FIW has done extensive work on my vintage D 18 for three decades, including straightening the neck, a difficult and demanding job. I have been completely satisfied on all counts. I would trust them with any kind of stringed instrument repair. They are honest and know what they are doing.

Excellent service in my opinion, as a buyer of a beginner guitar. They offer two basic options, the least expensive Cort and more expensive but excellent value for the money Eastman line. This made for an easy, simple buying experience. I later shopped around. These really are some of the best beginner options. I went back, bought the Eastman PCH1 and couldnt be happier with it. They gave me advice about care and patiently answered my questions. Recommend highly!

Knowledgeable staff. Friendly, prompt, reasonable prices. Had work done to an electric bass guitar. Very happy with the work. I will return to this store for all future service needs. Highly recommended!

Although I’ve met him or ever set foot in his shop, and was dealing with him by phone from 3,000 miles away, I was completely confident in dealing with Tony. I was looking for a used National Model D squareneck, and he had something even better ... a “new old stock” guitar. (National stopped building them in 2010.) He put some new strings on it, polished up the cover plate, put in its case, and boxed it up securely. He notified me as soon as it shipped. Everything went well; it arrived unscathed and almost perfectly in tune. And although my guitar was in the store for more than ten years, it does not have a single ding, nick or scratch. Although I wish I could have worked with a local small business, I highly recommend Fretted Instrument Workshop!

Amazing collection of guitars, banjos, and mandolins, excellent repair services, custom string assortments.

Outstanding service. Brought a Martin guitar in for setup and strings. It was done while I waited. Had a great conversation. They are the primary care physician for my guitar Cecilia . Great vintage guitars and banjos to look at. They also can do warranty work on Martin guitars.

Sounds like some of the reviewers need a hug.Never had a bad experience at Fretted Instrument Workshop, in fact I have played many great guitars there. Bought several of them. The owner is not a typical salesman, he is a player and a musician himself. I dont mind not having some guy hanging over my head while I audition guitars. To each their own.

For years I have been on a mission to visit all of the truly great American guitar shops before they succumb to the internet.The FIW is a wonderful example of this endangered species.You would be hard pressed to find anyone with more knowledge than its soft-spoken, self effacing proprietor, Tony Creamer.As a lover of all stringed instruments, I was like a kid in a candy shop.The upstairs shop in the heart of Amherst, MA is a comfortable place to visit.

Ive known the owner for a few years. They have a great selection of acoustic stringed instruments there. I like to go play the guitars. Im thinking of taking up the mandolin (I play the violin). The instruments are so good looking.

It is hard to tell which is more impressive, the collection of instruments or the knowledge of the proprietor. A must for acoustic guitar lovers

Didnt...was going to hit rvery star in assrmding order...noce shop low key many guitars helpful...

Amazing shop with a huge variety of vintage guitars. They dont seem to have many beginner instruments, but if you want a good older instrument, this is the place to go. They also do repairs, but Ive never used that particular service.

A good selection of mandolins, a few mandolas and even an octave mandolin or two.

I bought an $1100.00 guitar at this store and it came with a warrantee. The finish was never quite right with this guitar and the bridge came off recently. I called to bring it in and what I got was a lot of unwarranted advice for future guitar care and a subtle implication that I somehow may have caused this to happen. The owner hadnt even seen the guitar yet - so I decided to bring it somewhere else that deals with Eastman guitars. I didnt feel like he was going to be in my corner. And when I said I felt like he was implying I had somehow not taken care of my instrument - he totally denied having ever implied that I should have noticed it coming off it takes years for this to happen to a guitar.. comment. Ive been playing for 30 years and I take impeccable care of my instruments. Not a great experience after such a substantial purchase...Even if it was my mistake (which is not the case) Eastman carries the warranty and his store loses nothing. Just a stuffy uptight owner who seems to be on a high horse of some kind..No thanks..

Great collection of vintage stringed instruments. Tony is a nice guy, who gave me options on a repair/set-up, and was willing to work within my limited budget. Job was done on time.

Great place. Lots of antique instruments. Did some repairs for me...very resonable and did a good job

Knowledgeable. Looked at a guitar for me and didnt charge since the value was not high enough for a written appraisal to be needed

Just had frets replaced and a buzz removed. Guitar has never been better. Excellent workmanship, fair price for skilled work.

