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The Laboratory

5 ★★★★★ 126 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in Blackwood, New Jersey

Lessons Repairs & setups

Modern music shop offering guitars, keyboards, sound equipment, and lessons, plus rentals and 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
  • Lessons lessons come up in reviews and the store's own info — call about openings, instruments taught, and rates before the first visit
  • Instrument rentals rentals mentioned — the usual route for band & orchestra season; ask about rent-to-own credit
  • Today see hours ·
  • Phone (856) 441-4065
  • Website thelaboratory.com

Hours

Monday 11 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 11 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–8 PM
Thursday 11 AM–8 PM
Friday 11 AM–8 PM
Saturday 10 AM–5 PM
Sunday 11 AM–3 PM

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 The Laboratory, confirmed in players' own reviews and the store's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🎸 Electric Guitars 4 mentions

“Went in to get my first electric guitar, and Gavin was quick to point me in the right direction.”

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🎸 Bass Guitars 6 mentions

“I'm very happy with the Jaguar bass and sales-service from The Laboratory.”

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🔊 Amps & Pedals 5 mentions

“They have a major league roster of guys that can help you with anything from percussion to keys to strings to vocals to pedals to amps to cables and on and on.”

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🏆 Vintage & Rare

“On the rare occasions when Mike wasn’t available, the substitute teachers were equally awesome, which really speaks to the quality of the staff overall.”

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♻️ Used Gear 2 mentions

“I would recommend this store over a big superstore like Sweetwater, who I have used in the past.”

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🔧 Repairs & Setups 9 mentions

“I also had several instruments set up and repaired there, and was again quite satisfied with their work.”

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🎓 Lessons 10 mentions

“I have taken lessons there ,I have bought amplifiers ,guitars, and every type of accessory you can think of and have never been disappointed.”

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🪕 Ukulele, Banjo & Folk 2 mentions

“Staff knows the gear well and they did a great job setting up 2 of my guitars and testoring a Gibson banjo from WW2 era.”

All stores with ukulele, banjo & folk →

🥁 Drums & Percussion 4 mentions

“They have a major league roster of guys that can help you with anything from percussion to keys to strings to vocals to pedals to amps to cables and on and on.”

All stores with drums & percussion →

Brands they deal

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

🏷️ Fender

Who else deals Fender →

🏷️ Gibson

“Staff knows the gear well and they did a great job setting up 2 of my guitars and testoring a Gibson banjo from WW2 era.”

Who else deals Gibson →

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 126 Google reviews — with their own words as proof.

🔧 expert setups & repairs 8 mentions

“They do just about everything there buying selling and repairs. They gave me a great price on an old guitar that I was completely unaware of its going rate.”

🎓 great lesson program 3 mentions

“Been going there for a little over a year now for lessons. Staff knows the gear well and they did a great job setting up 2 of my guitars and testoring a Gibson banjo from WW2 era.”

💵 good value 3 mentions

“They gave me a great price on an old guitar that I was completely unaware of its going rate.”

🔰 plays well with beginners 2 mentions

“As an intermediate/beginner guitarist, I can truly say that this place is one of the best!”

From the reviews

I can't say enough good things about the Laboratory. I am blown away at how well our son is playing guitar in such a short time. He absolutely enjoys his lesson and his instructor Stefan is a big part of it. He is patient, kind and supportive which helps our son learn.

★★★★★ — Kevin, Nov 2025

Incredible set of guys over here at the Laboratory. Easily the best shop in South Jersey. Probably the best shop in ALL of NJ. They have a major league roster of guys that can help you with anything from percussion to keys to strings to vocals to pedals to amps to cables and on and on.

★★★★★ — Dillion, Nov 2024

Support your local music shop! I've gotten 3 basses set up at The Lab and have traded in gear, and each time I've been in for one purpose or another has been really smooth and I usually wind up leaving feeling better than before I entered. The staff is very accommodating, very knowledgeable, and very kind.

★★★★★ — Joseph, May 2024

My son has taken guitar lessons here for a year and a half with Dave. He has learned so much in that time! Quality and dedicated instruction. We have also visited the store for purchases and repairs. My questions were always answered very thoroughly. They were extremely helpful when we upgraded my son to a new guitar.

★★★★★ — Stacey, May 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 126 reviews →

Lessons at The Laboratory

Reviews and the store's own info mention lessons at The Laboratory. 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 and rentals on hand for exactly this reason.

Where to find The Laboratory

12 Somerdale Rd, Blackwood, NJ08012

Get directions

Guitar stores near The Laboratory

Black Horse Music

4.5 ★★★★★ 47 reviews

404 N Black Horse Pike, Runnemede, NJ

Repairs & setups expert setups & repairsknowledgeable staff

Musical instrument store offering sales, rentals and repairs.

1.4 miles away

We Buy Everything

4.3 ★★★★☆ 549 reviews

20 S White Horse Pike, Somerdale, NJ

Buys used gear Vintage specialist fair trade-in offersgood value

2.5 miles away

Sky Valley Records

4.7 ★★★★★ 296 reviews

618 S White Horse Pike, Somerdale, NJ

knowledgeable stafffriendly staffgood value

Cozy shop for vinyl and CDs, plus cassettes and other music media.

2.8 miles away

All guitar stores in Blackwood, NJ →

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.