Delivery
Yes
Retrofret Vintage Guitars in Brooklyn
Categories
Location on the map
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, US
Service options
In-store pick-up
Yes
In-store shopping
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
No
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
No
Offerings
Repair services
Yes
Service guarantee
Yes
Payments
NFC mobile payments
Yes
Phone: +1 718-237-6092
Site: http://www.retrofret.com/
Site: http://www.retrofret.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:12–7PM
- Tuesday:12–7PM
- Wednesday:12–7PM
- Thursday:12–7PM
- Friday:12–7PM
- Saturday:12–6PM
- Sunday:Closed
Comments (65)
Amazing vintage collection. Probably one of the best in the world. Extremely knowledgeable staff. Feels like being in a guitar museum.
No place like it. Retrofret is full of amazing, rare instruments. What makes it such a special shop though, is the staff. Though they are all experts, with encyclopedic knowledge, theyre never uppity or holier-than-thou. They are genuinely excited about their merchandise and are thrilled to discuss it with anyone at any level of experience. You can pick up and play any instrument in the shop - even the insanely expensive ones.I purchased an instrument here (after years of just stopping by to play stuff) and the staff was great. They ask after the instrument every time I come by, and have assisted me with some issues with the bridge on multiple occasions, completely free of charge.
The greatest store for guitars in Brooklyn! They are most welcoming, great selection including some amazing vintage instruments. Also Shira the store manager is cute and super friendly. 😊 I whole heartedly recommend visiting this store.
I called ahead to schedule an appointment to come in and have a look around. Whoever I spoke to on the phone said that I could only come in unless I had a specific guitar in mind that I intended on buying. His tone also became pretty condescending towards me once it became clear to him that I simply wanted to browse. Bummer.
Excellent guitar shop for nice old vintage rarities, both acoustic and electric. Also a great place for quick turn-around minor repair work, or more involved repairs. I was in and out in under 20 minutes for a minor glue job. Good folks.
Retrofret is one of the best places on the planet to buy a high-end vintage musical instrument. Their expert knowledge enables them to offer only well-preserved and good-sounding instruments, and they have a large selection of these, with new ones coming in almost every day. I had bought there in the past and Im certainly going to buy there again.
I took a trip into Brooklyn yesterday and decided to head into Retrofret Vintage Guitars. Id been meaning to go check them out for a while and have read nothing but great things about everyone there and I must say I agree. All the people that I met at Retrofret were really cool and very knowledgeable.When I 1st pulled up and needed a place to park my car, I was greeted by Ohsay and he was very kind to offer me a spot in there private lot. After he walked me up to the showroom I was met with some of the most impressive pieces of vintage instruments Ive ever seen and when I started asking some pretty specific questions, they quickly introduced me to their Resident Historian Peter. Peter is a really smart and cool guy who knows a lot, especially old Gibsons.I had a great time and will definately be back again.Awesome shop. I highly recommend anyone interested in Vintage Instruments to go and check them out soon.
Great experiences with Retrofret included selling several instruments on consignment, receiving excellent repairs, and impressing some fellow musicians who could play the incredible selection of instruments on display. The friendly and knowledgeable staff also help to make this a great place to do business with. Highly recommended!
Great store, great service! Just walking in here is a mini adventure. One of the most amazing arrays of vintage guitars youll ever see! Very reasonable prices and turn around time for electronic repair and new string set up!
The best Guitars place in the most beautiful City in the World. I’m a fan of NYC cause is the Capital of the World today. I love music and its history: if you’re looking for the best Guitars ever made played by the Greatest Musicians in the history, Retrofret is the righest place where understand the purity of Sound. Retrofret is where can stop the time. Retrofret is the magic Temple of the Sound. Steve and Peter are like “Guru of Guitars history”. Amazing. Staff is very competent and so disposal!!!
The shop (more like a museum really that just so happens to sell their pieces) is situated in a quiet Brooklyn street in an unassuming building, with no big signs out front announcing what lies inside. And what lies inside is a collection of vintage stringed instruments that will make your jaw drop the first time you step inside and see it.Stuff of legend that youve heard about, all there in person. Not only do you get to be up close to these historical artifacts with a chance of actually owning them, but the employees at Retrofret will make you feel welcome and urge you to try out the instruments. They have chairs and sofas throughout the store with picks, thumb picks, tuners and capos on little tables on the side.They are so very friendly and truly love what they do and it shows. Theyll chat with you about their beloved stock and music in general with infectious enthusiasm.In other words, youre going to absolutely love this place!
Coming here is a joy! Ive seen every American made vintage string instrument Ive ever imagined - and some that Ive NEVER imagined - all under one roof. This is a user-friendly environment where I have always felt comfortable trying out the wares to my hearts content. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and generous, and Ive had nothing but positive experiences with the work and repairs done on my fiddle, guitar, and banjo. This is the only shop Ill trust with my instruments.
