Eastchester Music Center — Local services in Town of Eastchester

Yesterday was my first visit to Eastchester Music Center, and it was absolutely a delightful experience, one of the best I have ever had in visiting a music store. I knew of Anthony's reputation as a good person to work with and, especially, that he was a top dealer of Knaggs guitars. I was in New York over the weekend, and decided to drive back home (Washington DC) via the store (not actually "on the way," but definitely worth the extra time). I had my eye on a gorgeous Kenai Quilt that Anthony got in just recently, and obviously having the chance to see it and play it was, of course, far better than doing an internet deal. Anthony had the guitar ready and waiting for me when I got there, let me take my time with it, and also with another Kenai that I wanted to compare to it. When I was ready to proceed, Anthony was straight up and fair in working with me (we had had some preliminary discussion about price, etc. via email beforehand, and he stayed true to what we had tentatively agreed on should I wish to make the purchase). Throughout everything, Anthony was friendly, patient (no pressure), and just plain enjoyable to talk to. It was also a real pleasure to see the fantastic selection of Knaggs guitars Anthony had in stock and talk to him generally about them and about what Joe Knaggs has accomplished and is doing. It is also worth mentioning that my wife was with me, and she was also treated very well, not just ignored because she wasn't the potential customer...(and Anthony gave her a nice Eastchester Music Center/KnaggsGuy t-shirt too!). A final word about the photography of the Knaggs guitars on the website. We all know how internet commerce has become central to buying and selling virtually everything, including guitars. Photos are important, obviously, and one would ideally like to be able to count on those to be accurate in representing any individual instrument. The photos on Anthony's website are truly superb--the guitars look good, but what you see is true to how they look in person. In the case of the guitar I acquired, the color of the top and the depth and movement of the figure in the quilting are especially rich and complex, and the photos not only captured that, they did it with fidelity to the real thing. The photographer happen to stop in while I was there, saw me with the guitar and mentioned that he had shot it--I told him that his photographs were right up there with the very best I have ever seen online, and that they were important to me in making the decision to go the Eastchester and see the guitars in person. I am happy to write this review and express my satisfaction and happiness with everything about my experience at Eastchester...

Not a good experience with this shop at all. The lack of communication was astounding. I called to ask how much an electric guitar setup would cost and was told $65 plus strings. I showed up the guy looks at my guitar for 5 seconds and says “yeah definitely needs a setup” and I reiterated the price they told me he goes “no it’s $85.” Okay whatever, its a 20 dollar difference I gave it to them they said they would call when it was ready and never takes longer than a week.

A week goes by no phone call so I call myself and they said “oh yeah its been ready, you didn’t get a call?” I show up, he hands me the guitar and says its 35 bucks. I ask why it was so low i thought it was 85. Turns out my truss rod was maxed out and the neck had a slight bow. Also looked crooked to me so not sure what the did. They STILL RESTRUNG THE GUITAR even tho it needed serious work on it. The low e string was basically off the fretboard by the 12th fret and the entire thing was crooked. Not a single person called me and mentioned these issues. No one asked my permission to restring this they just did it. No communication, no checking with me to see if that was okay. And i can restring my own guitar btw, I needed a professional set up. They took my money and I am in the same spot I was before....

Always so helpful and attentive to customer. I had a 20 year old guitar with a broken neck and I asked him if it was worth repairing or would it be cheaper to just buy a new guitar. He told me not worth fixing. A year later I gave it to him after it just wasn't playable anymore and said "maybe you can find a home for this, maybe if you want to fix it when you are bored, etc. I just don't want to throw it in the garbage." A year later I come into store and I ask... "Hey did you ever do anything with that guitar? I'm the guy that brought you that guitar with the cracked bridge and broken neck..." There is the guitar on display for people to play in the store as it can't be sold. He then asked if I wanted it back. And didn't asked...