Hometown Music

Great custom guitar shop! We found Showalter Guitars on a trip home from South Carolina and decided…read moreto stop. Always fun to find a small builder that uses local woods. We own two guitars from Showalter and enjoy both. They look and sound great, and both are very comfortable to play.

I'm a guitar player since 1974. Yup I'm old and have owned plenty of guitars in my lifetime. I now…read moreown what I consider the best of the best in my experience. After a two hour session of visiting the Showalter guitar shop I chose this hand crafted beauty. Serial number 116. You can look it up on YouTube by searching for Showalter Guitars. Steve Showalter is a master craftsman and his guitar building skills with attention to detail are on point in every aspect. If you take time to check out his wall of guitars maybe tell him that a guy from Arizona recommends him highly. I'll post a couple pictures of my OM style guitar here.

Fret Boss Guitar Works

This shop has moved 3 times since this address was posted. email Danny at danny@fretboss.com for…read morehis current lacation.

Finding a reputable guitar repair shop in the Shenandoah Valley has been quite the challenge over…read morethe last 10+ years. After many unsuccessful "repairs" and services by the other guys I began learning to take care of my own instruments. But when I purchased a used Gibson that needed help beyond my abilities, I began the search for a luthier once again. Thankfully, Danny had crossed my path just a few weeks earlier. After reading his impressive resume via his website and having conversation with him, I decided to take my new guitar to him. He truly is a luthier. His attention to detail and his willingness to communicate about his services are second to none. After a few days with my guitar he had it playing and sounding like it should have been straight from the factory. I am someone who is always willing to pay for quality, service, and convenience. Thanks to the Fret Boss I received all three and walked away with all arms and legs in tact.

Stacy's Music Shop

4.9

(11 reviews)

•$

Excellent place for guitar repairs, for buying guitars and other instruments, and peripherals…read more Extremely knowledgeable people here. Very competitive pricing as well. Highly recommend.

Friendly, knowledgable, low pressure. Great store for guitars and even more so for thoughtful…read moreadvice.

Fretwell Bass

(7 reviews)

This business is permanently closed. During the time it was…read moreoperating it was an amazing place to stop by and see the new instruments, jam and talk to Jerry and Mary Jane Fretwell. We miss this iconic store.

No need to fret if you are looking for the perfect bass, guitar, banjo or ukulele... this shop has…read moresome great choices! My hubby's a bass player and he loved trying the uprights and acoustic guitars. I bought him a ukulele (along with a case) here and he has been loving it! The prices were fair and the service was great! There's a small seating area if you want to try out the instruments and jam a little. There's also some great gifts and novelty instruments... we just had to get a kazoo!! I mean, kazoos are a blast and the only thing I can play!! They carry straps, strings, cases and other musical needs. The skeleton in the window playing that gorgeous silver bass is a hoot! What a great shop! If you're in Staunton, this place is a must!

Tim Spears' Music City

3.5

•$$$

Considering they are the second largest music store in the Commonwealth ,they do not have one…read moreleft-handed guitar. Went in looking for a guitar tuner..very poor selection and high prices.They wanted to sell me a tuner you put on an acoustic guitar..I told them my guitar has a built in tuner. They tried to tell the built in tuners are inaccurate... Not true ask anyone that has one. The place looks more like a furniture store than a music store. Save a trip and buy online

I have been there twice in the last 1.5 years and each time I received the most professional…read moreassistance that I have ever received any where. First time I needed a decent acoustic amp. They showed me several within my price range and did not try to sell me anything that I couldn't afford. Therefore, I made a good purchase. The second time, I was looking for a guitar that could come close to matching my (1976) Guild D50 in sound and playing quality. They set me up with a Taylor 710CE again within my price range. They do their best to help.

Praise Guitars Sales & Service

(3 reviews)

Long story short; I moved to CO a couple of years ago, and left two of my guitars to get worked on…read moreby Jon to be shipped at a later date along with other equipment. It has been nearly a year since I sent the agreed upon amount to ship my stuff, and although Jon has cashed the shipment checks, my equipment STILL hasn't arrived. I'm not wealthy person, and I had to find a job out here first before I could afford the guitar shipping price tag we agreed upon. I even donated plasma several times in order to scrape up the money, and I'm extremely afraid of needles! I thought we were friends, Jon.

John is a super personable guy who cares about your experience and guitar he's working on. Very…read morereasonable prices for some great quality work. He won't stop until you are happy!

Matts Guitars

4.9

(14 reviews)

Quick turn around. I called on a Monday and had my guitar back on Wednesday, as promised. Friendly…read moreand reasonably priced.

