I write to extol and celebrate the virtues and amazing craftsmanship of Michael Virok, the owner of @theGuitarRescue.com and a Luthier extraordinaire. This review has been a long time in coming, due to several serious family medical issues combined with a move to another state, and it is a review that I am grateful to finally write. Michael graciously and kindly helped me to complete the final (and most important) phases of mods on my 2006 Gibson SG Standard. My overall goal was to switch the colour-scheme of the hardware to Black, and so that it also had the "Doom" affinities of my previous guitar, an ′86 Jackson Custom made in the San Dimas workshop. The first phase of mods began with the installation of new tuning pegs and control knobs. I was able to get some Grover 102BC Original Rotomatic Black Chrome tuning pegs to replace the original faux-ivory white ones, the latter of which have really thin attachment posts (which I have seen break due to desiccation a few times). I always loved the control knobs on my Jackson, so I got a set of four Proline Back Chrome Textured Dome ones, which feel like home to me. The next phase of mods involved replacing the Gibson pickups with something more suited to my style of playing. I decided to go with the EMG Zakk Wylde 81/85 Humbucker Set in Black. Both of these are active pickups, like the one in my Jackson. I went to one of the big-box stores for the installation and when I picked it up, the tech (i.e. not a luthier) said that since the electronics cavity of an SG is notoriously small, he was unable to fit the battery inside of the cavity, and it was returned to me like this. He suggested that I find a luthier who could rout out a battery-box to ameliorate this situation, because the store didn't even have the proper tools for the work. I was, like...WTF. So, I found a real Luthier in Michael Virok. He was able to discard the splitter connecting the new pickups and wired them directly together so that a battery could actually fit in the cavity - without having to rout out a battery-box to the side of the cavity. While this setup may use batteries more quickly, there was no need to do any invasive procedure to install something by doing it this way (which I thought was a great idea!). He did this while I waited. Gratis. The final piece of the puzzle was the installation of a proper tremolo system, and I asked Michael if he could put a Kahler whammy-bar on it, because I absolutely adored the Kahler on my Jackson. Michael acted as a de facto consultant on this, and he graciously helped me to determine which Kahler model would be the best-suited for my SG. Bear in mind, that literally no other luthier in a 100-mile radius said that they could do this...not even in Philly. He installed the Kahler 2200 and it works perfectly! Taken together, I offer my highest recommendation, without any reservation, for Michael Virok at The Guitar Rescue as the regional go-to Luthier extraordinaire. If you live anywhere within an hour-or-two of Lawrenceville, NJ and have the need to do something, anything with/to your guitar, PLEASE let him work on your axe! I drove all the way from King of Prussia (PA) based on his reputation alone, and was so impressed with him. He is kind, affable, and a consummate professional whose only concern is customer satisfaction. Thank you so very much, Michael, for literally everything, and humble apologies for the exceedingly long delay in submitting this review. Namaste... read more

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Took my guitar in yesterday and got it back today. Full rewire and setup. Sounds perfect! Provided me with some history on the 1983 Fender Fullerton Stratocaster I brought, which I always wanted to get confirmed. I would highly recommend. read more

The Guitar Rescue - Guitar Stores Near Me - Lawrence, New Jersey

Very professional and understanding. Very easy to make appointments. I dropped off my used guitar to have it restrung and the action lowered. They completed the job on time. They were very kind and respectful. read more

I brought my Gretsch 5120 to Mike Virok's Bordentown Guitar Rescue. I had bought the guitar used and there was a pick up modification that was done that was a bit funky by the previous owner. Mike set up the guitar and changed the pickups to Gretsch Blacktop Filtertrons. The shop is very nice and Bordentown is a cool little town. It is not really that far from Cherry Hill either. What impressed me most about Mike was that he recognized the odd pick up mod immediately and also the two other Gretsch upgrades the previous owner had made. He also told me the turn around time would be 3 days! I hated it when I visited other luthiers closer by where I live and saw a ton of guitars and then they tell you 2-3 weeks and take 4 weeks. Why such a back up? No with Bordentown Guitar Rescue. His prices were fair, and my guitar looked and plays really great now. The action and truss rod were corrected and as Mike said, "It looks the way a Gretsch is supposed to look." I will be bringing my Tele up shortly to get some buzzing frets corrected. I was really happy with Bordentown Guitar Rescue and I would absolutely recommend them. read more

The Guitar Rescue - Exterior - Guitar Stores Near Me - Lawrence, New Jersey

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I've been dealing with Mike at Guitar Rescue for several years now. He is very reliable , does great work , reasonably priced and you usually get your guitar back within a week. read more

Hello! I have a Tacoma Acoustic DM-18 which I love. Tacomas were/are notorious for the clear finish peeling off. I had Mike at GUITAR RESCUE remove ALL of the clear finish PERFECTLY and is once again a SWEET GUITAR. Very Timely and Very Reasonable! Thanx again Mike ! read more

Needed a setup for my takamine; they did a great job, in one day. Definitely recommend them.

