the repair center and told him about my old Epiphone. He agreed that probably a simple adjustment of the neck for under $100 bucks would do the trick. Today, when I walked back into the store, there was an incredibly sour, rude, and dismissive older guy -- I didn't catch his name, but his accent told me he was of Eastern European origin like me. When he first saw me, he started heading for the back door. But I said hi. So he stopped and turned around. He did not say hi back. I told him what I needed and about my conversation with his colleague the day before.. He gruffly told me to take my guitar out of the case and then mildly barked at me when I pointed it in the wrong direction because he hadn't told me to rest the neck on a rubber stand I didn't see. He poked around for a couple of seconds. Then asked me what the value of the guitar was. I told him it was a 1970s Epiphone, nothing special, but the label was also in the guitar so he could have seen for himself. Then he announced it would be AT LEAST $1200 to fix because of all the work he'd have to do. There was no, "Sorry to tell you," or "You might want to consider..." Just a get the f- out of here kind of attitude. I said, "Well, that's ridiculous," as he turned his back and I left. I mentioned it to the security guy at the door who had signed me in (because I walked in with a guitar in case) and he said, "You're not the first person to say that {the guy is a jerk and a poor representative for the company.) And he told me to come back tomorrow. That, frankly, is doubtful. And normally, I don't rag on people online. I like to point out who is doing a GREAT job. This time, though. I couldn't let it stand.

I recently took my favorite guitar, a Gibson SG, here for a setup. My band had an important show…read morecoming up, and my guitar was feeling out of whack. They set the guitar up for me just as I requested, and got it back to me the next day. It felt great. Just two days before the show, there was a huge heat wave, and my guitar started buzzing severely. I called up BL in a panic, and they said to bring it right in. They made the necessary adjustments at no charge, and the guitar felt great for our show. Great work!

I was in a crisis when my guitar was dropped and suffered a crack. After a recommendation to visit…read moreBrooklyn Lutherie was immediately pleases with their customer service. They inspected the guitar, told me exactly what needed to be done. There were no surprises or random charges. They completed it in just one day and were the sweetest humans. Kind, friendly people who care about what they do. If you have anything wrong with your guitar, I suggest you seek them out!

Such an amazing experience working with Lauren on improving my vocal technique! Our zoom sessions…read morehave been so helpful and professional!

From the owner: Lauren Taylor is a professional musical theatre performer and experienced music educator offering…read moreprivate voice and piano lessons for students of all levels—piano for ages 6 and up and voice for ages 12 and up—both in New York City and online. With over ten years of vocal training and a BFA in Musical Theatre, Lauren helps singers and pianists build strong foundations in technique, musicianship, and expression. Her approach is supportive, individualized, and rooted in helping each student find confidence and joy in their music-making. As a performer with experience in regional theatre, national tours, and original music, Lauren brings a unique perspective to her teaching—combining professional insight with clear, accessible instruction. She works with piano students from beginner to intermediate levels and vocalists from intermediate to advanced, focusing on healthy technique, storytelling, and artistic growth. Lauren offers 30- and 60-minute lessons, available in-person in NYC or online anywhere, with studio rental available for an additional fee.

My only expedience with SSG has been through emails and phone conversations. They are polite and…read morequite responsive. I've been contemplating buying a vintage guitar from them. They were helpful and not pushy. I will eventually buy the guitar, if it's still there, when I get the money.i know buying an expensive instrument without actually playing it can be a bit apprehensive, but this place sets reasonable prices and is responsive.

Went to this guitar shop to sell my Les Paul R9 custom and they were friendly the minute I came in…read moreand offered me a good price for what it was. I had done research on what should have been offered on such a guitar and they matched it. Courteous and friendly from beginning to end and they let me try their guitars without being snobby, they even let me pick them off the wall myself and they set me up on whatever amp I wanted. Great store and great people.

I bought a Telecaster model made by Rick years ago. It is a completely unique guitar and a piece…read moreof art. Because the wood is so old, the sound resonates seemingly forever. The neck is thicker than those on my other guitars, and it took some time to get used to, but it supports the tonality and over time I stopped noticing. I strongly recommend.

Visited onna recent trip to NYC - had seen the video on YouTube and it was a must see- unique…read moreguitars- cool history!

As a dutiful Asian daughter, I grew up taking piano lessons but had always harbored secret…read morefantasies of learning the guitar instead... Not so much the on-stage rock star fantasy so much as playing Kumbayah to a circle of friends around a campfire (I know, my ambitions are huge). Anyways, with the advent of financial independence came the realization that I could indeed, pay for and take whatever music lessons I wanted. Guitar New York is conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan, so I'm able to take lessons on weekday morning before strolling over to the office (my co-workers think I have a weekly doctor's appointment every Tuesday morning). I've been taking lessons with Troy for a few months now, and I think he is an awesome teacher.* I was an absolute novice who had never HELD a guitar in her life, so he taught me from the ground up. I find he's super versatile in his knowledge of instruments, music theory, styles, you got it. To be honest, I was never a music prodigy as a child, and apparently it's not something you acquire with age. What makes Troy truly awesome (and the only reason I'm not giving up on this hapless venture) is that he is extremely patient and easy-going. I'm sure he has pupils who are far more dedicated and experienced than I am, but I'm grateful that he's spending his talent listening to me pluck out an off-kilter rendition of something that is supposed to sound like "Knockin on Heaven's Door." He's a good teacher, lessons progress quickly, and he sympathizes with all of my guitar woes. Lessons come out to ~$45 / 30-minute lesson, but they have discounts for package purchases and beginners. Anyways, if you've ever remotely entertained the idea of guitar, give GNY a shot - it's unanimously rated 5 stars for a reason. * I plan on linking Troy this review later, so in the interest of laying it on thick (and potentially scoring some free lessons later on) I will also say that he is insanely intelligent, funny, and good-looking.

We say goodbye, and you say hello…read more.. Ah, the windy city is losing one of our finest to NY. I have been fortunate enough to benefit from Troy's tutelage as one of the rock masters of Guitar Chicago. Now as you all know, I am akin to see the world through the lens of Beatles. Maybe that's not your bag, baby. Maybe you see the world through the lens of jazz, or Rush, or Blondie, or funk, or ELO, or BB King, or (gag) Creed. No matter. These are the Troy Truths: 1. Whatever song/style you want to learn, he will teach you. And make it seem effortless. This guy's a pro. Not like Marge Simpson "I just have to stay one lesson ahead of the student". He has quite the impressive resume coupled with crazy talent. I've seen this guy in action; trust me. 2. He'll not only teach you that song or style, he'll give you the "why" behind what you're doing. He teaches in-depth music theory, so you really understand how it's all put together. Pretty cool for the music student on the search for enlightenment. (PS- he writes legible notes, which is a rare gem in the music world for some reason) 3. Not content with just playing what somebody else created? With his theory fundamentals and technique instruction you will be creating your own music lickety-split. And isn't that what the veteran student is all about? Maybe, like my husband, you've got years of guitar under your belt, but just need that extra boost. Well, here you go. (Get confident, stupid!) Anyhoo, Troy will be missed here in Chicago. Best wishes to Troy and Guitar New York. Hello- o- o... Hey la, hey helloah...