Met Jim in 1978-9 as the 'best' guy by The LB Arena and all of us playing hard out of…read moreGilmore's,World of Strings(he was their best dude), Whittiker's, McCabe's, Morey's,Guitars Afire,Music City and on and on. Jim is INCREDIBLY talented and smart. He has a heart of Gold and is honest as the day is long too. His time is very valuable and he is 75 now. I urge him to charge a lot more because he deserves it and is very well worth it ! So the news is maybe a great thing for all of us, looking forward. I called to say, no rush on my axes, let us help? Apparently. his landlord decided to remodel for more profit, despite being lousy. Poor Jims doors were broken, HVAC full of issues, and anyway. All Jims inventory is safe, secure, carefully placed and he is there, in a special new place, for a while, by appointment. He also needs us to find him a managable storefront, and maybe a nice dwelling in or close. The few weird comments I have seen are, well..."I left my acoustic guitar,no name, and expect a 100 tune up or so and called.called and maybe did not get the hint? The best guy in the business is in no huge rush for $100 tune up? 'I'm sore unaware that the poor guy is very polite but is staring at investing a lot of money and may spend days, fabricating a special, specific jig for this work? Maybe check yourself and let players and Luthiers or techs round this reasoning . Jim is not in this for the money and will tell old friends this. Collecting,buying, selling or tossing instruments kind of includes the ability and experience to judge, then think like a business person. Or a Luthier. Offer another Luthier a 1,000 for the making you a special Jig and have Jim sign it. It will be worth a lot more money some day,amigo. Then get it fixed for a great price, and you take the jig home, and find other no name 6 string guys to share it, ya know? If it ain't workin' as some say,well? Buy a better axe. Invest in a Gibson, Fender, Martin, Ovation or one of Segovia's students instruments? Sounds like glued and pressed and baked composite wood from China or Viet Bong. If you want to play,buy a real guitar with one piece neck and body, and invest in nice tone and better playing maybe ? Handing cheap junk to the Master kind of insults his friends intelligence when blasted around the world and unfair. There is a speaker seeker in oh no panic mode too. Google Jim, big news,,THE LA SHERIFF has formerly filed and served an official eviction demand and bla bla who gives a duck. Those who know, know and this will all work out. Sherifs serve people all day and night.Normal rental ending Due Process,Notice and this gang has rats all over the poor guy too? Don't be a rat. Be a musician,and artist. A gift . Dudes, dudettes, please just remember, slander and libel is a real means of business tort(Civil wrong=Pay. Honest opinions are 1 thing, but innuendo,distortions, false facts or omissons of fair, neglected facts is important. Objective,detached balanced reporting is key, and a duty, in Californa. I have maybe,$60-70,000 worth of my children with Jim right now, museum pieces I have loved since 19 79 and 1984. A black Clapton Strat kind of. Bad Ass black Maple neck with old school EMG's, the original type, plus, the originals for trade in, out. My V neck, hard tail (rare), Blonde, 1956 dream mobile. Birthday gift from my best brother. Neck says 1/56 and it is really, too bitchin to sweat on ! The original tweed case they claim fetches 3500-4500...no way....but Yes way.. Simple point? ONLY Jim is EVER going to tune these up. I trust and value him, endorse him fully and many many are calling him for a well deserved, and hard earned accolade...WE LOVE HIM. Thus, ; 'Do you need anything Jim?Can I, or WE,help you reloacte, find a new cool place?" Yesterday he sounded really happy, and like, wow ! He said; 'I can't believe how many kind people are calling me to volunteer help, work for me, do whatever, show friendship'. I said;"Jim, you have a huge friends and fans base and are so modest and cool, it was just out there waiting for you to need to hear about it,maybe ?" "You are a legend dude, and loved !'' Maybe get on that train, and in to the next Chapter of Music History, we feel ? Bless you Jim ! We need a 1) Power pack at the storage vault for lights, and machinery. A nice home and why not, there is definitely a cool Lady around the Music Industry to share the best things of life a little?'' Food,paperwork,errands, whatever frees him up to do his Art. Many wish he could DELEGATE related cool things, like what NORM's always did? Have a separate piece of the buy and sell world. Detached but connected? T SHIRTS Jim? Just an Image of you at your bench doing what Wizard;s Do. And dudes, Jim was a GOOD player? Up in Berkley, he needs to play too?Sit in with Jim now and then? Why not. Jim is like a Hendrix in our world that we much cherish and respect, Play on James (3rd stone from the sun). I'm in...