My left handed Gibson Hummingbird Acoustic needed TLC. Took it to Mike and all is good in the world again.

Couldn't be happier with the quick turnaround time and overall service I got here. The luthier is clearly knowledgeable, and enjoys coming to work everyday. Aside from all that the prices are hard to beat. I won't be going anywhere else in the area. read more

The Guitar Rescue - Guitar Stores Near Me - Lawrence, New Jersey

Took my Squier Classic Vibe strat and Oscar Schmidt Delta King here for setups, and new pots in the King. Turnaround was fast, guitars look, sound and play beautifully, and Mike was a pleasure doing business with. In summary, 5 stars- will be back. read more

Mike Virok's Bordentown Guitar Rescue is the best guitar shop in the area, bar none! I've been a regular customer since the store opened a few years ago. I've purchased guitars and amplifiers from Virok and everything is always top-quality. His prices are fair, he's willing to work out a deal, and he's honest with you in his assessment of your instrument's condition. Work-wise, I've had him take two right-handed guitars (one Guild acoustic, one Epiphone electric, both from the early 1980s) and convert them to lefty. I've had him put a pickup inside one of my acoustic guitars, as well, and - of course - I take all my guitars to Virok for their regular setups. Work is excellent and the turnaround time is the fastest I've ever seen! As long at the Guitar Rescue is in business, Virok's got a loyal customer in me! read more

When I was looking for someone to fix my guitar, I liked that Mike had trained as a luthier and was not your typical guitar store employee who did set ups. I brought in my 50th American Fender Stratocaster in desperate need of a set up. The Strat had very bad finish checking on the back of the neck, and I wanted the finished removed. The electronics were dirty and this was causing crackling and pickups to cut out. I also had a special request to bend the bar to bring it to a much more comfortable level. I dropped off my guitar on a Friday and had it back on Saturday. I played the guitar all weekend and couldn't be happier with my decision to take it to Mike. I want to especially highlight the job he did on the back of the neck - outstanding! I like the feel so much I will be bringing one of my other guitars into Mike to have the finished removed. Again, great work and a super nice guy! read more

Bordentown Guitar Rescue is a wonderful little shop with an eclectic mix of used instruments, effects pedals, and custom guitars built by the shops' proprietor Michael Virok. Mike has been working on my guitars for several years, both at his previous employer, and recently when his shop began doing repairs. He absolutely saved my Gibson Advanced Jumbo which suffered some fairly nasty water damage. I would recommend this shop to anyone without hesitation. read more

This is the best place to take your guitar for anything. I've been getting setups for months here and also got new pickups on one of my guitars. All of my jobs have been done lightning fast! Mike is the man, he knows what he's doing! read more

I have taken four different guitars to Bordentown Guitar Rescue for "set-ups" neck and fret issues. Michael is both knowledgeable and skilled...in addition to the work being done correctly, you actually feel comfortable leaving your instruments in his care! (I cannot say the same of previous repair experiences). Your work will be done well! Thanks...Rob F. read more

Oh, how I have come up snake eyes since moving to NJ to find somebody to do what I hate (and am S L O W at) doing - setup of my guitars and basses. It's like finding a plumber or an electrician! I have basic, remedial setup skills and it's a chore that I don't enjoy doing and which takes me forever. Plus, I don't like soldering guns and I'm always looking to see what a new set of pickups would do in this one, etc. Mike's the man and he rehabbed my old gig Fender Jazz bass with a LONG overdue setup and truss adjustment. He also changed out the stock pickups with Seymour Duncan Apollos (highly recommend). No muss, no fuss and quick turnaround. He ain't cheap, but neither is what he delivers. Fair price and does super good work. read more

Took a few lame attempts by other music shops at setting up a guitar or 2 and they didn't really do much. However, Bordentown Guitar Rescue brought back my guitars back to life. My guitars now feel custom. They play better, they sound better. I even had my electrics modified with a few tweaks & got them to be solid rhythm guitars for an acoustic die-hard like myself. I walk out of there with a smile on my face knowing that I'm going to sound better & play better when I get my guitar back. (And those electrics are now working their way into my act). read more

Mike knows his stuff. He repaired my old Yamaha acoustic when others said it was a lost cause. He seems gifted at what he does, seems to enjoy it immensely, and is very easy to work with. I would dare say the best guitar shop in the NY/Philly area. read more

In a world of homogeneous big box retail, what a pleasure it is to take a trip to Bordentown Guitar Rescue to get your guitar or bass "rescued". I've brought 3 of my instruments in for various reasons and all were fixed , cleaned, and set up like new again all with super-quick (sometimes within the hour) turnarounds. Mike Virok is a full-time professional luthier since 2007 who does great work at reasonable prices and is a heck of a nice guy to boot. Plus he's got a small but cool supply of instruments, amps and accessories in the shot and also offers lessons. Couldn't recommend this place enough. Get that instrument back out of your closest, stick it to the big box man, and let Bordentown Guitar Rescue start feeding your soul again...that's why you bought that guitar in the first place! read more