A tremedous amount of guitars and a great selection of those that want the best!
This is a fretted instrument wonderland. Probably one of the very few guitar stores that specializes in totally vintage instruments. All the folks who work there are not only very friendly but incredibly knowledgeable. I have had a number of instruments repaired there as well and the service is top notch and profressional. Highly recommend!!
Retrofret is one of Brooklyns best-kept secrets. There is a veritable treasure trove of vintage guitars (and a few new ones) on display at the head of the Gowanus Canal on Butler Street. The Retrofret staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and will invite you to play through their amazing collection of acoustic and electric instruments. Hard to think of another place where you can put down a Banner Gibson or pre-war Martin to pick up a 50s Telecaster or Les Paul and play it through an original Champ. I have seen many unique and significant guitars at Retrofret that I have not seen elsewhere. I also have to give a big shout out to their repair department. They have done great work on my guitars, and Ive seen them do some amazing repairs and restorations over the years. They are a frequent stop of mine, and I love having them in my neighborhood!!
I was in a couple days ago to purchase an amp. Unfortunately the salesperson I dealt with had an attitude, and I left empty-handed and annoyed. I emailed the owner to let him know about my experience, but he didnt bother to respond. I will not be returning.
Took my Rickenbacker bass for a setup. I normally do my own but didnt feel comfortable as it has 2 truss rods. When I got it back, the frets buzzed and after a few weeks the first fret started making that splatty sound where the string cant even resonate because the action is too low. I would have been better off if I never brought it in. When I went to pick it up, the employee didnt check which instrument they were grabbing and tried to give me a Rickenbacker guitar. Rickenbacker guitars are worth more than the basses. If I was a scumbag, I could have walked out of there with a more valuable instrument than the one I brought in. They do have an interesting selection of ludicrously priced vintage instruments, guitar effects, and sheet music otherwise Id give them one star.
This place is amazing! It is somewhat out of the way, but well worth the schlep. I went for the Gibson acoustics and was glad to be given a great deal of information about the instruments specifically and then the space to find what worked for me personally. I visit every time Im in NYC.
Its hard to get a sense of how amazing the place is from a description - and even the picture only provide evidence of a bunch of guitars - but walking into Retrofret and being surrounded by the best guitars ever is a transformative experience...Ask a question and you can find out everything about the kind of instrument, the history of that guitar or the history of the company that made it - probably even who was working on it at Martin or Gibson and what day of the week it was made. These people know everything.Ive had setup and repair work done by Mamie, theyve sold a few of my instruments for me, and ive got my eye on a few instruments.Simply the best.
Brought my vintage, 1920s bowel back mandolin for a check up. Luthier and rest of staff were friendly, knowledgeable and patient. Also have nice selection of vintage mandolins and banjos.
The shop is totally hidden, as heaven. Great place, staff is very adorable and wonderful guitars!I have to admit, I played Stairway to Heaven on Gibson double-neck and they did not asked me to quit the shop ;)
To get to the shop inside 233 Butler Street, you have to ring the buzzer to the building, go up a flight of stairs, cross over a rooftop and head for the inviting building across the way. There is a wall of mandolins, rows of vintage radios and a section with some of the first electric guitars.
Great player grade vintage electrics up through incredible unobtainable vintage beauts. Nice staff, kind, respectful, allowed my bud and I to play some guitars without excessive hovering or judgement.
Great selection of vintage guitars in a variety of prices. Very nice staff - feels like a family owned shop. Might actuality be so.
This shop is the real deal! Incredibly knowledgeable staff, unbelievable selection of vintage instruments and the perfect, laid back environment. Thank you, Steve, Peter & crew for a most refreshing experience!
The shop is not on the street. I had to look closely. But its fine.Amazing vintage guitar shop. Dozen of guitars (electric, acoustic, bass).Great great staff.I strongly recommand to go there.
Retrofret is one in a million. Ive had repairs done, and have played many of their astounding collection of guitars, and their respect of the customer is second to none.A real treasure, right in the heart of brooklyn.
Excellent selection of vintage guitars at reasonable prices.
Its a wonderful Place!Its a pleasure to stay there and to spend time with people Who work there. There are beautiful instruments and its the Heaven of any guitarist!!!
Super cool guitar shop. Beautiful vintage guitars and a lovely staff!
Great small store with amazing vintage guitars and acoustic instruments
They are the most discourteous piece life waste I come across. No decent person would ever go there to do business. Their telephone manners stink like hell.
Unique and very special vintage guitar heaven. Amazing staff, very knowledgeable and professional!
Great place, friendly stuff, awesome guitars!
Retrofret is the best. The best environment when youre looking to buy that instrument youve always wanted.
Great selection, fantastic store help, nice atmosphere. Close to a lot of good lunch places.