Best Guitar repair! Jim is very knowledgeable! Many different choices in the South Bay. I'll always…read morecome back to Jim.

I am literally shocked at how great Matt is. I did not expect my guitars to be so perfectly dialed…read morein. They have never played this well in my lifetime. I've taken my guitars to Guitar Center many times over the years, and even after they were supposedly set up, I was still fighting fret buzz, tuning problems, and intonation issues. Not with Matt. Everything plays beautifully and stays in tune. Thank you so much, Matt! Your workmanship is outstanding. You are awesome!

Brought in this new SG Special for Matt to setup. Out of the box, the neck had enough of a concave…read morebow to make it difficult to play and the rosewood fingerboard was quite dry. Matt took one look at it and said, "no problem". One day later and this guitar is perfect and ready to play for years to come. Matt knows what he's doing and takes pride in a job well done. Thanks, Matt! Also, I should note that I found him here, at Yelp. Thanks to them as well.

Both of my children (ages27and 19)have trained for years with Candace Ford. With much help from…read moreCandace's coaching and support both are on professional career paths. One has signed a record deal with Sony, and the other accepted and attending a top 10 university for Music Theater, and just closed her first professional Music Theater production ( her vocals earning her the lead). Candace has been pivotal in their careers. Candace is an amazing, knowledgeable and caring vocal coach and a wonderful human being. There is a strong emphasis on vocal health for which my kids and I are very grateful. I wish I could give her more than 5 stars! SHES THE BEST!

From the owner: Take your voice to the next level with quality, personalized vocal instruction in an encouraging…read moreatmosphere. Whether you're an experienced singer or just starting out, voice lessons will improve your technique and ease of singing, eliminate vocal breaks, expand your range and give you confidence in your singing. Our studio is located in Hermosa Beach for voice lessons in the South Bay. Long-distance students take advantage of telephone or Zoom lessons. Voice lessons available for ages 7 to adult.

Johnny was the man! He tuned up my mandolin and provided the best service. What an awesome…read moreexperience.

Brough my saxophone in for a cleaning/restoration. Price was $210…read more Pros: Incredibly fast turnaround. Quoted a week. Took 3 days. Solid contact in terms of proactively calling to pick up. Cons: communication at pickup was lacking. No after restoration report to let me know what was adjusted. Cannot tell what was serviced or restored. There doesn't appear to be more than a cursory wipe down of an instrument that hasn't been played for more than 25 yrs. Corks and pads are all the same as brought in, with no discernible work done or replacements. $210 for someone to wipe down the instrument poorly and oil valves? When asking to purchase cork grease upon pickup, was denied and told it was only for rentals despite more than $400 of business between resto and additional purchases. Options are quite limited locally, it's pretty much the only music shop in town for woodwinds and brass, but would recommend shopping around if you have the opportunity. Your mileage may vary. Happy to discuss my experience with management and revise.

I've have nothing but good experiences at harbor music. Scott's very nice and the service is great.read more

I just recently had one of my guitars worked on here. Prices are very reasonable. They have been at…read morethis location for 20 years. I like this place. Nice selection of guitars, amps, pedals and such.

A Hidden Gem in Redondo Beach for Music Lovers and Non-Musicians Alike!…read more Admittedly, I have never owned or even played a guitar--my musical "expertise" peaked decades ago in school with piano lessons and the viola. Yet, as fate would have it, I stumbled upon Bootlegger Guitar while walking to grab Thai food for lunch, and I'm so glad I did. This is so much more than just a guitar shop--it's a welcoming, community-driven lounge for anyone who appreciates music, craftsmanship, and good vibes. The owners were incredibly gracious and made me feel like an old friend the moment I walked in. They even offered gratis sips of bourbon (yes, bourbon!) and, if my eyes didn't deceive me, I think they had a bottle of scotch back there as well. It's clear that their hospitality is as much a part of their business as their musical expertise. While I can't vouch for the instruments from personal experience (again, my viola days are long gone), the passion and knowledge of the team here speak for themselves. You can tell they care deeply about their craft and their customers. Whether you're a seasoned musician, a newbie, or just someone who loves to soak in creative energy, this place is worth a visit. For all your musical needs--or just a friendly chat and a sip of bourbon--Bootlegger Guitar is a true treasure in Redondo Beach. I'll definitely be back...maybe for a scotch this time.

