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Shomaker Guitar

4.8 ★★★★★ 129 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in Burlington, North Carolina

Buys used gear Lessons Vintage specialist Repairs & setups

Longtime musical instrument vendor known for selling guitars, basses and amplifiers, plus repairs.

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
  • Buys & trades used gear they buy, trade, or consign used instruments — bring the case and any original parts, and expect trade credit to beat the cash offer
  • Lessons lessons come up in reviews and the store's own info — call about openings, instruments taught, and rates before the first visit
  • Today see hours ·
  • Phone (336) 222-8282
  • Website shomakerguitar.com

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 12–6 PM
Wednesday 12–6 PM
Thursday 12–6 PM
Friday 12 AM–6 PM
Saturday 12–2 PM
Sunday Closed

Hours can shift for holidays, clinics, and lesson schedules — worth a quick check before a special trip.

What's on the wall

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

🎼 Acoustic Guitars 2 mentions

“Shomaker was very helpful and knowledgeable about what strings my wife should buy for her acoustic guitar.”

All stores with acoustic guitars →

🎸 Electric Guitars 4 mentions

“Acoustic, electric, bass, and even some odd things he's worked on for me.”

All stores with electric guitars →

🎸 Bass Guitars 4 mentions

“I just got my Jazz bass in and got Kim to redo the electronics and set it up.”

All stores with bass guitars →

🏆 Vintage & Rare 2 mentions

“Kim always has a great selection from beginner guitars to rare collector items.”

All stores with vintage & rare →

🔧 Repairs & Setups 14 mentions

“Brought in a guitar for a setup and installation of new pickups, got it back today and I am more than happy!”

All stores with repairs & setups →

🎓 Lessons

“When I picked it up it played better than ever, and got to enjoy some good conversation while my son had a guitar lesson.”

All stores with lessons →

Brands they deal

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

🏷️ Fender 2 mentions

“Bought a sweet lightly worn fender highway one P bass.”

Who else deals Fender →

🏷️ Gibson

“I brought in my Gibson Slash Les Paul for a pickup swap and a full setup.”

Who else deals Gibson →

🏷️ Epiphone

“Kim installed a K&K pickup system in my Epiphone Ej-160E.”

Who else deals Epiphone →

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 129 Google reviews — with their own words as proof.

🔧 expert setups & repairs 12 mentions

“Brought in a guitar for a setup and installation of new pickups, got it back today and I am more than happy!”

🧠 knowledgeable staff 4 mentions

“Kim Shoemaker has always been the most knowledgeable musical instrument and equipment dealer in Burlington, Alamance county,and possibly Central North Carolina.”

💵 good value 2 mentions

“Kim gave me a good deal and set the bass up just the way I like it.”

🔰 plays well with beginners 3 mentions

“When I picked it up it played better than ever, and got to enjoy some good conversation while my son had a guitar lesson.”

From the reviews

Cannot find a better owner than Kim Shomaker! Shomaker Guitars is the only place I go for my guitar tech needs. Kim has seen it all and will be able to get you the sound you've been looking for on guitar! Amazing stock of guitars, reasonably priced. This is a shop I recommend to any guitarist out there.

★★★★★ — Owen, Apr 2024

Nice smallish shop that has been in Burlington for years and has a good reputation. I like the shop and the owner. If I'm looking for a new or used guitar I would definitely stop by there.

★★★★☆ — Russ, Mar 2021

I’ve been a customer at Shomakers for the past 18 years. Kim always has a great selection from beginner guitars to rare collector items. I’ve got more guitars than I count from him! This is the only place in Burlington for setup & repairs with quick turnaround time.

★★★★★ — Drew, Nov 2025

I brought in my Gibson Slash Les Paul for a pickup swap and a full setup. When I picked it up it played better than ever, and got to enjoy some good conversation while my son had a guitar lesson. Absolutely will be bringing any guitar I need work on here from now on!

★★★★★ — Matt, Jan 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 129 reviews →

Selling or trading gear at Shomaker Guitar

Shomaker Guitar comes up for buying and trading used gear — confirmed on their own site. Two things make the trip go better. First, bring the whole package: the case or gig bag, the original tremolo arm or bridge parts, the paperwork if you have it — a complete rig is worth real money more than a bare instrument, and it saves the back-and-forth of "can you bring the case in?" Second, know that trade credit almost always beats the cash offer, usually by a healthy margin — if you're upgrading anyway, price your old gear as a trade against the new one before you take cash. Either way, expect the offer to be below what the gear sells for on the wall; the gap is the store's margin for setup, warranty, and sitting on it until the right buyer walks in.

Check trade-in info on their site

Lessons at Shomaker Guitar

Reviews and the store's own info mention lessons at Shomaker Guitar. 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 Shomaker Guitar

912 S Main St, Burlington, NC27215

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Guitar stores near Shomaker Guitar

Lowe Vintage Instrument Company

4.9 ★★★★★ 78 reviews

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Repairs & setups Vintage specialist expert setups & repairsknowledgeable staff

Luthier-run shop for fretted instruments such as new and vintage electric guitars, mandolins, banjos and acoustic guitars.

under a mile away

Main Street Vinyl, LLC

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Buys used gear Vintage specialist friendly staffgood value

Vinyl-focused record store specializing in new and used albums, plus a listening booth.

under a mile away

Music & Arts

4.6 ★★★★★ 231 reviews

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Lessons Repairs & setups Vintage specialist knowledgeable staffgreat lesson programfriendly staff

Retail chain offering musical instruments, audio gear & accessories, plus rental & repair services.

under a mile away

All guitar stores in Burlington, NC →

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.