Customer service could be more enthusiastic and joyful imo, but their knowledge is exceptional! Highly recommended!

I came here to buy a mandolin and sign up for lessons. They were extremely knowledgable, got me an instrument I could afford that sounds good and recommended The best mandolin teacher in western Mass, a Mr. Adam Sweet of Granby, MA. He operates the Sweet Music Studio. Ive been taking lessons there now since 2013. Thanks to FIW for the recommendation and for the Eastman!

I stumbled upon the shop while attendingg a conference and had a very enjoyable experience interacting with the owner and fine instruments.Ric R.

Unfortunately, I had a very bad experience due to some faulty workmanship with work performed on my instrument. The owner allows his subtle egotistical arrogance to get in the way of doing what he was paid to do. He has a nice shop with some nice instruments but his technical ability is apparently quite limited and he obviously cannot accept being wrong.Things could have easily turned out as a positive experience for me, if it wasn’t for his poor attitude. I initially had planned to return and purchase an instrument from him but I don’t appreciate being treated in a condescending manner. Normally, customers should expect a good experience unless something goes wrong and you call him out on it. Read some of the other negative reviews of this place and you will observe a common theme. Luckily, there is a music shop a couple of towns over that corrected the workmanship and technical issues!

I had a great time here, and everyone was very helpful. Not sure where those few low reviews come from.

Ive been here a few times. Nice little shop. Too bad they dont have many violins here. I guess I have to go to Boston to get my violin fixed

The Fretted Instrument Workshop was a nasty, abusive experience, the worst I have had in any music store in my life. I went to this store several years ago. I had a cello with a bow, and I needed a protective sleeve for my bow. I was with my partner, and we waited for a half hour while the two owners disappeared in the backroom, supposedly looking for a sleeve. When they finally emerged, the owner offered me a flimsy plastic bag. He said, with a smirk on his face, you have a cheap Chinese cello, so this would be good enough. When I rejected this solution, he became belligerent, insulting and downright abusive. It was the worst experience Ive ever had at a music store. When I shared this with other musicians in the Valley, they confirmed that they had the same experience at this store, or knew people who did. They confirmed that Fretted Instrument Workshop had a reputation for having an abusive attitude towards their customers. This was several years ago before publicly reviewing businesses on the internet became a regular practice. Dont go to this store; its not worth it. You can find the same quality instruments elsewhere. If you do go, be prepared to battle the insults and belligerence of the sales people and owners.

Simply the most magical place in New England.

Ive been visiting and buying from Fretted Instrument Workshop ever since I attended UMass Amherst as an undergrad. They certainly offer the best selection of quality acoustic instruments in the Amherst area, and one of the best in New England (Ive been to quite a few!!)In 2000, I bought a Bourgeois OMC, serial 249 to replace a Larrivee D03 that was beginning to hurt my arm (from reaching over that big body to finger-pick). What a lovely guitar! Since then Ive brought it back numerous times for minor setup adjustments (which Tony usually makes right then and there, no charge), a repair job (when I neglected humidity one winter and the bridge began to lift... eek!), and a re-fret and neck reset (which at the time was very only a couple hundred dollars, and the workman ship was superb). Im going to bring it back soon to have the frets redone again (Ive managed to wear them out again from playing all the time over the last 7 years!), even though I no longer live in the area. It is worth the drive!!What Ive found about Fretted is that the staff is very knowledgeable, generally friendly (some can come across a bit prickly at first, but be respectful and get to know them!), and while the prices are not low in absolute terms, for the quality of instruments and workmanship you will not find a better deal anywhere! Believe me, the cost of fine acoustic instruments has gone through the roof in the last ten years or so, but Ive gotten some real bargains at Fretted.Since the Bourgeois, Ive bought another hand built acoustic guitar, a mandolin, and a classical guitar. All have been great instruments which Ive enjoyed playing immensely. Like many small shops from a mostly passed era, they offer personalized service and an ongoing relationship; some store policies may seem a bit old fashioned, but they are certainly fair and if you take a moment to consider, you will realize how much many larger chains have opened themselves to abuse from their own customers!Highly recommended! Go there today!

Good place. decent selection. open, friendly approach.

Beautiful instruments abound! They have a wonderful selection of violins, guitars, mandolins, ukeleles, banjos, etc. Highly knowledgeable salespeople and luthiers, too.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Really quaint, helpful local business