Very few vintage guitar shops in the world are of the same caliber as Retrofret in terms of knowledge, 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. read more

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

They did a perfect job on setting up my Gibson ES 335. It's also a guitar history lesson to visit the shop.

Had a bass (older Rick) and a guitar (older Fender) repaired and set up here. Barry did the work and it was exceptional. Gave me the rundowns before the work and everything was finished within the estimated time. Perfect. You also get to see a fantastic collection of instruments when you go. Ruben up front is also great to talk shop with. Friendly and informed. Sure, it's expensive, but how could it not be? They are in one of the most expensive zip codes in one of the most expensive cities and handle top-tier guitars. Place is aces. I plan on getting everything repaired and set up there. read more

This store in Brooklyn, New York is the true hidden center of the old guitar Universe. Housing the rarest guitars on the planet, 100 years of combined vintage guitar knowledge, and the soul to pull it off in style. I read some of the petty beefs some folks added in their reviews, crybaby personality stuff unrelated to guitars or music or anything else. Whining. Find another shop with a Bigsby, a pristine original Gibson Style U Harp Guitar, a selection of Vi-Vi Tones, L-5s, Fenders and Martins from every decade, all there for you to play. Yep, this is the place. Thank you Mr. Steve and God Bless Retrofret and all the Retrofret people! read more

The folks at Retrofret know their stuff. If you are looking to buy an instrument, you get great advice on the floor from anyone you interact with. Their inventory is drool-worthy. It's by appointment only, which definitely helps if you are a serious buyer. If you are consigning, they have the best reach. Peter and his team do a great job putting your premiere gear out there with expert photos and descriptions. read more

Incredible selection of vintage guitars. Far beyond anything I've ever seen. AND THEY LET YOU FREELY PLAY THEM! You'll find many guitars from the 1930s to late 1960s here from all the storied brands like Martin, Gibson, Fender, Rickenbacker, Gretsch, and of course D'Angelico (which is NYC based!). The helpful employee, Jacob, set me up to compare a 1930s Martin with a 1950s version (same model) to experience the difference in tone due to how Martin moved from thinner tops to thicker ones in order to make them more durable. The difference was significant and I got to experience it first hand rather than through stories in magazines. In summary the biggest reason to visit Retrofret is exactly for that purpose... to experience a variety of legendary guitars first hand and to A/B them against each other. I am pretty sure I'll have to add a vintage guitar or two to my Guitarsenal now. read more

Just purchased a nice late 50s Favilla Ukulele from these guys!! Great transaction! I decided to drive there from Philly and pickup my ukulele rather than have it shipped to my house. I live in Philadelphia so the drive was not bad at all! I spoke with the owner Steve on the phone the day before and paid for it, and then drove the next day to their facility. I was greeted at the door by a nice girl who let me in and then spoke with Steve for a bit. My ukulele was all ready to go. I inspected it before I left and it is in near mint condition (rare for these ukuleles at this age). It also came with the original canvas gig bag which will just make it increase in value as the years roll on! Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase and so will you! If you are looking for a nice vintage musical instrument, look no further. Two Thumbs up For Retro Fret!!! :) read more

Retrofret Vintage Guitars - Guitar Stores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Incredible collector vintage guitar shop. These guys love what they do and they sell mostly collectible or very unique vintage instruments. Some of them being one of a kind. Very knowledgeable staff with the very best craftsman restoring and repairing. read more

I use to love to visit Retrofrets, especially their old location in Cobble Hill. They did repairs on my acoustic, and would setup my electrics. Everything was going well until i had the displeasure of dealing with the owner's daughter, a rude and condescending human being. After being humiliated and laughed at by this less than zero persona, I swore to never set foot in their store. read more

