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J. Thayer Guitars

5 ★★★★★ 57 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in Bremerton, Washington

Lessons Repairs & setups

Luthier shops featuring acoustic instruments as well as repair and setup services for guitars, basses and ukuleles.

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 (360) 440-1623
  • Website jthayerguitars.com

What's on the wall

Instrument and gear categories at J. Thayer Guitars, confirmed in players' own reviews and the store's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🎼 Acoustic Guitars 7 mentions

“I have just had an acoustic guitar setup done by him and have spent the afternoon playing and marveling at how wonderful sounding and how playable the guitar now is.”

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🎸 Electric Guitars 6 mentions

“I recently built a telecaster from parts but after putting it together I struggled to set it up and couldn’t get it to play well.”

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♻️ Used Gear 4 mentions

“*Refret on an Eastman Acoustic *Refret of Guild Archtop I have used other people in the Northwest, including the great Mike Lull in Seattle and Joe Riggio in Tacoma.”

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🔧 Repairs & Setups 33 mentions

“I have just had an acoustic guitar setup done by him and have spent the afternoon playing and marveling at how wonderful sounding and how playable the guitar now is.”

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🪕 Ukulele, Banjo & Folk 2 mentions

“I had him lower the action and pin the bridge on my Mandolin and lower an action and setup my Ukulele.”

All stores with ukulele, banjo & folk →

Brands they deal

Brands players name in their reviews of J. Thayer Guitars — the fastest way to tell what's actually hanging on the wall before you drive over.

🏷️ Fender

“I immediately sold my two Fender custom shop Telecasters.”

Who else deals Fender →

Brand mentions are mined from reviews and the store's own info — they tell you what's on the wall, not formal authorized-dealer status. If warranty coverage matters, confirm dealer status with the store or the brand's own dealer locator.

What players say again and again

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 57 Google reviews — with their own words as proof.

🔧 expert setups & repairs 30 mentions

“I have just had an acoustic guitar setup done by him and have spent the afternoon playing and marveling at how wonderful sounding and how playable the guitar now is.”

From the reviews

You would be hard pressed to find a more professional, talented, and prompt luthier in the state of Washington. John took on an extremely challenging project for me, and what was likely going to be a marginal instrument, and he turned it into the nicest guitar I've owned in 31 years of playing.

★★★★★ — Ryan, Jul 2018

Great quality workmanship! He repaired a neck for me that was badly broken and it feels like it's brand new! As you can see in my photo, I didn't have him fix the damage to the stain but he refinished the top coat and it feels smooth as glass. He cost less than half of what I had been quoted elsewhere.

★★★★★ — Luke, Feb 2018

John Thayer is, simply put, the best. He has done the following for me: *Set up four telecasters. *Replacing hardware (e.g., pickups, bridges, jack cups). *Refret on an Eastman Acoustic *Refret of Guild Archtop I have used other people in the Northwest, including the great Mike Lull in Seattle and Joe Riggio in Tacoma.

★★★★★ — Greg, Apr 2019

Had to update my review to say, that I love J. Thayer's work!! My wife, who knows relatively little, about guitars, is impressed with how perfect his neck and fret dressing, is! I raved before, and will rave again! If you need a luthier? John Thayer is Tha Man!!

★★★★★ — David, Jul 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 57 reviews →

Lessons at J. Thayer Guitars

Reviews and the store's own info mention lessons at J. Thayer 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.

Where to find J. Thayer Guitars

2207 E 11th St, Bremerton, WA98310

Get directions

Guitar stores near J. Thayer Guitars

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Cool and welcoming vinyl store with a variety of genres along with friendly service.

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Mainline Music

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Lessons Repairs & setups expert setups & repairsknowledgeable stafffriendly staff

Laid-back music shop offering instrument sales, rentals & repairs plus accessories, books & lessons.

2.2 miles away

All guitar stores in Bremerton, WA →

Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and player reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this store? Claim your listing — it's free.