Bootlegger is amazing. I bought the 5 watt amp and it sounds incredible. The guitars are way under…read morepriced for the quality. The owner is awesome.

Huge shout out to Dennis at Rock Star Guitar Repair! We stopped by his shop late one evening…read more Although he was jumping on a plane the next day for an East coast gig, he said "no worries, I'll fix yah up"....and that he did! Got my son's older Roland GC-408 amp working again by the time he said he would. To top it off, he gave us a discounted price as a first-time customer. Dennis is an incredibly laid-back, multi-talented, musician and gear repair extraordinaire! I can't recommend Dennis and his honest, quality work high enough. We will definitely be back for any future needed repairs or upgrades!

When I dropped off one of my most valuable possessions with Dennis, I had questions: Is he insured?…read moreWill I actually see my guitar again? Will she come back intact? That's the thing about being a South Bay local -- your handshake is your word and reputation travels fast. I didn't know Dennis from Adam, but he's clearly been in that spot a long time and has the respect of his neighbors, which was enough for me to take the chance. It's rare to find people who go above and beyond anymore. I would've been satisfied if he just fixed my issue (reseat the saddle, check the piezo) and wiped off the fingerprints. Instead, he went next-level: sanded the saddle, adjusted the action, shimmed the piezo, oiled my dry fretboard, put on new strings, and cleaned her up like Christmas morning -- all before heading out on a big trip. And friendly as heck. Point is: you don't need to go anywhere else. Make him busy, drive up his prices. This is your guy.

Our kids have been music students at Sunset Learning Studio for years and we love the environment…read morehere. Dan, Nicola and Colleen are the friendliest owners you will ever meet. They have built a warm, loving studio filled with wonderful teachers and eager musicians. They host an open stage every few weeks and it is lovely. Unlike a traditional recital there is no pressure to impress or play perfectly. There is no scoring or criticism involved. It is simply a forum to give the students a chance to share what they have learned. The greatest indicator of success is seeing my kids love for creating music every day. They now have a skill that will allow them to create art and friendships for the rest of their lives.

I cannot go on about how amazing this place is. I have been here for about Four-ish years and I've…read moregrown so much! The people there are the sweetest and great coaches! I get professional instructions and critique. Every month there is a recital which is super chill and great to practice!

As soon as I walked into the store, a staff member greeted me and offered help--even though he…read morelooked busy handling some paperwork. He asked what I needed, and I explained that my acoustic guitar had a broken peg tuner. I already had the replacement part with me, so I handed it over. Instead of jumping straight into recommendations or upselling, he immediately tried to fix it on the spot. Once he confirmed it was repairable, he quickly cut the string, replaced the tuner, and got everything back in place. The whole process took less than 10 minutes! I live in Carson, so driving out to Lakewood and getting it fixed the same day was such a relief. This guitar isn't for professional use--it's for my daughter who's just starting to learn--so having it ready right away saved me a lot of time and hassle. He even tuned it by ear in seconds, which was really impressive. Overall, a smooth and pleasant experience. I really appreciated the quick, no-nonsense service and would definitely come back again for future repairs!

Today was my first time here and it was amazing and had AC! They fixed up my violin string for a…read morevery cheap price! The staff was also super kind and polite! Will be coming back soon.

Roberto is great at his craft! I had my Taylor serviced by him over 2 months ago, and he made it…read moresound even better now. I've had to tune it less, even with capo on and off the guitar pretty often. So happy with the results that I brought in a Martin for him to readjust. It's still in good condition but the action was horrible, and some of the fret lines needed work. Now it's playing like new! Thank you Roberto!

Roberto is excellent…read more Many repair shops will give you an estimate after seeing the instrument, then later change the price or add unexpected charges. Roberto is not that kind of person. If additional parts or consumables are needed, he always contacts you first and keeps you updated. I had already reinstalled the original EMG pickups on my guitar, but the wiring was not completed, so I asked Roberto to finish the job. He did an amazing job, and the wiring was done as cleanly as when the guitar was brand new. It sounds incredible. He handles instruments with great care and treats them as if they were his own. I feel completely comfortable trusting him with valuable guitars. I highly recommend Roberto to anyone looking for a skilled and trustworthy guitar technician.