Simply one of the finest stringed instrument music stores in the country. How I'm defining that: wide selection of remarkable vintage and new instruments, friendly and helpful staff that know their business and willing to let you try out what you're interested in buying. Guitars, banjos, mandolins, violins... this is your place. Yes, I have visited the finest--it's my business. Easy walk from Bergen St. subway, maybe 8-10 minutes max. Better yet, the semi-hidden location means you aren't going to have to compete with walk-in traffic that detracts from the experience. If you find your way here, you're in for a treat, and keep your eyes peeled while there. You never know when the Punch Brothers, Carolina Chocolate Drops, other famous and no-so-famous musicians from all over the world might stroll in looking for their instrument fix. A remarkable place to visit. My wallet is not safe here! read more

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Was in here the other day, the nicest guys I have ever met who own a music store. I walked in and was greeted by Peter who said it works like this: " Come on in, play whatever you like, we leave you alone, if you need a hand getting anything down we can help, got any questions just ask. " Just what I like. Helpful folks who dont badger me, great stock, great store and answered all my questions. These guys really know their stringed instruments. The BEST vintage guitar store I have ever been in. Period. read more

Retrofret Vintage Guitars - Great selection of Gibson, Martin and a few Guild's. - Guitar Stores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Great honest guy. Hard to find these days. Gave me an assessment on a used guitar I recently bought and was very detailed and attentive. read more

Retrofret felt like a hidden museum filled with rare antique instruments in beautiful condition. I love the century old banjolele I picked up and the awesome ladies working there sent me home with store merch, strings, and an old case to transport it home. I ordered a new case for it later, but it was much appreciated that the purchase came with such a great experience because the prices do reflect the quality of the instruments, but to me it was worth every penny! read more

Retrofret Vintage Guitars - Century old banjo uke! - Guitar Stores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This was a wonderful discovery! I like to look through guitar shops when I come to NY. I was flying out of JFK for the first time so I looked on Yelp to see if there were any guitar shops on the way and found this store. You have to look for the door. It's a metal covered door. The #3 is the button to push, go upstairs & across a rooftop walk. When you step in the door you walk into vintage guitar Heaven!!!! There is almost any kind fretted instrument you are looking for - or a fretless version of one. I saw tons of acoustic guitars but bee lined it into the electric guitar room. There are a lot great guitars, basses & amps. But as of today they have one less '55 Fender Princeton 5E2 amp, a '59 Gibson ES-125, & a '71 Fender Competition Mustang (and 2 RetroFret T-Shirts and tote bag) I worked with Shira. She was very easy to work with and REALLY knows her stuff. In addition to what I bought she took info on a special guitar I'm looking for. I'm definitely going to go there the next time I'm in town - which will probably be New Years Eve. read more

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I wish I could give more stars. Retrofret has come through for me again. I brought in my mother's LG-2 that I always thought sounded good but not quite as good as others I'd played. They did a thorough assessment and determined that there were 2 loose braces. I was a little skeptical that it would change much and boy was I wrong. The improvement is extremely noticeable and this little honey is quickly becoming my go to guitar. Thanks so much to Harry who took great care to make sure everything was done with properly. read more

I definitely agree with other reviews that there is no pressure to buy and they will offer you incredible advice and friendly service for no cost. That is why I have to leave a good review and you absolutely must come here if you have some serious cash to spend on a good vintage fretted instrument. While the $2-$4k instruments I played are incredible there are a whole ton of those which cost much more. The 1940s Martin I heard being played was one of the better guitars I've ever heard in my life. They definitely won't let you down. I specifically wanted to ask them about a recent 100+ year old mandolin I had just purchased and they were extremely helpful in giving me information on it. If I did have to repair it Retrofret would be the obvious place to go in the NYC area. So if you need a luthier or a fancy vintage fretted instrument this definitely seems like a great place to come. read more

Aside from my first Mac purchase, I had the opportunity to finally experience that feeling again of, "money well spent." These folks didn't sell me a guitar, but an experience that I'll stay with me for years to come. Wonderful staff of men and women. I felt 0 pressure to buy and felt well taken care of. They've mastered the UX of what noobs go through when purchasing an instrument. If that's you, you'll be in good hands. read more

Always friendly and helpful with a great selection of vintage equipment. Retrofret is definitely worth a visit!

