The list of Awesome Guitar Techies

[Yousef]

How many times have you read "take it to a local tech" and "I always take my guitars to my very awesome local guitar tech!" Are you looking for a reputable, good, and experienced guitar tech? Look no further! This thread is a list of reputable guitar techs in your local area provided by the users of jemsite.

How this works:
Know a good local tech? Post their name, location, and a short description of what you asked the tech to do and a review of his services. I'll try my best to keep this main post updated. We want to all share knowledge of reputable techs so spread the word!

The List

United States:

Music Station
3446 Cinema Ctr, Anderson, SC
(864) 226-7681 ‎
Reviews: Yousef
Consensus: Highly recommended.

Spencer's Upstairs Music Store
Somerset, KY
Reviews: AKJC1977
Consensus: Recommended.

Norio Imai
20 W. 22nd St, Manhattan, NY
By Appointment only - call first
http://www.imai-guitars.com/news.html
Reviews: jim777
Consensus: Highly Recommended.

GuitarWorks (Jim)
3416 NE 13th Ave, Portland, OR
(503) 335-0477
Reviews: dimarzio562
Consensus: Highly Recommended.


UK:

Brian Rodgers @ Mid Air Music
90, High Street, Chatham, ME4 4DS. (near Staples)
01634 846886
Reviews: Cathedral
Consensus: Highly Recommended.


International:

[Yousef]

I'll start!

Music Station
3446 Cinema Ctr, Anderson, SC
(864) 226-7681 ‎

I took my guitar to Dominique (owner of the store) because I heard he does fret leveling+crowing for $25. Hes a been a tech for 25 years and I've heard nothing but good things about him. Dominique was really friendly and made sure he gave me the pricing correctly before I agreed with anything. After 2 days my guitar was ready.. and WOW. The fret job was so good and my guitar felt and sounded brand new! He is a friendly guy and really knows what hes doing! And the price is amazing! After the work was done, he told me that if there were any issues with the fret job to bring it back and he'd check on it for me. Highly recommended!

[AKJC1977]

In my neck of the woods The only man I trust more than me is Tim Pierce of Spencer's upstair music store in Somerset, Kentucky. He has done some very good fret work for me and others I know, and he can do anything it is just a matter of if he has time, He stays booked changing pickups and making intonation adjustments. Also runs the store plays in two popular bands of Somerset and just being the super coolest down to earth guy in the world. I might add if ya put a blind fold on you would swear your listening to a matured and improved EVH. Other than Him I do a whole lot of pickup swapping and intonation/action work most standard wiring and neck adjustments. Only thing I wont profess to do is fretwork as I dont have proper tools for it. I am hoping to be doing swirl paint jobs soon as well. I started off doing tech for buddies and now their buddies call me, it is funny how most really talented guitarist round here cant do any work on their guitar. I have one friend that is just unbelievably awesome at shredding yet he honestly cannot or does not drive a car. It is like all their mindpower is focused into one super concentrated beam of musical light. Anyway my name is Jason Coffey, Im in Somerset as well and I would be happy to help anyone out as best I can. AKJC1977

[Cathedral]

Brian Rodgers
Near Walderslade, but best way to contact him is through Mid-Air Music in Chatham, Kent.

Work done for me started out as fixing a blown pot, then gradually working in various mods over time to installing a Sustainer for me. Brian did a wonderful job and kept regular communication with me to inform me of everything he was doing while working on my guitar. Shortly after routing the body and preparing to install the sustainer kit, Brian found that a connector was missing from the kit, so he called me to ask if I wanted to order one and wait, or let him solder everything together so its permanently fixed, with instructions on which wire goes where should I ever need to remove the circuit board for whatever reason in the future. Brian's the first chap I go to should I need work/repairs carried out on my instruments and the first guy I recommend to anyone wanting the same services. He works fast, he works to a high standard, everything is at a very reasonable fee (I sometimes feel guilty about that, he could easily charge more) and his communication is first rate, also a very like-able person.

[tzoranski]

Does anyone know of a good guitar tech in Manhattan? I've brought my
guitars to a couple places in the city but no one has really impressed me
yet. I have a new build that I want to get set up. I was going to bring it
to the guys a rudy's but if anyone has any suggestions, i'm listening.

[dimarzio562]

Name: Jim (guitarworks)
Location: Portland, Oregon
Phone: (503) 335-0477

Highly recommended.

I had Jim do a fret level + setup on my PGM301. He does excellent work and pays extra attention to the details to make sure you're happy. I've had lots of fret levels and setups over 20 years of guitar playing, and Jim is up there at the top in terms of skills and customer service.

[jim777]

Name: Norio Imai
Location: 20 W. 22nd St, Manhattan, NY
By Appointment only - call first
http://www.imai-guitars.com/news.html

Norio is the best in NYC. After apprenticeships with EMG Japan, Fodera, and then 14 years at Sadowsky's, he opened his own shop in Manahattan in '03. He does the best work I've ever seen in my 35+ years of playing. He is the only one who works on any of my guitars.

[Yousef]

Great stuff guys, thanks for contributing! Let's get this list big!

[nickcoumbe]

UK

Steve
PJ's Guitar Centre
Portsmouth
www.guitaruk.com

He is fantastic. Since I have moved away I have to drive for about 1hr 30mins to get there, but it is totally worth it, even with 15 guitars (I can't restring a floyd ).