We are open and doing the things we’ve always done: repairs and restoration, purchasing instruments and selling on consignment, and selling new and used guitars, violins, harps, mandolins, banjos and ukuleles! For those who are unvaccinated, we encourage you to wear a mask or face covering. Please feel free to email us or call us […]

Eastman, Guild and Art & Lutherie have all recently come out with easy-to-recommend instruments in an easy-to-afford price range. We have an excellent selection in stock, with more on the way. As always, we do a thorough set-up on each guitar before it goes out the door. And we invite you to stop back with […]

“Set-up” refers to a number of adjustments that affect the playability of an instrument. It also affects the sound, of course. Instruments periodically need to be set up. Think of it like a tune-up on a car. Things go out of whack. On a guitar, frets wear down (or pop up at the ends!), the instrument […]

Here’s a quick photo collage we put together showing instruments currently in stock from Bourgeois Guitars – as seen from the back. Clearly Bourgeois enjoys building these instruments, and we enjoy seeing them come through our shop. Woods used in the sides and backs of guitars aren’t there just to be pretty, but it’s a fun bonus […]

We have an interesting selection of older American made violins. We’ll have more becoming available as we can set them up and list them. Recognized builder names include Knute Reindahl (built in Madison, 1932), Andrew Hyde (Boston, 1889), and William Wilkanowski (New York, 1951). This is just a sampling. The full list is included in […]

This 12-fret National Resophonic Style O with Lightning Bolt is an iconic model. The nickel-plated brass body gives this instrument power and a beautiful, clean sustain. The Lightning Bolt etched finish is pure fun. Built in California with the finest of attention to quality. See it and other new National Resophonic Guitars in stock.

We’ve just received a few more F-style mandolins from Weber. We always like ordering customized instruments, making these mandolins more distinctive than the usual versions. Here are three examples. From L to R: Bitterroot F with rawhide burst custom color; Bitterroot F with light faded leather burst custom color; Yellowstone F with light faded leather burst […]

There’s a nice write-up about our shop in a recent Sunday edition of the Wisconsin State Journal. Thanks to Robyn Norton for finding her way to our shop and writing about it.