I purchased a PRS Charcoal Phoenix from Matt's guitars. Steve and Jason were very helpful. I…read morewould buy from Matt's Guitars again and highly recommend them!

Shenandoah Music

4.8

(17 reviews)

They are always very friendly and helpful. We have used them since my son started 6th grade band. I…read morewouldn't go anywhere else.

Stopped for the first time with my young son who's getting into music, drums and guitar. He needed…read moresome supplies for both and wanted to give them a try. From the moment we walked in I was impressed. Everyone working there greeted us with a warm hello and smile and I was overjoyed to see not only the staff, but even other patrons there show us, especially my son kindness and compassion as he gets started down this path. We can't wait to go back and have "mom" experience the joy this shop exudes.

M & M Service & Salvage Yard

3.8

(14 reviews)

Part availability and hold for a 2 hour drive cash discount afforded however prior approval sought.read more

Found the part needed on their website. Picked it up and it was exactly as described. No muss, no…read morefuss. Straight forward transaction. And there was a cute pup napping on a chair in a sunbeam. Thanks, Cory and the gentleman who picked up and delivered the part from the lot. Much appreciated!

Blauch Brothers

4.0

(8 reviews)

I had a Polaris gas hot water heater that handled my radiant floor heat and domestic water. The…read moreheater was 18 years old and I started having to replace various parts like the igniter. The heater went out and decided to replace with it and began contacting plumbers in Charlottesville and Lynchburg, several of them never returned my calls or emails. I had done a lot of reading about different options. I contacted Blauch Brothers and spoke to them on the first call. Seth traveled to my farm in Nelson County looked at the job took photos and had me a quote the next day. They had to order the AO Smith Propane 50 gallon heater. They completed the installation yesterday. I am very satisfied the customer service and the estimate. I highly recommend Blauch Brothers.

We asked for service on a tankless water heating system and replacing a pipe under a bathroom sink…read more The first task was slightly different because the previous owner had set up an excellent but unique system in the house. Some of the pipes had build up from hard water. However, all the repair needed was replacing a part in the tankless system that caused the leaking. The build up was cleaned and looked like it had resolved after we had upgraded our water softener solution. While the individuals who came were kind, the first one took 3 hours and then had to call in a supervisor for the tankless system and piping. It was wasting my time working part-time from home while caring for a newborn full-time. Then, I asked multiple times for an estimate and they skirted around the question. When they looked at the sink pipe, they just put plumber's tape around it. The job wasn't finished when they sent an overpriced invoice. They said it was an error. We asked twice for an itemized invoice which they never sent. Also, we told them not to come back to finish the job if they would charge more. They promised not to charge more, came, and then charged more. Now, the water system is connected to a heated floor system installed by the previous owner of the house. Multiple professionals commented on how well the previous owner installed the system - including Blauch Brothers. Since they touched the system, it does not work. When asked if they could fix it for free since they likely did something, they evaded the question with "we can help you by looking at it" but not saying clearly whether they could do it free or not. It is understandable if they couldn't do it for free, but the lack of clarity was disappointing. We will likely pursue the previous plumbing company as they were dependable, efficient, and reasonably priced. They were just not available at this time, so that is why we tried Blauch Brothers. The biggest advantage this company has is that the people were polite and you could get an appointment quickly.

Miller Plumbing Solutions

4.3

(4 reviews)

I don't write reviews often. Usually, a service has to be exceptionally good or exceptionally bad…read moreto motivate me to take the time. In this case, I experienced both. I contacted Miller Plumbing Solutions through Angi to get a quote for installing an outdoor spigot on my new home. Before reaching out, I had researched typical costs and found most estimates in the $500-$800 range. When Miller Plumbing came out, they told me the job would be straightforward due to easy basement access and the location of the existing plumbing. They even mentioned they could drill through wood instead of concrete to help keep costs down. Despite describing it as an easy job, their quote came in at nearly $1,500. After I explained that was well beyond my budget, they removed some items and lowered the estimate to around $900, but said they couldn't go any lower. I was also told that while a handyman might be cheaper, I wouldn't find a licensed and insured plumber who could do the work for less. I declined the estimate and later mentioned it to a neighbor, who recommended Cory Claytor of Claytor Plumbing. Cory came by, looked at the project, and immediately told me the previous quote was outrageous. He completed the installation in just over an hour, drilled through the concrete rather than the wood to avoid damaging my siding, and charged just under $500. He is fully licensed and insured. Cory and his daughter, who assisted with the job, were professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and fair. The quality of the work was excellent, and the price was exactly what I would expect for a straightforward installation. Based on my experience, I felt that Miller Plumbing Solutions was attempting to charge far more than was reasonable for this project. On the other hand, Claytor Plumbing delivered outstanding service, quality workmanship, and honest pricing. If you're looking for a plumber who treats customers fairly, I highly recommend Cory Claytor and Claytor Plumbing.

