Retrofret Vintage Guitars

This place is amazing. After buying a banjo online, I needed assistance getting it setup. I called this place without ever reading the Unilocal review and took my beginner banjo to get service. The staff was extremely nice. After I got my repair started, I wandered over to their huge collection of banjos and they let me play whatever I wanted. I can’t believe there is a place this awesome in Brooklyn.

After dropping off my kid at college last week I had some mournful time to kill so I wandered into Retrofret. As a meatball finger-​style guitarist and Luthier I’m always curious about independent guitar stores and check them out when I travel. Retrofret is one of the coolest I’ve ever set foot in. The people are really nice, friendly, and knowledgeable, and the guitars they had in the place were simply awesome. It’s like a museum of significant guitars: everything from Martins and Gibsons to Kalamazoos and Maccaferris. Every one I picked up and played was perfectly set up and perfectly in tune. Their prices are realistic/​reasonable for the quality of the gear they have on hand. This is not a Guitar Center with mass produced commodity guitars (don’t get me wrong, Guitar Center is fine for what it is, but Retrofret fits in a whole ‘nuther strata). Retrofret sells amazing instruments that anybody of whatever musical skill level would be blessed to own and play. If you are looking for something rare and unique and you’re willing to pay a fair price for something that good, this is the place. I’m just sad about the fact it may be years before I get to stop in again since I’m not local.

I love this place. I could stay in there for hours.
I’ve had 2 guitar repairs done and both times it was a pleasant experience.
The staff is very friendly and both times the job was done for less then the original estimate and done when they said it would.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

Retrofret is staffed by friendly and knowledgable folks who will treat you well whether you are there for repairs or just to check out their fine selection of instruments.
I brought in a vintage banjo that was in mediocre condition and Retrofret transformed it into a fine instrument. I liked how fair and honest they were in terms of what work needed to be done and how much it would cost — the folks here will never try to sell you on extras that you don’t necessarily require.

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.

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.

Probably the coolest place I’ve ever been. Like ever.
The nicest people, the most amazing guitars, just the coolest place ever.
It’s in, what looks like, a super sketchy neighborhood and there’s no store front. So don’t be looking for one. Look for the address and press the button. They’ll buzz you in and you’ll go up some stairs and over a roof and finally you get to Retrofret.
The employees greet you, shake your hand and introduce themselves and ask your name. They encourage you to play whatever you want, for however long you want. If you have any questions about the instruments they offer a wealth of information but are not pushy in the slightest.
You can tell that this is the kind of place that doesn’t want to just sell you a guitar, they just want to surround themselves with things they love and people who appreciate them as well. It’s a very special place.

This place has the WOW factor with both a mind-​blowing collection and class act staff. I called about a Gibson guitar I saw online — George was happy to grab it while on the phone and describe every detail of the condition/​sound. When I arrived I was given plenty of time and space to check it out, and was encouraged to play anything in the store. I immediately felt spoiled by the experience, and knew that I had found a very special place. At purchasing time, they were super easy to work with and even threw in a t-​shirt (cool shirt btw, always gets compliments). Above all else, the owner and staff want you to walk away happy… and I definitely did. If you are in the market for a vintage instrument and appreciate a boutique experience, this is as good as it gets!

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.

I’ve had two instruments repaired at Retrofret, a mandolin and a guitar. Both times the repairs were well done, and the service was friendly from everyone, from the repair people to sales people. There is no negative attitude here at all (and as a woman musician I have encountered plenty of bad music store salesman attitude for years, in all shades, from patronizing to down right hostile). They have a large stock of rare and unusual guitars, banjos, mandolins, etc. and although I wasn’t in the market for anything new, they still encouraged me to browse and try anything. A thoroughly positive experience!

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.

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.

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.

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!