It is our pleasure to serve the musical community of Brooklyn and beyond for our 30th year. Please come visit us soon!
First class craftsmen, first class gentlemen and women. Best care I ever received. Tim sheard.
Like a museum of vintage great guitars where you will receive a nice welcome and you could try and if you feel to, buy.
Awesome instrument shop! Amazing selection of vintage instruments
Great selection of instruments, nice vibe and friendly staff.
An amazing store with a great selection of almost every instrument.
Store specializing in old & rare electric & acoustic guitars, plus banjos & mandolins, with service.
Nice folks. I liked that they welcomed me to play the instruments.
Very cool shop for vintage guitars.
Classical and modern guitars for your music projects.
Brooklyn lovely place to look for your guitar.
This is where Shanes project is happening. Cafe/bar/club.
Great vintage guitar and repair.
Nice selection, a bit to quiet
Beautiful old guitars.
Amazing guitar store
Wonderful instruments
Great entrance
Magic place!!!
Total reviews rating 4.7
65 Reviews for Retrofret Vintage Guitars 2023:
Review №1
2018-07-11Nice selection of vintage guitars and amps, including some 12-string electrics both solid and hollow body. Friendly salespeople. Also they offer repairs. Very hard to find location at this time, I had to call for help with directions.
Review №2
2022-03-09Truly incredible inventory of vintage guitars and amps — almost certainly the best one in New York, if not the entire country. Staff was very knowledgable and helpful, and (in constrast to other stores that stock high five-digit guitars) let me test out all of the guitars and amps freely. They had an amazing collection of vintage Telecasters and Fender tweed amps in particular, but anyone interested in vintage guitars would consider this place an absolute haven.
Review №3
2020-02-11I bought a lil 50s Martin ukulele style 2 on RetroFret online store. Fast shipping (the instrument was delivered in France in a week) and well packaged (ukulele arrived in very good shape) and as described.Great communication with Steve and George who are competent and frendly. RetroFret is a very serious music store, with a great choice of marvelous vintage guitars and other rare instruments.It was a real pleasure to deal with and Ill return for sure. Highly recommanded seller.
Review №4
2020-01-20Great instruments! And, you can play them, unlike similar stores Ive visited. It was a delight to visit.
Review №5
2022-02-14I bought a mid-sixties Vox Berkeley tube amp here many years ago online and I was very happy with the amp and the transaction. I still have the amplifier and the last time I played it, it sounded great.
Review №6
2021-08-06I am extremely happy with the repair work that Harry does at Retrofret. He repaired 4 of my guitars, and did a tremendous job on each of them. This includes re-frets, acoustic body repairs, setups, etc. Two of these guitars had long standing playability issues that multiple Luthiers have unsuccessfully tried to fix in the past. But Harry was able to get them playing like new on the first attempt. I highly recommend Harry at Retrofret!
Review №7
2021-05-13Came in during Covid era and didnt realize I needed an apt. The fellas were so kind they let me come in and see this beautiful spot. Coming to see this place has been on my bucket list and I am so glad I did. You sometimes think a high end vintage shop might be filled with tense vibes from tense owners/workers but coming here was the BEST! The were so friendly and awesome in all ways. If I do not buy a guitar form them this week I surely will soon! A MUST see
Review №8
2017-12-23If you are looking for a vintage piece and Retrofret has it, its going to be in the best condition possible. The staff is very friendly and appear to be very knowledgeable. I will be doing more business there.
Review №9
2020-06-12I just purchased a beautiful 1969 Fender Stratocaster in Candy Apple Red for one of my clients. The guys at Retrofret carry top shelf vintage guitars and this was no exception. Shira and Peter at Retrofret were a pleasure to deal with. If you are looking for collector quality vintage and newer used gear I would highly recommend RetroFret Vintage Guitars.
Review №10
2019-02-14A store with impeccable taste and a great repair shop. Are they overpriced? Sure. But it’s New York, so that’s to be expected. But they do bring their guitars up to playable shape again, so my hat’s off to the repair shop. On the down side, they will happily pay you 40% of whatever they intend to sell your vintage Martin or pre-war Gibson for. And finally, whoever the woman is who answers the phone and handles all their online transactions is the absolute nadir of customer service - curt, condescending, even chastising. She certainly doesn’t do Retrofret any favors in terms of selling guitars. Who knows, maybe she’s one of the owners. Maybe she’s the one running the tight ship. But she casts a dim light on Retrofret, I can tell you that. And that’s a shame, because it’s otherwise an incredible store. And again, I want to emphasize that their repair shop is top notch, despite what the guy said about his Rickenbacker bass. Maybe these guys don’t need the money. Maybe they’re just rich and want to hoard up all the great guitars. I have no idea. But if Retrofret actually DOES want to increase their sales, I’d suggest trying to smile, if it’s not too hard, and at least feign a little pleasantry. You’d be shocked how it helps your business.