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Balboa Guitars
5 ★★★★★ 18 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in San Francisco, California
Plan your visit
- Repairs & setups a repair bench comes up in reviews and the store's own info — call ahead for turnaround, since good techs run a queue
- Lessons lessons come up in reviews and the store's own info — call about openings, instruments taught, and rates before the first visit
- Phone (415) 221-3920
- Website marknewstetter.com
What's on the wall
“Mark did some much needed fret work on my guitar and rewired my Jazz bass and I couldn't be happier.”
“I’ve taken 4 or 5 guitars in for repairs and have always been highly satisfied with the results and enjoyed our ensuing conversations.”
“Took a private introductory lesson here and probably learned more in one session than I have in 20 years of teaching myself and other “private” instructors.”
Brands they deal
“The floating bridge on my Fender Jaguar guitar was a complete mess: the saddles wouldn’t stay put, screws were falling out, and the strings rattled.”
“I had him install a new bone nut and saddle in my Gibson J-15 acoustic and the work is beautiful.”
What players say again and again
“I've gone to him twice for electric guitar setup and both times gotten back instruments that played far better than before.”
“) I've also been taking weekly lessons with Mark for about 6 months and have seen massive results in my playing, understanding of the fretboard, and general theory knowledge.”
“Mark is gifted at guitar repairs and will give you top quality work for a great price.”
From the reviews
The floating bridge on my Fender Jaguar guitar was a complete mess: the saddles wouldn’t stay put, screws were falling out, and the strings rattled. I was about to give up on my guitar until I went to Mark.
Appreciation and care for vintage instruments. Above and beyond service on my Burns Jazz Bass. I used to go to local Music store for drop off and wait for weeks luthier service. They stopped offering that service and recommended Balboa Guitars. I’m glad they did.
Mark is gifted at guitar repairs and will give you top quality work for a great price. He has written several amazing books on understanding the fretboard. I have been taking lessons weekly for over a year and I am inspired to practice daily!
I can't speak highly enough of Mark at Balboa Guitars. I had him install a new bone nut and saddle in my Gibson J-15 acoustic and the work is beautiful. He's a really genuine guy and took the time to discuss the work and answer all my questions. I'll be back soon with more guitars for him to work on. Great shop!
Lessons at Balboa Guitars
Reviews and the store's own info mention lessons at Balboa Guitars. If you're signing up a beginner (or restarting yourself), a quick call ahead answers the three things that matter: which instruments they teach, whether the schedule has openings at the time you actually need, and what a first lesson costs. There's no wrong first guitar — a good teacher will happily work with whatever you walk in with, and a shop that teaches usually keeps affordable starter instruments on hand for exactly this reason.
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