Fretworks! — Local services in Hilton Head Island

Family operated music store, where the father has stepped back and the son runs the show. Good variety of instruments and gear, competitive pricing and reasonable vendor-customer rapport. I'd see them once a week for a year of lessons (with Steve-he's great!) and Teag, Mike, and Jhon (Manager/sales/techs) talk to me and know me by name. They know their gear. The are easygoing, helpful, and have helped me sort out guitar issues on the fly at no charge several times. Truss rod tweek, bridge or saddle tweek, Floyd Rose intonation-done in two minutes so i could practice and not have to take hours learning how to be a guitar tech in order to practice:) They are good techs and can get you out of the weeds with an instrument that doesnt play right. They also set their own instruments up prior to turning them over, so you get a guitar that doesnt cut your fretting hand, has a straight neck, tunes clearly, doesnt buzz out or sit too high-all of the stuff you have to do yourself if you buy from Amazon or directly from Fender/Gibson/Jackson etc. Did YOU know you have to have almost every instrument professionally set up or that a couple of tiny adjustments make the difference between learning on a good guitar and quitting on an unplayable guitar?

My experience with lessons is also excellent. Steve can play and explain everything and the guy can even do it with a left or right handed guitar, which many of you visual learners or process learners should highly respect. My first interaction with Steve was to ask him about bands and artists who I want to learn, and he spoke about them thoughtfully in a way that proved he was into ALL guitar music and that he was not just going to teach me garbage songs. A week later, he asked me to submit MY songs to him, and thats what we worked on. If youre in it for lessons, read this paragraph twice because thats the sort of instructor you want.

My parting shot is to encourage you to use your local music store, everywhere, or at least give them the opportunity to try to get your business. They have your strings, fix your tremolos, adjust the necks, and a million other little things that keep you engaged with a well working instrument so you can enjoy life. The guys at Fretworks know vintage gear, modern gear, and are fans of the new technology enough to help you make sense of it. Most of you are not pros and you need the nurturing, and little places like Fretworks exist to help you along. They're also struggling everywhere against manufacturer-direct sales now. Important to consider, since the manufacturer isnt 5 minutes from home and you cant call him on his personal cell when you break your guitar over...

Updated 7/5**

(spoke with owner and will update if my experience gets better from future visits. Updated the rating from 1 to a 3 because the owner took time to listen, which is a rarity these days. Truly appreciated and will update in the future when I drop in for a visit)

So, I was wanting to get an Ibanez 1070 and it is the beautiful blue design they had, Cerulean Blue and Rick came with a price that was hard to pass up. I applaud him.

The issue is that when I spoke with Andy (2 different occasions 3 weeks apart) and information wasn't correct that was given to me on special orders, pricing and just seemed to be blowing smoke, but Rick fixed all of it 5 days later because I never got called back like Andy said would happen.

In the meantime I found an acoustic guitar I wanted, a Martin- Eric Clapton version and I then found another guitar I wanted as well, an Ibanez RGRT621DPB

I called about the 621 and Andy answered and was helpful at first, and then said we have one in here that is the same exact thing. Same color! I asked if it was the 421AHM I saw and he said yes! I then said it's not the same as the neck isn't the same, the wood, pickups or design. He just stated to come in and you never know (even after I declined 3 times and said I want the 621 and can you check and get me a price) and then he offered info on an all black Ibanez after I had just said I have an all black Jazzmaster and want a guitar with color and personality. (at this point it felt like I was getting pushed to buy something I didn't want at all, and while inventory is overhead in a business sense, I stayed clearly in English what I wanted)

Truly I felt like Andy gets overwhelmed easily, and I know the business is busy, but when I ask to check if something is in stock and I get offered other items when I said this is what I want, then I feel like Andy didn't care about what I wanted at all. All I was told is, "yeah, we could probably get it for that price" and I asked to find out and call me back as waiting I am fine with. I was told "I'm very sure we could do that price." That didn't sound definitive, and all I wanted was a yes or no, or even I will find out and call you back as soon as I can.

All in all, I have both guitars now and Fretworks missed out on 4600 dollars in sales because Andy just didn't want to listen. Rick did exactly what I asked and got all info to me within an hour! Thank you to him and I still need two cases and lessons and if that experience is better I will absolutely update...

Leaving right now, walked in with my family. My daughter was interested in seeing some bass and acoustic guitars. Well, we asked the gentleman with long hair and ponytail a few questions. Possibly to get him to assist from behind the counter( working on another guitar). Nope, nothing but simple answers as if he was bothered by us. Then another gentleman comes to asked him some questions. What do you know got up from around the counter and started chatting him up. Crazy!!!! There some little girl their too, don't know if she worked there or not. Didn't really do much besides a play a guitar and sit there. No customer service, no help. He acted as if we shouldn't be there, no smile, just straight faced annoyed answers.. this was a terrible experience, and he missed out on a sale. We won't be back even if it's the closest store. We will make the drive to a...