Oh crap this place is amazing.This is guitar heaven/mecca/paradise I found and antique Banjo-mandolin and brought it in to be restored. They let me in without an appointment and encouraged me to play anything!!! Without a doubt the most incredible collection of guitar and related instruments i can even imagine. I walked in circles with my mouth open. The staff is so friendly and helpful. A far cry from the retired Slayer roadie who begrudgingly sells you shitty dayglow strings at Guitar Center. You probably wont hear "stairway" in the booth either. I am fighting the urge to go back. read more

They took a ling time to repair my guitar, and then a long time to let me know once it was ready. But I am glad they exist!

I took my guitar here for a set-up and was really amazed. Two things that really impressed me: * Service. The staff was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and laid-back. The luthier who worked on my guitar took me back to his workbench to talk though all the details re: what needed to be done to the guitar. He carefully inspected the instrument and made several recommendations. * Selection. It's evident that they very carefully curate the instruments on sale, and they have by far the most remarkable selection of acoustic guitars I have ever seen. These are vintage guitars in the strictest sense of the word, so they are expensive, but I'm sure if you're looking to buy, they can help you find something in your price range. The location is a bit off the beaten path, so it can be a little tricky to find them, but it's well worth the trouble. read more

Best selection of vintage guitars and other string instruments I've seen since the mid-90s. Coolest people are extremely knowledgeable (understatement) and will either talk your ear off (if you desire) or leave you the hell alone. Very open to letting you pick around on anything, I assume provided you display a modicum of care. Lots of 'blue chip' type stuff, but also some cool funky one-offs as well. Having made one purchase from them, they were pleasant to deal with, low-pressure, easy to negotiate with, and generally accommodating and with good service. A little out of the way to get to on both a macro and micro level (a bit of a walk from public transit, and you have to climb a few flights and walk across a roof once you get buzzed into the building). But it's worth it. read more

If you love guitars this is a must stop place to visit when you were in the New York area. It also has a decent selection of banjos and mandolins. staff is very friendly and lets you try instruments. I walked away with the great vintage D 28. I have a friend who purchased a really nice banjo. There were lots of other great instruments in the shop. The electric guitar room was really interesting and I felt like I was in a museum. For those of you visiting for the first time, please note that it is on the top floor of a building that you would never guess is hosting such a great shop. While there, don't forget to walk around Brooklyn. The waterfront is beautiful and there are some really nice restaurants, making it a great day. read more

Picked up a 1929 Supertone Koa that was better than any photos could say! They have top quality guitars. Strum your ass off and give them a look!! read more

Easily one of the best guitar stores I've ever been to. Amazing selection of vintage instruments, and super knowledgeable staff. I spoke to Jacob who was able to recommend several stunning instruments based on my budget and musical requirements. I played a bunch of different guitars and they were super relaxed about letting me play them. Not only this, but Jacob recommended several music events in the local area. Clearly a place with some serious knowledge about its own instruments and connections with the local music scene, definitely worth a visit. read more

I was in a couple days ago to purchase an amp. Unfortunately the salesperson I dealt with had an attitude, and I left empty-handed and annoyed. I emailed the owner to let him know about my experience, but he didn't bother to respond. I will not be returning. read more

if you are a guitar guy, You cannot beat this place. The people who work here are super chill and really very knowledgeable. I had them repair an old martin for me as well as a vintage rickenbacker. The pride they took in their work was really impressive. they have an excellent selection and you never feel like your getting hustled. They are a group of artists who know what other artists appreciate. I highly recommend this shop. I live in Manhattan but i still make the trip out there to Brooklyn when I need repairs. I find them pretty reasonable in price too. Nuff said! read more

Consider looking elsewhere for guitar setups and basic repairs unless you're willing to wait 3+ weeks for your instrument. This is a friendly place to browse an unmatched collection of well-chosen vintage stringed instruments. However, the repair service situation is consistently disappointing, with long turnaround times for even basic services. The staff is completely honest about how long it will take, to their credit. However, the shop should either staff up, restrict their service offerings to the kinds of work they either want to do or find profitable, or rethink their workflow practices and stop accepting weekslong backlogs of guitars. read more

