If you are a beginner, and don't know what you want in terms of an instrument purchase or setup, this is the place for you, since they are very free with their advice. If, on the other hand, you are an experienced/skilled musician and know exactly what you want, this may not be the place for you.

Their selection of acoustic guitars is fair, but their selection of electric guitars and basses leans more towards the budget side, with only a few examples of professional grade instruments.

As for getting a setup, forget about any specific requests. If you have an instrument that is, for example, new and has never been setup before, they will make it playable for you. I, on the other hand, have a custom made boutique bass which was already set up very well when I got it from the luthier, but the action was higher than my other basses (which are of equally high build quality), so I took it to them for a setup. I could not simply lower the action on this bass by adjusting a few screws, like on most other basses, because this bass has a wooden bridge and a tailpiece (like an upright/double bass). Firstly, the man at the front who checks in the instruments insulted me by asking if I can play like a certain famous bassist (since I pointed out to him that there are plenty of great players who like a low action). Then, the person who does the actual work comes out and tells me what he usually does, instead of asking me exactly what I want and listening to what I had to say. When I finally did communicate my desires to him, he proceeded to inform me that it can't be done! Not that it is ill advised, or unusual. He seems to think that my bass should be set up to his preferences, not mine. It is my instrument. It is I who play it!

So, if you are a beginner with a mass produced instrument, this shop should be able make you guitar playable, but if you have a boutique instrument and have particular needs, you are better off finding a different guitar technician.

I've bought three guitars from the Frethouse. They are fair in their pricing, knowledgable about guitars, and have a good stock to choose from. I also bought a banjo for there. Down stairs they even do concerts. You need to check it out.

Another cool thing about the Fret house are the cool shows they put on downstairs. They always have great folk, classical, flamenco and jazz cats come in every other weekend or so and tear it up. Go see a show at the Fret House.