Good Boston guitar setups??

[thesweetness]

My searches yeilded nothing. I need a good guy to do a setup for me. I remember reading on here a while back about a guy on Mass ave (not wolf at berklee) that was good, but I can't seem to find any info. Anybody?

[RickC]

perhaps you're thinking of Peter Stokes at Broken Neck Guitar Repair. He used to be on Boylston, less than a block from Mass Ave (and probably still is).

/rick

[TwoTubMan]

Avoid Boston Guitar Works like the plague.

[esoteric pete]

wasnt there a good tech at or above cambridge music?

[bostonwal]

wasnt there a good tech at or above cambridge music?

Yes, that would be the one on Mass Ave. And that would be the great Jim Mouradian, guitar tech to the stars. http://www.cambridgemusic.com/about.htm

I have had the guy down below in the store do a set up for $25. I liked it. I'm drawing a blank on his name. Also Cambridge Music is where you want to drop off your tube amp for servicing by Stan Day.

I heard the setups from Jim Mouradian are about $75 and a 3 week wait. That could just be a myth though. I've never contacted him for repairs. Just call Cambridge Music and they'll hook you up with Jim.

[markguitar]

Yes, that would be the one on Mass Ave. And that would be the great Jim Mouradian, guitar tech to the stars. http://www.cambridgemusic.com/about.htm

I have had the guy down below in the store do a set up for $25. I liked it. I'm drawing a blank on his name. Also Cambridge Music is where you want to drop off your tube amp for servicing by Stan Day.

I heard the setups from Jim Mouradian are about $75 and a 3 week wait. That could just be a myth though. I've never contacted him for repairs. Just call Cambridge Music and they'll hook you up with Jim.

Jim, Is not above Cambridge Music any longer. He and his son have opened up a new place.

[slippyknees]

Steve Morrell - great guy, great set ups/work. He's on Mass Ave in Back Bay about 1 block from Berklee. Same side as Daddy's Junky Music about 3 or 4 doors down towards Symphony Hall - he's in the Bristol Studios building.

Can't say enough good things. Peter Stokes and Wolf (at Berklee - around the side of the 150 Mass Ave building) are good also as is Jim from Cambridge Music. Those are about the 4 main guys you want to go to.

[hism-scism]

Jim Mouradian is definitely the guy in Boston.

[opdev]

Jim (and his son John are great).

They are on MAin St. in Wincester now.

The new store is amazing.

I picked up a BFDR
Esquire
Gretsch 6120 DSW

when I dropped of my ES-330 for a repair.

[opdev]

The best thing to do with Jim isschedule an appt.

He is usually 3 weeks out.

So call in and he gives you the day he can work on it (3 weeks away). I drop it off the day before and get it back the day after he schedules.

Just get on his calander.

[thesweetness]

I need as fast a turnaround as I can. so Jim may not be my best option. I think Steve Morrell was the name I was trying to remember.

A google search yielded this, which seems promising. Although there seems to be no buzz about his work. Same day service though in some cases! http://www.bostonguitarrepaircenter.com/

[dverna]

Stere Morrill does a fantastic job. He is fast, reliable, thorough, and a great guy. He is on Mass Ave. 617-315-5127.


I have been to Mouradian many times, and he also does a great job -- Steve is just easier to get in and out of.

Can't go wrong with level of service and aptitude on either guy.

[jaycee]

I was at Mouradian's shop yesterday to pick up my guitar. Awesome new shop. There is a wait as has been said. You give them two weeks notice and then drop it off. It took about a week to get mine back. Top notch work, though. Nice selection of guits and amps too!

[Gas-man]

I used to go to a place in Davis Square Somerville--name is escaping me now.

Only a short T ride away!

The guy did great work.

[teleking36]

I just moved out of Porter Square in Somerville after living there for 3 years, and I had used Jim and Jon Mouradian almost exclusively for that time. While the wait time is a bit long, smart scheduling takes care of that. They both do amazing work and are very insightful. They definitely carry a large customer base, and I've personally seen them work on some beautiful guitars ('58 strat, '64 ES335 come to mind).