I originally wrote a bad review because of an experience I had with one of their repair people, but when their management became aware of it they called and went out of their way to make it up to me. Accidents happen, and they were professional in doing their best to satisfy me. Thank you. read more

Spectacular, out of this world inventory and super chill staff. They were able to give me on-the-spot details on the history and condition of a somewhat rare and unusual acoustic, which made my purchase sooo much easier! It's great when a shop has clearly done their research on the instruments that come into the store. Let me also say how wonderful it is that they have female staff members who are very knowledgeable and players themselves. I know it shouldn't be a "thing" in this day and age but this industry is historically overpopulated with dudes. I just thought it was really refreshing to see some equal representation, especially at this level of the game. In any case, I am a super satisfied customer and I really need to dedicate more time to explore the rest of the inventory here. read more

I really liked this store until they sold me a used guitar pedal, told me it was tested and worked, and gave me a receipt with my purchase. I took it home and found it to be unusable due to do a messed up buffer and bad components. They refused to refund me after lying to me. Don't buy from them. I love their stuff but they lack the integrity that you deserve as a customer. read more

I usually hate going to music stores - this one is pretty awesome, though. The last time my husband and I went I learned all about mammoth ivory, which I knew absolutely nothing about before. It smells nice in there and I don't find myself wanting to fling myself out of the window to escape my helpless, hopeless boredom. read more

If you're looking for a really special instrument, this is where you're going to find it. The showroom is an amazing place to look at, learn about, and play beautiful looking and sounding instruments. The staff is super cool, passionate, and knowledgeable about every instrument in the store. Everything I picked up played beautifully and sounded great. You're next favorite instrument is waiting for you there! read more

this place is wonderful. The guys that work there are helpful, talkative, and down to earth. They have a great selection of vintage stringed instruments, amps, and some pedals. As a visitor to New York it was the friendliest guitar store I came across. read more

Best guitar store in NYC hands down. The way guitar shops are supposed to be. Friendly people, incredible guitars, cool location. They specialize in vintage guitars and believe me once you've played a vintage guitar, you instantly start thinking about how you're going to save up enough money to afford one. No seriously this place is great to go and check out on a Saturday, just for the experience of it. It's in a great part of Brooklyn so go check it out and then you can walk in any direction and find some sort of yuppie brew pub or pour over coffee place. read more

Super-nice staff, warm friendly vibe, and beautiful vintage instruments.

I've bought and sold instruments with these guys. Owner Steve and his team are well informed, trustworthy, and acquire a unique collection of both classic and oddball instruments. I learn something new every time I interact with these guys. Anyone who loves vintage instruments will enjoy browsing their site and store. An important part of Brooklyn's musical community. read more

It's hard to get a sense of how amazing the place is from a description - and even the picture only provide evidence of a bunch of guitars - but walking into Retrofret and being surrounded by the best guitars ever is a transformative experience... Ask a question and you can find out everything about the kind of instrument, the history of that guitar or the history of the company that made it - probably even who was working on it at Martin or Gibson and what day of the week it was made. These people know everything. I've had setup and repair work done by Mamie, they've sold a few of my instruments for me, and i've got my eye on a few instruments. Simply the best. read more

This is the best guitar shop I've ever been to. I had two guitars repaired there recently (they did a beautiful job) and the staff even let me borrow one of their beautiful vintage Martin acoustics to play a couple gigs while I was waiting for my guitars to be finished. Very cool. Overall they have a great selection of vintage guitars and other instruments. The friendly and knowledgeable staff are a great bonus. I met the guys who do instrument repair and they take serious pride in their craft and it shows. It has that local "mom and pop shop" feel that leaves you wanting to avoid places like Guitar Center. Prices are very fair as well. I highly recommend! read more