These guys are top-notch, and I would highly recommend them to anybody who needs plumbing support…read more Tyler himself is honest, communicative, available, and willing to be a partner in trying to solve plumbing issues. Their creativity helps you save money without cutting meaningful corners, and they also are willing to go above and beyond to make sure the work happens within your schedule. I sincerely wish the rest of my vendors operated in the way Tyler and company does. These guys are great.

Hometown Music - musicalinstrumentsandteachers - Updated August 2026

People found Hometown Music by searching for…

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed Hometown Music also viewed

Fretwell Bass

(7 reviews)

This business is permanently closed. During the time it was…read moreoperating it was an amazing place to stop by and see the new instruments, jam and talk to Jerry and Mary Jane Fretwell. We miss this iconic store.

No need to fret if you are looking for the perfect bass, guitar, banjo or ukulele... this shop has…read moresome great choices! My hubby's a bass player and he loved trying the uprights and acoustic guitars. I bought him a ukulele (along with a case) here and he has been loving it! The prices were fair and the service was great! There's a small seating area if you want to try out the instruments and jam a little. There's also some great gifts and novelty instruments... we just had to get a kazoo!! I mean, kazoos are a blast and the only thing I can play!! They carry straps, strings, cases and other musical needs. The skeleton in the window playing that gorgeous silver bass is a hoot! What a great shop! If you're in Staunton, this place is a must!

Showalter Guitars

Great custom guitar shop! We found Showalter Guitars on a trip home from South Carolina and decided…read moreto stop. Always fun to find a small builder that uses local woods. We own two guitars from Showalter and enjoy both. They look and sound great, and both are very comfortable to play.

I'm a guitar player since 1974. Yup I'm old and have owned plenty of guitars in my lifetime. I now…read moreown what I consider the best of the best in my experience. After a two hour session of visiting the Showalter guitar shop I chose this hand crafted beauty. Serial number 116. You can look it up on YouTube by searching for Showalter Guitars. Steve Showalter is a master craftsman and his guitar building skills with attention to detail are on point in every aspect. If you take time to check out his wall of guitars maybe tell him that a guy from Arizona recommends him highly. I'll post a couple pictures of my OM style guitar here.

Fret Boss Guitar Works

This shop has moved 3 times since this address was posted. email Danny at danny@fretboss.com for…read morehis current lacation.

Finding a reputable guitar repair shop in the Shenandoah Valley has been quite the challenge over…read morethe last 10+ years. After many unsuccessful "repairs" and services by the other guys I began learning to take care of my own instruments. But when I purchased a used Gibson that needed help beyond my abilities, I began the search for a luthier once again. Thankfully, Danny had crossed my path just a few weeks earlier. After reading his impressive resume via his website and having conversation with him, I decided to take my new guitar to him. He truly is a luthier. His attention to detail and his willingness to communicate about his services are second to none. After a few days with my guitar he had it playing and sounding like it should have been straight from the factory. I am someone who is always willing to pay for quality, service, and convenience. Thanks to the Fret Boss I received all three and walked away with all arms and legs in tact.

Praise Guitars Sales & Service

(3 reviews)

Long story short; I moved to CO a couple of years ago, and left two of my guitars to get worked on…read moreby Jon to be shipped at a later date along with other equipment. It has been nearly a year since I sent the agreed upon amount to ship my stuff, and although Jon has cashed the shipment checks, my equipment STILL hasn't arrived. I'm not wealthy person, and I had to find a job out here first before I could afford the guitar shipping price tag we agreed upon. I even donated plasma several times in order to scrape up the money, and I'm extremely afraid of needles! I thought we were friends, Jon.

John is a super personable guy who cares about your experience and guitar he's working on. Very…read morereasonable prices for some great quality work. He won't stop until you are happy!

Queen City Music Studios

Fun group of folks dedicated to bringing music to all. Bringing educational opportunities to all…read moreages that see music as a community event.

This gem of a business just opened in downtown Staunton. The owners are mother and daughter and are…read moremusicians themselves. Advice and live music are free and plentiful. I hope to be a frequent customer. Great location, wonderful vibe.

James McHone Antique Jewelry