Lately, I've been sending my stuff to Steve Morrill over on Mass Ave., which has been fantastic! Steve is a stand-up guy who has amazing turnaround and very good prices. He seems to be a little cheaper that Mouradian.

I had him install a new neck on my tele earlier this year, which needed a fret dress, new bone nut, and full setup. Steve took my guitar on a tuesday and i had it back that thursday! the price was great, too. I also had him cut a new bone nut for my '62 RI SG/LP, which came out flawless.

I don't think you could go wrong with either Mouradian or Morrill.

[RickyKing]

Also check Wolf at MISC 617-247-0525

[slippyknees]

The place in Davis Sq was called Rock City Guitars. Corey threw in the towel a few years ago though so it's no longer around.

Another note about Steve M. is that he'll work on your guitar the same day if you tell him you need it done. That's why Steve rocks in my book - he does awesome work and cares about/knows most folks can't wait 3 weeks for a simple set up. He'll make the time, drop what he's doing, and take on your guitar no matter what. THAT'S service!

[James]

Steve Morrill has been my go-to guy for over 10 years. He's the best guitar repairman in the area in my opinion. As others have said, he's fast, very reasonable with his prices, and is an expert in the field. Bless him!

[percepeid]

Rock City Guitars is still in Davis Sq. I don't know who's doing the work now though, but they're still in business.
For quick set-up work i've been going to the Guitar Stop on mass ave between harvard and porter. Great work, super nice people.
More intense work (re-frets, etc..) i've used Wolf.
I'm not a fan of Cambridge Music at all. I won't get into it here.

[HurricaneJesus]

Do yourself a favor, get Dan Erlewine's book. Try doing your own setup. Worst case scenario, you need to take it to a guy to get a setup anyway.

[Gas-man]

The place in Davis Sq was called Rock City Guitars. Corey threw in the towel a few years ago though so it's no longer around.

Another note about Steve M. is that he'll work on your guitar the same day if you tell him you need it done. That's why Steve rocks in my book - he does awesome work and cares about/knows most folks can't wait 3 weeks for a simple set up. He'll make the time, drop what he's doing, and take on your guitar no matter what. THAT'S service!


I was thinking of Used Sound. Don't know if it's still there.

[slippyknees]

I'm 99.9% certain there's no more Rock City Guitar - there's now a food place in it's old store front. I also know Corey relatively well and he was getting out of the business. I think you're thinking of Rockin Bob's across from the Somerville Theatre which is still in business.

[jaycee]

Do yourself a favor, get Dan Erlewine's book. Try doing your own setup. Worst case scenario, you need to take it to a guy to get a setup anyway.

Good advice. It is pretty easy to do. I take mine in occasionally to have the frets and nut looked at by an experienced tech. That's really the only thing i don't want to screw with yet.

As for Rock City guitars, was the tech's name Gerry?

[madvek]

:agree

Here's a good DIY setup resource: http://mysite.verizon.net/jazz.guitar/guitarsetup.htm

[sshan25]

Avoid Boston Guitar Works like the plague.

I'll second that....

[percepeid]

I'm 99.9% certain there's no more Rock City Guitar - there's now a food place in it's old store front. I also know Corey relatively well and he was getting out of the business. I think you're thinking of Rockin Bob's across from the Somerville Theatre which is still in business.

You are absolutly correct. I was thinking of Rockin Bob's. Rock City was great, they always had fun guitars there.

[BostonGuitar]

wasnt there a good tech at or above cambridge music?


Why yes, Pete, except as has been mentioned, Jim and Jon Mouradian opened up their own shop in Winchester. Kewl inventory and easy parking make a NICE bonus, but the meat of the matter is the quality of the work. I have had a few PRS setup through them, a couple needing a little more than usual. SILLY good work. Then when I decided my 60 relic strat should really have a trem that could stay in tune even if only I pushed on it a little, I took it to Jon. He worked it so well that I can beat that thing like a floyd rose now, NO LIE and it stays in tune! Without locking tuners, Jon made my 60 relic strat trem that was hopeless, stay in tune better than my PRS DGT. THAT is the shite!

p.s. I will let Pete play my strat sometime to prove it. :cool:

[bbes347]

I'll throw in another vote for Steve Morrill. He could double his prices and I'd still go to him.